Elias Coil
Elias Coil, deceased, was born in 1814, on Sugar Creek, in Union Township, and was married, September 20, 1839, to Mahala Rankin, daughter of Thomas Rankin, who was born February 18, 1818, in Jasper Township. Her mother was Barbara Foltz; her husband's mother Mary House, born November 15, 1789, and died February 17, 1866. They were both natives of Virginia.
The union was blessed by ten children : James, Simon, Mary, Susan, Samuel, Amos, Emily, Elizabeth J., Sarah, and Christina. Elizabeth J., James, and Sarah, are living; the others have passed to the other shore.
The family is connected with the Protestant Methodist Church, and attend services at the Sugar Creek Chapel. He was an exemplary Christian, and died in the faith very triumphantly, August 5, 1878. His wife and children follow in his footsteps.
His son Simon enlisted in Company A, 54th O, V. I., and was out nearly three years. He was wounded at the battle of Shiloh, and upon recovering returned to the field, but lost his health, and departed this life three weeks after his return home. He was but nineteen years of age when he went out, but was brave and patriotic, and deserves mention as being one of the many who gave up their lives that the country might live.
The heirs of our subject own one thousand acres of land, a portion of which is in Union Township. Mrs. Coil resides in a neat residence on the Palmer pike, four and a half miles from Washington. Mr. Coil was a Republican, and the family still indorse his sentiments.
Of the children, Mary, wife of Jacob Warner, is now deceased; James is married to Sallie M. Sanderson; Emily, wife of Thomas Garlinger, is also deceased; Sarah is now Mrs, Martin A. Plymire.
From R. S. Dills' History of Fayette County