On Jan. 15, 1874, Democrat Richard Coke was inaugurated as governor of Texas, even while Republican governor Edmund J. Davis refused to vacate the office and barricaded himself in the Capitol for several days. Coke overwhelmingly won the gubernatorial election in 1873. But the election was tainted by irregularities on both sides, and Davis-appointed state Supreme Court had voided the election. Davis called in the Travis Rifles, but these troops supported Coke when they got to the Capitol. Davis then appealed for federal troops to President Grant, who telegraphed a refusal. Coke took over when Davis resigned on January 19. James Bell delivered the refusal telegram to Davis, who then left town. Henry Orsay was outside with the Travis Rifles. The restored homes of both Bell and Orsay houses are at Pioneer Farms . . .