Eben D. Collins

As printed in 1906

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 A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan (1906). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.