William Sheridan Collins

As printed in 1910

WILLIAM S. COLLINS.

William Sheridan Collins came to Scott county, Iowa, from New York, in August, 1838. He was born February 15, 1806, at Litchfield, Connecticut, a son of David and Jerusha (Wright) Collins. David Collins became a merchant of New York and at one time a member of congress. In 1826 William S. Collins went from Connecticut to Albany, New York, where he learned and followed the carpenter's trade. He was married there in 1831 to Miss Orphia Jackson and unto them were born two children, Miles A. and Orphia L. The latter became the wife of Newton J. Field arid had one son Newton Miles Field, who was killed in a railway accident.

Orphia Jackson, the first wife of William S. Collins died in 1836 and Mr. Collins was influenced to come to Iowa by the fact that his brother Lucius Collins was a farmer of this state, living near the Summit. William S. Collins was a contractor and carpenter in Davenport and erected a large number of business blocks, including the former McManus building at Second and Main streets, the Perry and Mcintosh blocks, the old Baptist church at Sixth and Main, and the brick residence at Fifth and Rock Island streets. A number of the structures which show forth his handiwork are still standing. He became recognized as one of the leading contractors and builders of this part of the state and did much in promoting the substantial improvements of this district. In 1842 he married Eliza Dillion, and they had three children, of whom two died in infancy, while the other, Chester Worthington Collins is a banker of Brooklyn, New York. The mother, who was born in the Empire state in 1823, passed away in 1846. For his third wife Mr. Collins those Mrs. Eleanor Bird, who was born in New York city in 181 5 and was the widow of William Bird. There were two children of this marriage namely: Sarah Ella, now the widow of Watson Graham, who died in Davenport; and McManus W., of Denver, Colorado. The third wife of William S. Collins has also passed away.

William S. Collins was one of the charter members of the Edwards Congregational church and its first clerk. He donated money for the erection of the church and took an active part in the organization of the first Sunday school. His political allegiance was given to the whig party until its dissolution, when he joined the ranks of the new republican party. He served as alderman of Davenport from the third ward from 1846 to 1849, and from the fifth ward in 1859. He also was trustee of the poor. He was a very earnest and zealous worker in the organization known as the Sons of Temperance for twenty years, and from 1848 until his death on August 9, 1887, he was an exemplary representative of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

As printed in History of Davenport and Scott County Iowa : Illustrated (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.