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         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, 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, 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, 1864. 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 Grand View.

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 . . .

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. . . age of twenty-three years, on the 23d of February, 1885; Effie departed this life Sept. 16, 1866, 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, Jan. 26, 1878; Everett K. died Dec. 3, 1878, when an infant nine days old.