COLLINS, John died 1882

COLLINS

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 11/4/2021 at 15:40:47

A most unfortunate and unexpected accident, which resulted in the death of John Collins, a farmer living near Thompson's Corners, occurred Saturday night between 8 and 9 o'clock.

Mr. Collins had been in town and started for home by way of the Columbus dyke about 8 o'clock. when next seen he was found lying by the roadside near his sleigh, with his head and face horribly mangled, in an unconscious condition. His horses were gone, and it seemed to those who found him that he had been lying by the roadside for several minutes, perhaps half an hour.

He was at one taken to a house in Columbus, where every effort was made to bring him back to consciousness. Medical aid being at once summoned, Dr. Thornton was soon at the bedside of the injured man, and soon discovered that all earthly efforts to save his life would prove unavailing. He had received a severe cut on the left cheek, and two deep cuts in the head, one above the left ear, which caused a fatal fracture of the skull. These wounds are supposed to have been received from the toe and heel calks of one of his horses, although it is not certainly known how the accident did take place, and many who examined the ground freely express the opinion that they cannot imagine how it could have occurred.

It was rumored on the street Sunday that there were strong evidences of foul play connected with certain circumstances surrounding the unhappy affair, but we have been unable, after a thorough investigation to find any reasonable grounds for these suspicions.

Mr. Collins was a native of Ireland. In youth he was a sailor, and had visited nearly every country on earth. He had lived many years in the county, owning an excellent farm in Lafayette township.

He leaves no widow, but several grown up children. His sudden, lonely, and unexpected death, during the holiday week, caused many a thoughtless one among us to reflect upon the uncertainties of life, and cast a shadow on the brightness of the merry christmas time.

~Lansing Mirror, Friday, January 5, 1883; pg 3

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Mr. John Collins, one of Lafayette's thrifty and prosperous farmers, met a strange and sudden fate in going home from this city the Saturday before New Year's. He was found between 8 and 9 o'clock that evening on the Columbus dyke, in an insensible condition from an ugly wound on his head.

His condition was the result of a runaway and as he did not recover consciousness before he died, the Tuesday following, nothing further is known as to the cause of the accident.

Mr. Collins' untimely end is deplored by two daughters, and numerous relatives and friends. He was buried Thursday at Paint Rock, where his wife sleeps before him in death.

~Allamakee Journal, Wednesday, January 10, 1883; pg 2

Note: The 'Woodmansee' book shows his burial in Thompson Corner cemetery, and indicates no marker. Because he was Irish, and likely Catholic, burial in Paint Rock Catholic cemetery is very likely as the Allamakee Journal obit indicates. Verification should be made.