The Collins Families of Berrien County, Michigan

EBEN D. COLLINS, who is engaged in business as a shoe merchant in St. Joseph, was born in Niles, Michigan, in 1852, and is descended from one of the old families of Delaware. His paternal grandfather, Thomas Collins, was born in Milford, Kent county, Delaware, about 1785, passing away in 1824 when only thirty-nine years of age, and was a brick mason and plasterer by trade. He married Miss Sophia Kennedy, whose birth occurred near Dover, Delaware. His widow long survived him, dying in Niles, Michigan, in 1852, aged seventy-two years. Their son, James Alexander Collins, father of our subject, was born in Milford, Delaware, on the loth of January, 1820, and is now living in St. Joseph, Michigan, having passed the eighty-sixth milestone on life's journey. He was reared in the place of his nativity until twelve years of age and then came with his mother to Michigan, his father having died when the son was a little lad of four years. He attended school in Niles and afterward learned the trade of shoemaking from his brother, who was a practical shoemaker. He later worked at the bench for several years and in 1840 went to Massachusetts with a view of learning the business of manufacturing fine shoes. He remained for a year and a half in New England and then returned to Niles, Michigan, in the fall of 1842. In the spring of the following year he came to St. Joseph and entered business life in this place as a shoemaker, being the first really expert shoemaker of the city. He located on water street below the bluff and conducted his shop there until the spring of 1848, when ill health forced him to retire from the business of shoemaking. He afterward engaged in general trade on the same street which was then the principal business thoroughfare of St. Joseph. He handled dry goods and other commodities on the present site of the St. Joseph Iron Works, where he continued until 1849, when, attracted by the discovery of gold in California, he joined a party en route for the Pacific coast, making the overland trip,, which a long and tedious one, the party traveling slowly over the long stretches of hot sand and through the mountain passes. Eventually, however, their eyes were gladdened by the sight of the green valleys of California and Mr. Collins made his way to the mining regions, where he spent two years in search of the precious metal or in following other business pursuits. On the expiration of that period he returned toi Michigan and again settled in Niles. In 1852 he purchased a farm about three miles northeast of that place, known as the

Kirk farm, comprising one hundred and twenty acres, a portion of which had been cleared. It was one of the first farms that was settled in the neighborhood and he remained there for two years, after which he returned to Niles and resumed work at the shoemaker's trade, which he followed until 1857. I the great financial panic which swept over the country in that year, he like many thousands of others was forced to suspend business. In 1859 he removed to a farm at the northeast corner of Berrien. Lake in Howard township, Cass county, Michigan, about four miles from Niles, a place which is now quite famous as a summer resort. There he remained until 1866, when he came to St. Joseph and engaged in the manufacture of brick, his yard being located about two miles south of the city, There he continued in business for three years, after which he removed to a fruit farm about five miles south of St. Joseph and for twenty-five years he was a resident of that neighborhood. He had a fruit orchard of fifty acres, raising and shipping all kinds of fruit and the assiduous care and attention which he gave to the business enabled him to raise fruit of fine size and quality and secure for it a ready sale on the market. His life has been one of earnest and unremitting industry until within recent years. In 1890 he took up his above in St. Joseph and in 1891 his wife died at the age of sixty-seven years, since which time he has lived retired. His early political allegiance was given to the Democracy but he afterward joined the ranks of the Republican party and is now one of its stanch advocates.

In early manhood James A. Collins was married to Miss Susan Greenleaf, a native of St. Joseph, Michigan, and a daughter of John G. and Sarah (Tillotson) Greenleaf, the former born in Haverhill, Massachusetts, and the latter in Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Collins were married in 1843 d they became the parents of three children, of whom two sons are now living, the elder being James G., who was born in St. Joseph in 1844 and has been three times married, his present wife having borne the maiden name of Anna McManus.

Eben D. Collins acquired his education in the schools of Niles, Michigan, and in early manhood went upon the road as traveling salesman, representing the house of J. H. Lee & Company of Boston, Massachusetts. He was at that time nineteen years of age and he continued to travel for the firm for about twenty years or until 1 90 1. He was one of the most trusted representatives of the house, building up a large trade for the firm which he represented and winning many friends for himself among his patrons by reason of his genial disposition, his unfailing courtesy and his straightforward business methods. While still upon the road he established in 1891 a shoe store in St. Joseph, Michigan, and in 1 90 1 he retired altogether from the road and has since given his undivided attention to the control of his store in this city. He has been very successful and enjoys a large patronage, so that his annual sales have reached a gratifying figure. The business is conducted under the firm name of E. D. Collins & Company but the subject of this review is the sole proprietor.

