Collins, Hiram E., 1888-1936

COLLINS, SHEETS, KERN, HARMS

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:36

From the Sioux County Capital, February 20, 1936, Alton news:

We failed to mention last week that H. G. Collins of Vermillion, S.D. was brought here for burial. Funeral services were held at St. Mary’s church. Mr. Collins died on the train near Sioux City while enroute from Cheyenne, Wyoming. Mr. Collins was butter maker for a number of years for the Alton creamery. Mrs. Collins died in 1920 and in 1922 Mr. Collins married Elizabeth Kern of Alton. Mrs. Collins and eight children are left to mourn his death besides several sisters and brothers. Mrs. Collins and children expect to continue living in the vicinity of Vermillion.

* * * * * * * * * *

From the Alton Democrat, February 7, 1936:

H. E. Collins Funeral Here

Funeral services for H. E. Collins, former Alton resident, were held Thursday morning at St. Mary’s church in charge of Rev. M. A. Schemel with interment in St. Mary’s cemetery.

Mr. Collins operated a dairy at Alton eight years ago and went from here to a farm near Vermillion, So. Dak., where the family have since resided. He was forty-six years of age.

His death took place the preceding Monday on the train approaching Sioux City from Cheyenne, Wyo. where he had gone two months previously for the benefit of his health. He had a severe illness before leaving Alton and had never completely recovered his health, though with the aid of his family he farmed successfully in South Dakota.

Born in Germany, he came with his parents to the United States at the age of two years, the family having settled in Lyon county near Ocheyeden. In 1910 he married Miss Zoe Sheets of George, and three children were born to the union. In 1920, Mrs. Collins died, and two years later he married Elizabeth Kern of Alton.

He is survived by his widow and eight children, namely: Arthur, Evelyn, Victor, Harold, Fidelis, Zeta, Marcella and Marilyn; by two sisters, Mrs. Pearl Smith of Stockbridge, Mich. and Mrs. Anna Hammond of Columbia, S.D.; and by one brother, Carl Collins of Sioux Falls, So. Dak.

The family have the sympathy of many friends here in their loss. They expect to continue on the farm at Vermilion, the three boys being very capable of handling the work.

* * * * * * * * * *

From the Sioux City Journal, January 29, 1936 (as transcribed on his FindaGrave.com page)

DIES ON WAY TO HIS HOME
Vermilion Man Passes Away on Railroad Train Here

While on his way back to his home in Vermillion, S.D., from Cheyenne, Wyo., where he had gone for his health, Hiram E. Collins, 46, died Monday morning just as the train on which he was riding arrived in Sioux City. Mrs. Collins was with her husband on the train at the time he died. A son, Victor, was at the train to meet his parents. An attack of heart disease was given as the cause of death.

Mr. Collins was born in Germany March 3, 1889, and came to the United States in 1891. They settled in northwestern Iowa and Mr. Collins lived in George, Hawarden and Alton before moving to Vermillion in 1926. The deceased was a member of St. Agnes Catholic Church in Vermillion.

Surviving are his widow; three sons, Arthur and Harold of Vermillion, Victor of Aberdeen; five daughters, Evelyn of George, Fidelis, Zita, Marcella and Marilyn of Vermillion; two sisters, Mrs. Pearl Smith of Stock Bridge, Mich., and Mrs. Anna Hammond of Columbia, S.D.; and one brother, Carl Collins of Sioux Falls.

The body is at West’s funeral home pending funeral arrangements.

* * * * * * * * * *

RESEARCH NOTES

The Sioux County Cemetery Index has Hiram Collins, born 1888, died 1936, St Marys Cemetery, Alton IA.

His death certificate has Hiram E. Collins, farmer, residence Vermillion, South Dakota; born March 3, 1889 in Germany; parents E. Collins and Treca Harms; wife Elizabeth Collins; died at the Northwestern Railroad Depot, Sioux City, at 1:55 a.m. January 27, 1936; cause, cardiac failure, 1/27/36, and cardiac asthma, onset 1928.

His FindaGrave page has him as Hiram Engelbert Collins, with a photo of his headstone (“Father Hiram Collins 1888-1936”). There are also two photographs, unidentified but presumably of Collins and one of his wives.

The 1920 U.S. census shows him living in Alton, age 32, born in Illinois, parents born in Germany, a buttermaker at the creamery; wife Zoe, age 30, born in Iowa, sons Arthur (7) and Victor (3), and daughter Edwin[!?] (5).

The 1930 census shows him living in Spirit Mound Township, Clay County, South Dakota, age 42, born in Illinois, father born in France, mother in Germany, a farmer; with wife Elizabeth M. (36) and children Arthur B. (17), Evelyn (16), Harold A. (stepson, 13), Victor I. (13), Fidelis (7), Zita E. (6), Marcella L. (5), and Marilyn (3-10/12).

Ancestry.com has a World War I draft registration form that is probably him: Harm E. Collins, age 29, resident of Alton, Iowa, born March 3, 1888 in Kings, Illinois; married with three children; employed by Alton Creamery Co.; medium height and build, blue eyes, light hair, deaf in one ear.