William Johnson Cocker

William Johnson Cocker was a 19th-century American author born in 1846 and remembered today mainly for instructional books. Verified editions of his work include Hand-book of Punctuation (published in 1888 by American Book Company) and The Civil Government of Michigan (published in 1880, with a later edition in 1892). His books suggest a writer interested in practical education, especially clear writing, proofreading, and the basics of government.

Hand-book of Punctuation is a compact teaching manual on punctuation, capitalization, letter-writing, and proof-reading, written in a direct, classroom-friendly style. The Civil Government of Michigan points to another side of his work: explaining civic structures and political processes for students and general readers. Together, these titles show an author focused less on literary fame than on helping people write accurately and understand how institutions work.

Reliable biographical details about his personal life are limited in the sources I could confirm, so it seems safest to keep the picture simple. What stands out most clearly is the usefulness of his work: Cocker wrote books meant to instruct, organize, and clarify, and that practical spirit is still the main reason his name continues to circulate.