Cocke, Richard H., Sr.

submitted by Kenneth McCun

Our family Bible records show that Richard Hundley COCKE, Sr. was born in Kemper Co., MS at GAINESVILLE JUNCTION, on 28 May 1843, to Edward A. R. COCKE, Md, and Sarah Jane HUNDLEY.

He enlisted in the Kemper Co. Rebels (24th MS Infantry) and served the Army of Tennessee for the entire run of the War for Southern Independence, serving in every campaign of the 24th's valiant career. Family legend has it that he even saw the death of Gen. Patrick Cleburn (though he did not know the Gen. was dead until morning) at the Battle of Franklin, TN. R.H. was wounded in the skull by a minie ball which entered above the right eye, skittered along the skull and exited out the back without causing any damage except the exit/entry and a ridge in his skull, which my grandmother said the children would be able to feel "if we were extra special good."

Richard Hundley moved to Texas after his marriage to Martha Walker PETTUS on 30 Dec 1869 and ended up settling in Collingsworth Co., TX, with his wife and their children, all of whom became rather noted in the Texas panhandle for their various achievements. Grandma Cocke refused to refer to the War in any way but "the late unpleasantness", and was reluctant to speak of it at all.

Richard Hundley Cocke, SR. died on 21 Feb 1921 in Wellington, Collingsworth Co., TX and was buried in the cemetery there.