In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1840, Union Township
From History of Fayette County : together with historic notes on the Northwest, and the State of Ohio, gleaned from early authors, old maps and manuscripts, private and official correspondence, and all oth (1881)
JAMES COIL.
James Coil, farmer, was born in Union Township, this county, December 1, 1840. "When about two years of age, his parents — Elias and Mahala Coil — came to this township, where the father died, in August, 1878, and the mother still lives. They had a family of ten children, three of whom are living.
James, the eldest, was married. May 31, 1866, to Miss Sallie M. Sanderson, who has borne him five children: Emily J., John, Elias, Sarah E., and Russie E.; all living save Ehas, Avho died January 27, 1876.
Mr. Coil has a farm of two hundred and forty-nine acres, where he lives, and sixty and one-fourth acres four miles east. He has bought seventy-one acres of this by his own industry and economy. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Protestant Church. They are good neighbors and respected citizens.
As printed in History of Fayette County : together with historic notes on the Northwest, and the State of Ohio, gleaned from early authors, old maps and manuscripts, private and official correspondence, and all oth (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Their biographies name James Coil: Thomas Bradley Thornton (b. 1812)
The printed record stops around 1881. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.