He came to Brighton, Michigan, about 1852, from New York State in company with Jackson Coe [his brother].

James Coe lived with Jacobs' father's family in Brighton from 1852 until 1854.

He moved with Jacobs' father's family to Hartland in 1854 and lived with them until he enlisted in the War of the Rebellion.

He enlisted, as a Private, on the 22nd of May 1861 in Flint Mich.. At enlistment he indicated that his home was Genesee. He was 32 years old.

He was Mustered Out on the 28th of July 1865 at Delaney House DC.

After James Coe returned from the war he married his first wife, Emma Willis, also known as Emma Stewart; that Coe and his first wife lived with Jacobs' father's family for some time [unspecified]; and that Coe's first wife died in 1874 or 1875.

An affidavit by James Coe, dated 2 March 1881, indicates he resided at Fenton, Genessee Co., Mich from 1865 to 1871; then at Detroit until 1876; then in Fenton Co., Mich until January 1881.

Subsequently, he resided at the National Soldiers Home in Dayton, Ohio, and later in New York State, where he died of natural causes in 1894 and was laid to rest at the McGuire Gardens Cemetery in Ithaca Ny.

Coe's pension file contains an affidavit dated 12 July 1900, by Sarah A. Jacobs, age 63, of Bancroft, Michigan.