Notes
Note for: Kenner B. Collins, 4 OCT 1831 - 9 AUG 1903
From "Portrait and Biographical Album of Louisa County, Iowa", 1889
K. B. Collins, a farmer on section 17, Port Louisa Township, Louisa
County, was born in Wood County, Va., in 1831, and is a son of Jacob and
Sarah (Gregg) Collins, also natives of the same State. They reared a
family of eleven children, of whom our subject was the eldest, and all
are yet living. Jacob Collins followed the occupation of farming
throughout his life, his death
occurring in 1885 (Note: actually July 21, 1876), at the age of eighty
years.
His wife still survives him, and resides in her native state. The
paternal
grandfather, Jacob Collins, was a soldier in the War of 1812.
Our subject was reared to farm life, and received his education in the
district schools of his native State. At the age of seventeen he came to
Iowa,
settling near Burlington, Des Moines County, where he remained two years,
and in 1850 went to Wisconsin, where he remained until 1855, at which
time he took up his residence in Louisa County. From 1855 to 1862, in
Port Louisa, he engaged in supplying wood to steamboats and railroads.
Mr. Collins was united in marriage, in July 1861, with Eliza (Springer)
Humphrey, widow of James Humphrey, and a daughter of Matthew and Permelia
Springer, who were natives of South Carolina (note: actually North
Carolina), but were among the pioneers of this State. They were the
parents of eight children. Mr. Springer settled in Keokuk at an early
day, but previously he had pre-empted the land in Mahaska County upon
which the city of Oskaloosa now stands. He engaged in the pork-packing
business at Keokuk until about 1853, when he came to Port Louisa, Louisa
County, and engaged in the same business for several years. He removed
to Missouri during the war, but returned to Iowa, where his death took
place at Agency City, April 13, 1854.
Mrs. Collins' mother died when she was quite young.
After his marriage Mr. Collins settled at Port Louisa, where he engaged in
the hotel business, and also dealt in wood, furnishing supplies to the
steamboats. He purchased ninety-five acres of land on sections 17 and 21
in
1870, and afterward added to his original purchase until he now has a
fine farm of 400 acres, 200 of which are under cultivation, the remainder
being used as pasturage. Mr. Collins takes an active interest in
political affairs. Being reared in the South and seeing it as it really
was, he became much opposed to the institution of slavery, and on the
organization of the Republican party joined its ranks, and is now one of
its strongest advocates. He has served as Trustee of the township, has
held the office of Road Commissioner, and filled the position of School
Director. Not only in political affairs does Mr. Collins take an
interest, but in all enterprises for the good of the community he is a
willing and ready worker. Mrs. Collins is a member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church of Grandview. To this worthy couple have been born ten
children, only four of whom are living: Charles W., Minta, Nevada and
Della, all of whom are still at home and are yet students. George H.
died at the age of twenty-three years on the 23rd
of February, 1885; Effie departed this life September 16, 1766, aged four
years; Lydia L. was called from her home May 20, 1869, when but one year
old; Mary J. was also one year old when her death occurred January 26,
1878; Everett K. died December 3, 1878, when an infant nine days old.
Notes
Note for: Eliza L. Springer, 5 FEB 1838 - 16 FEB 1905
Previously married to James Humphrey on 23 Feb 1853 and had two children,
Anna
M. Humphrey, b. 23 Dec 1853; d. 1857, and James Humphrey b. 24 Oct 24
1856; d.
20 Oct 1865
Notes
Note for: Evert F. Collins, 24 NOV 1878 - 2 DEC 1878
Name is also recorded as " Everett K."
Notes
Note for: Jacob Collins, ABT 1808 - 21 JUL 1876
First married briefly in Tyler County (whom?) in the 1820's; had a
daughter
named Lucinda b. about 1829. Marriage to Sarah Gregg in 1830 performed by
Pardon
Cook in Tyler County; can be found in Book 1, Page 18. Jacob served in
the
Civil War; was a member of the 14th Regt. of West Va. volunteers from 26
Aug1862 to 11 Aug 1865.
Notes
Note for: George J. Collins, ABT 1832 -
"...went West and died there."
Notes
Note for: Benjamin S. Collins, ABT 1841 -
"He went West and died there."
Notes
Note for: John M. Collins, ABT 1840 -
This person may not actually be a child of Jacob Jr. and Sarah Collins.
See
Barr Wilson's history of the Collins family.