In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1909) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1849
From History of the city of Dayton and Montgomery County, Ohio (1909), Centennial portrait and biographical record of the city of Dayton and of Montgomery County, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with the biographi (1897)
OHN COLLINS, official stenographer f for the courts of Montgomery county, / 1 Ohio, and superintendent of the stenographic department of Beck’s Commercial college, of Dayton, Ohio, was born at Angelica, Allegany county, N. Y., September 14, 1849. He attended the public schools of Wellsville, in the county of his birth, and also the academy at Angelica, receiving additional instruction in Latin and other branches from his father.
Charles Collins, his father, was born in Geneva, Ontario county, N. Y., January 2, 1813. He received his education at Geneva college, now Hobart college, situated at Geneva, N. Y. — a Protestant Episcopal institution established in 1822. He graduated from that institution in 1834, and is, with one exception, the oldest alumnus of that college now living. Having afterward studied law, he practiced that profession for some time in Detroit, Mich., from which city he removed to Angelica, N. Y., where his parents were then living, and practiced law at Angelica and at Wellsville, N. Y., for sometime. His father was one of the distinguished men of that county, being county judge for several years. In 1866 Mr. Collins removed to Northumberland, Northumberland county, Pa., and thereengaged in fruit farming, having retired from the active practice of the law. After living at Northumberland, engaged as above noted, until 1882, he removed to Dayton, Ohio, and is now residing in that city with his son. His wife was Elizabeth Hyde Cardell, daughter of William S. Cardell, of Lancaster, Pa., the author of several school books, among them Jack Halyard, a work well-known in the east. William S. Cardell was a half-brother of Chancellor Walworth, of New York state. Mrs. Collins died in 1873, at Northumberland, Pa.
John Collins learned from his father the characters used in shorthand before he learned the ordinary English letters. He remained on the farm with his father until 1875. He then went to Delaware, Ohio, where he purchased and operated a book bindery for three years, giving more or less attention to shorthand during that time. He reported the proceedings of the first convention of the Music Teachers’ National association, held at Delaware in that year, and afterward did occasional work of this kind in Delaware until 1878, when he went to Columbus, Ohio, and there spent one year with the official stenographers at the capitol. In the spring of 1879 he removed to Dayton and received the appointment as official stenographer for the courts of Montgomery county, a position he has held continuously up to the present time, eighteen years.
Mr. Collins was married in the spring of 1877 to Sarah J. Leighoux, of Northumberland, Pa., and to them have been born three daughters — Helen, Bertha and Lucy, all of whom are attending the Steele high school, in Dayton.
Mr. Collins has achieved a high reputation for accuracy and reliability in the duties of his official position, and the excellence of his work is fully appreciated by the members of the legal profession who constitute the Montgomery county bar. He is a writer of no mean literary attainments, and has produced a number of articles, both in prose and verse, of a high degree of merit.
As printed in Centennial portrait and biographical record of the city of Dayton and of Montgomery County, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with the biographi (1897). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
JOHN COLLINS.
John Collins, official stenographer in Dayton, was born in Angelica, Allegany county, New York, on the lath of September, 1849, and was one of the four children who were born unto Charles and Elizabeth Hyde (Cardell) Collins. The father was a native of Geneva, New York, born in 1813, and was graduated from the Geneva College. For many years, he engaged in the practice of law in Angelica, but at length retired from the profession and came to Dayton, where his remaining days were passed. His wife died in Northumberland, Pennsylvania, in 1873. They were the parents of four children but one daughter died at the age of nine years. Three of the number reached years of maturity and still survive, namely: John, of this review; Helen, who is the widow of David Reimer; and Mrs. Florence Pringle. The Collins family was established in New England at an early date. The grandfather, John Collins, was born in Litchfield, Connecticut, in the eighteenth century, and died in Angelica, New York, where for many years he made his home. He was an attorney at law and served as county judge at Angelica. His wife bore the maiden name of Ann Gregory.
John Collins, whose name introduces this review, spent the first sixteen or seventeen years of his life at Wellsville, New York, and in the place of his nativity, during which period he attended the public schools and also Angelica Academy. On leaving that institution, he went to Northumberland, Pennsylvania, remaining there and at Sunbury, just across the river, until 1875, during a part of which period he was engaged in book binding. In that year, he came to Ohio, settling first at Delaware, where he continued in the same business for two years, after which he spent one year in Columbus, Ohio, as assistant to the official court stenographer. In May, 1879, he was appointed to his present position, which he has now occupied for thirty years. He is regarded as an expert stenographer, his ability being plainly evidenced in his long continuance in office. He is also a popular official in the courts, having the good will, friendship and high regard of attorneys and the court.
In 1877, Mr. Collins was married in Northumberland, Pennsylvania, to Miss Sarah J. Leighon, and they have three children, Helen, Bertha and Lucy. In his political views, Mr. Collins is a republican, and keeping well informed on the questions and issues of the day, is thus able to support his position by intelligent argument. He does not seek official preferment, however, outside of the one position which he has filled for three decades.
As printed in History of the city of Dayton and Montgomery County, Ohio (1909). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: John W. Stoddard (b. 1837)
Their biographies name John Collins: John Gates Doren (b. 1834)
The printed record stops around 1909. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.