Mr. Collins was married in 1885 to Miss Ida E. Fitzsimmons, of Coloma, Berrien county, and they now have one son, Andrew D. Collins, who was born in Lincoln township, this county, and is now a student in Oberlin College at Oberlin, Ohio. Mr. Collins is. a valued representative of the Masonic, Woodmen and the Knights of Pythias fraternities. In politics he is independent but is never remiss in the duties of citizenship and his aid and cooperation can be counted upon to further any measure for the general good. He is public-spirited in an eminent degree and interested in the growth and progress of his city and yet is broad minded enough to recognize and appreciate what is being accomplished in other sections of the country. Through travel he has gained broad culture and experience and wide general information and he is justly classed with the prominent and popular residents of St. Joseph.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

WILLIAM COLLINS, one of the honored early pioneers of Berrien county and a member of the boys in blue during the Civil war, resides on his pleasant and well improved farm in section 3, Pipestone township. He was born in Darke county, Ohio, May 16, 1838. His father, Barnabas Collins, was a native of Virginia and a farmer by occupation. When a young man he removed to Darke county, Ohio, and was there married to Ann Miller, a daughter of George and Elizabeth (Cunningham) Miller. Mrs. Collins was also a native of the commonwealth of Virginia, born near Wheeling, but when about thirteen years of age she accompanied her parents on their removal to Ohio. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Collins located on a farm in Darke county, that state, but later moved to Preble county, Ohio, where the father passed away in death in 1846, being survived by his widow for a number of years, she having reached the age of eighty-eight years. They were the parents of five children, three sons and two daughters, and all are yet living, namely: George, a resident of Kansas; William, whose name introduces this review; Lorinda, the wife of Carl Brumbaugh, now o.f Dodge City, Kansas; Martha Ann, the wife of Levi Adams, of Garnett, Kansas; and Robert, who makes his home in Washington county, Kansas.

William Collins spent the days of his boyhood and youth in Darke and Preble counties, Ohio, and was but seven years old when his father died, after which he made his home with an uncle, William Miller, in Darke county until he was fourteen years of age. His mother was a second time married, and he then went to live with her, where he made his home until he offered his services to the Union cause during the Civil war, enlisting in 1862 as a member of Company C, Fiftieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, entering the ranks as a private and serving until the war was over. He was promoted to the rank of corporal, and took part in the siege of Atlanta and the battles of Perryville and Franklin, Tennessee. At the last named engagement he received a gun-shot wound in the calf of his leg, and for six months was confined in a hospital. He was first captured, however, and held as a prisoner about sixteen days, when he was released and taken to Sedgwick Hospital at Louisville, Kentucky, there remaining until he was mustered out of service, being first transferred to Lincoln Hospital at Washington, D. C, where he remained until the Grand Review in that city. He was then sent to Columbus, Ohio, and received his honorable discharge on the 5th of July, 1865.

With a creditable military record Mr.

Collins then returned to his home in Preble county, Ohio, and in 1868 came to Berrien county, Michigan, purchasing the farm on which he yet resides, on section 3, Pipestone township. Here he owns one hundred and twenty-three acres of rich and fertile land, where he is engaged in general farming and stock-raising, and the many improvements which now adorn this valuable home place are all the work of his hands. On the 8th of November, 1866, Mr. Collins was united in marriage to Emily, a daughter of Tunis Roberts, of Darke county, Ohio, where the daughter was born and reared. To this union have been born five children: Marion O., whose sketch will be found elsewhere in this volume; Albert H., a resident of Pipestone township, Berrien county; Elnora, the wife of Alva Williams, also of Pipestone township; Myrtle, wife of John Horstman, of Cass county, Michigan; and Charlie, now attending the Commercial College at Elkhart, Indiana. Since age gave him the right of franchise Mr. Collins has supported the principles of the Republican party, and he has served as highway commissioner, as a justice of the peace six years and as a drain commissioner for two years. He is a member of the George H. Thomas Post, G. A. R., of Benton Harbor, and for twenty years has been a member of the Grange, in which he has been an active worker and has held a number of offices. Mr. Collins is well known throughout the county of Berrien, which has been his home for thirty-eight years, and during all this time he has taken an active interest in its growth and upbuilding.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

M. O. COLLINS. Among the younger representatives of the business interests of Berrien county, esteemed alike for his sterling worth of character and his activity in the business world, is M. O. Collins, a worthy schon of one of the pioneer families. He is now extensively engaged in fruit farming on section 3, Pipestone township. He is a native son of this township, his birth occurring on section 3 on the 29th of October, 1873, the third child of William and Emily (Roberts) Collins, who are numbered among the honored early settlers of Berrien county, still residing on the old homestead in section 3, Pipestone township.

To the educational system of this locality M. O. Collins is indebted for the early mental training which he received, and during his early years when not confined in the school room he assisted his father in the work of the homestead, having been early injured to the duties of farm labor. He is now the owner of forty acres of rich and productive land, all of which is devoted to fruit culture with the exception of eight acres, and on his farm he has twenty-two hundred each trees, nine hundred apple trees, three hundred and fifty pear trees and one hundred and fifty cherry trees. During the past two years he has given his entire attention to his fruit farming to the exclusion of all his other interests, and he is meeting with a high degree of success in this endeavor.

On December 29, 1898, Mr. Collins was united in marriage to Emma Bakeman, also a native of Pipestone township and a daughter of Henry and Louise (Shafer) Bakeman. One child has been born of this union, a daughter Louise Emily. Since casting his first vote Mr. Collins has supported the men and measures of the Republican party, and as its representative has served in a number of public positions, having for two years been the treasurer of his township. He is a member of the Grange, in which he has served as master, also of the Modern Woodmen, Camp No. 5763, of America, and the Ancient Order of Gleaners at Naomi.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.