James Albert Coye, collector of customs and attorney at law, is a native of Grand Rapids, was born October 9, 1855, and is a son of Albert and Mary (Pew) Coye, both natives of the state of New York and married in Rochester. In 1854, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Coye came to Grand Rapids, and here Mr. Coye engaged in tent and awning making. He was unusually well educated and a master hand at mathematics, and possessed, beside, a refined taste for literature. He was a prohibitionist in politics, and died in the faith of the Methodist church in October, 1894; his widow now resides at No. 88 Turner street, and is greatly respected by all who know her. James A. Coye attended public school in this city until nine years of age, when he was employed by Comstock & Nelson, later Nelson, Matter & Co., the well known furniture manufacturers, with whom he remained, with the exception of six years passed with the Hawkes Furniture company at Goshen, Ind., until 1890, in which year he engaged in the real estate business, and began the study of law with Mr. Hauseman. He was admitted to the bar in 1891, and was actively engaged in practice until appointed collector of customs, May 13, 1897, in which position he is still giving the utmost satisfaction to all concerned.

Mr. Coye was married in White Pigeon, Mich., August 12, 1875, to Miss Belle Judd, of Ligonier, Ind., and daughter of George and Joanna Judd, the former of whom was killed in the late Civil War. Mr. Coye is an active republican and is a gentleman who is highly esteemed by all classes within the city limits of Grand Rapids.