Martha Udora Loretta Ames Collins

COLLINS, AMES, HOPKINS, BARBER

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 2/14/2011 at 21:31:26

Aged Lady Is Called To Reward
Mrs. Sam Collins Passes Yesterday Morning – One of Emmet County’s Earliest Residents
Mrs. Martha Collins, widow of Samuel Collins, pioneer recorder, passed away yesterday morning at about seven forty-five, after a short illness. Mr. Collins, her partner for more than 69 years, died May 23 of this year. She had cared for him personally during long months after he had fallen and broken his hip but failed rapidly in strength following his death. The past few weeks she had been bedfast but retained her mental faculties and her indefatigable sense of humor to the last. Mrs. Collins was always the life and wit of any gathering which she might attend but in a quiet and unassuming way.

She had been an active member of the Baptist church of this city since its organization in pioneer days and although her chief interests had always been in her home she had found time to be a good neighbor and friend.

Martha Ames the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Ames was born eighty-seven years ago in Wisconsin. She came to Estherville with her mother and stepfather by ox team and covered wagon in 1858. The Hopkins family returned to that state for a short time during the Indian uprising but with that exception have made their home here. On St. Valentine’s day, 1868, she became the bride of Samuel Collins who had moved to this place from Canada a few years before. Four children were born to them, Hazel, Gaylord, Claude and Jay. All but Jay has preceded their parents in death.

Surviving are the son, one sister, Mrs. Albert Barber, a daughter-in-law, Mrs. Gaylord Collins and two grandsons, Romaine and Gaylord, all of Estherville.

Funeral services will be Friday at 2:00 o’clock at the Mahlum and Anderson funeral home, and at 2:30 at the Baptist church with Rev. J. Albert Riggs bringing the message. Pall bearers are N. J. Lee, I. Coleman, H. O. Silge, Vance Noe, Sam Bammer and Teo. Flindt. (Vindicator & Republican, Estherville, IA, September 30, 1937)