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         JOHN L. COLLINS, a pioneer hardware merchant, of Columbus Junction, Iowa, was born in Bombay, Franklin Co., N. Y., June 26, 1828, and is the son of Michael and Margaret (Cotter) Collins. His parents were natives of County Cork, Ireland, and emigrated to America in the spring of 1828. Landing in Canada, they went directly to Ft. Covington, Covington Co., N. Y., arriving at that place in May.

Our subject was reared on a farm and received his education partly in the public schools and partly at an academy. At the age of eighteen years he went to Berkshire County, Mass., where he was employed as a book-keeper and clerk in a general store. A year later he returned to New York, where he served as foreman for the Shakers. He subsequently taught school in his native State until 1851, when he went West, locating at Wilmington, Ill., where he engaged as salesman in a general store, and in the year 1852 again taught school in a French settlement, and then engaged with a contractor on the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad as foreman of construction. After serving one year with that company he spent a short time in the service of the Oquawka Railroad on the eastern extension of that line, and in 1854 came to Iowa, and built a portion of the Mississippi & Missouri Railroad, now the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific, extending from Muscatine Island to a point situated a half-mile west of what was known as the sand bank, adjacent to the present city of Columbus Junction. He was connected with the extension of the road to Washington, supplying material for track-laying, and on the Mississippi & Missouri Road to the sand bank, near the present crossing of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern; in July, 1857, Mr. Collins opened a lumber-yard at that point. He there continued business until the road was completed to what is now known as Old Clifton, in Columbus City Township, when he removed his business to that point, and opened a general store in the fall of 1858. He bought out Charles Gallup, who had opened the first business house at Clifton three months before, and carried a general stock of merchandise, also dealing in live stock, lumber and coal. Later he added agricultural implements to his already extensive business, and built up a large trade. In the spring of 1872 Mr. Collins transferred his business to Columbus Junction, moving his family to that place in the fall of 1874. He had established a good trade at the Junction, when his property was destroyed by fire on the 22d of June, 1874, by which he sustained a loss of $7,700. He rebuilt on the same site, and the building was again destroyed by fire in October, 1888. In the fall of 1876 he built the fine brick store which he now occupies. The building is 20x75 feet, two stories high, the upper floor being occupied until recently as a public hall. Later Mr. Collins bought a half-interest in the adjoining building of the same size and style. He carried on the business of hardware and farm machinery exclusively until 1880, when he added dry-goods to his stock, occupying the south store for that purpose. On the 1st of January, 1883, he sold a half-interest to his brother, P. H. Collins, and the business was conducted under the firm name of J. L. & P. H. Collins until May . . .

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. . . 28, 1888, when they divided the business, his brother taking the dry-goods and grocery department, and John L. retaining the hardware.

On the 13th of June, 1866, Mr. Collins was married, at Waukegan, Ill., to Miss Ellen A. O’Connell, who was born at Bombay, Franklin Co., N. Y., and is the daughter of John O’Connell. In politics Mr. Collins is a Greenbacker, and has held various official positions. While a resident of Clifton he served as Postmaster from July, 1861, until December, 1866, and has served two terms as Mayor of Columbus Junction. He is a member of Columbus Junction Lodge No. 365, I. O. O. F., and of Washington Lodge No. 101, A. O. U. W., of Columbus Junction. Mr. Collins carries a stock averaging in value $5,000, and has the leading establishment in the hardware line in the county. He started in life without the influence of friends and without money, but by energy and enterprise, supported by integrity and sound business principles, has succeeded in spite of losses by fire and reverses in business in securing a comfortable fortune.