BIO: JAMES COYLE, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
   
  Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Joe Patterson
  OCRed by Judy Banja

  Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved.
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/
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  >From Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania,
  Chicago: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905, pages 301-302
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  NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios:
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    JAMES COYLE, one of the representative citizens of Cumberland county, was
  born in South Middleton township, this county, July 13, 1822, a son of Joseph
  and Calista (Thompson) Coyle.
 
    The father of Mr. Coyle was of Scotch-Irish extraction, and he came to
  America in young manhood, locating in Cumberland county, Pa., where he
  married. His wife was a daughter of Thomas Thompson, a very intelligent
  English farmer, a resident of South Middleton township. After his marriage
  Joseph Coyle removed to York county, where he engaged in distilling a number
  of years, and died there. He was the father of three children, namely: James,
  Mary and Jane Ann. The daughters went West and married and both died in middle
  life, leaving families. The mother contracted a second marriage, with Samuel
  Bear, of Lancaster county, and they removed to Northwestern Ohio.
 
    James Coyle did not accompany his mother to Ohio, but remained with a
  farmer to whom he was apprenticed until the age of sixteen years. He then
  apprenticed himself in 1840 to a carpenter named Robert Graham, remaining
  with him six years. He made rapid strides in his calling and was so reliable
  that prior to completing his apprenticeship he was placed at the head of
  important work as foreman of gangs of men. He soon became noted for his
  excellent work in building and contracting, operating between Mechanicsburg
  and Newville. He erected some of the most substantial buildings in that
  locality, which will long bear testimony to his ability. Mr. Coyle has
  labored hard and perseveringly and deserves the high esteem in which he is
  held all through the valley. He owns a fine farm of loo acres in South
  Middleton township which he has improved into one of the most valuable
  properties of this section, and upon which he settled in 1855.
 
    In politics Mr. Coyle is a Democrat. He has filled a number of township
  offices and for six years has been director of the poor of Cumberland county.
  Since 1843 he has been a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Carlisle
  and has been very active in its affairs, liberal in his contributions, and
  ever ready to assist in all its benevolent en-
 
    302  CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
 
  terprises. Although Mr. Coyle had few early advantages he had much natural
  ability, and through association with business men and much reading has
  educated himself. He is a man of property, all of which he has honorably
  earned by his own efforts.
 
    On Feb. 26, 1846, Mr. Coyle was married to Mary Ann Johnson, of Franklin
  county, who died in June, 1890, at the age of seventy-three years. She was a
  good Christian woman, a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church. They
  had the following children: Jennie, who is her father's capable housekeeper,
  formerly a teacher in the public schools; William G., of Craighead; Rebecca
  Calista, wife of Christian W. Leib, of Carlisle; James Andrew, at the
  homestead; Joseph, who died in May, 1881, aged twenty-three years; and
  Charles T. All the sons became skilled carpenters.