Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 929-930
WILLIAM H. COLLINS

WILLIAM H. COLLINS, a resident of section 9, Raglan Township, came to Harrison County in the autumn of 1878, first locating near Woodbine, where he rented land for four years.  He states that upon his arrival in Harrison County, he had but fifteen cents in his pocket.  He succeeded in securing one hundred and twenty acres of wild land on section 10, of Raglan Township, which he improved by breaking, building a one-story and a half house 16 x 24 feet, together with accompanying outbuildings.  He kept this place one year and sold it for twice what he had given.  He then bought a quarter-section of wild land in Little Sioux Township, where he made improvements, building the necessary buildings, enclosed it all within a good fence, and set out shade trees and planted out a fine orchard.  He still owns this place.  In 1887 he bought his home farm which consisted of one hundred and sixty acres of partly improved land, upon which he has remained ever since.

     Our subject was born in Monroe County W. Va., in September, 1856.  He is the son of Edward and Elizabeth COLLINS, natives of Ireland and Virginia respectively, whose family were as follows: Mary, Peter, deceased; James, John, Sarah, William H., and Elizabeth.  Our subject’s educational advantages were very limited, only having an opportunity to attend school two weeks.

     He remained in the “Old Dominion” State until twenty-two years of age, and then came to Harrison County, Iowa.

     April, 1876, marked a new era in this man’s life, for it was during that month that he was united in marriage with Mary A. MACENUR, daughter of Major Anson and Cynthia MACENUR, natives of Virginia, whose only child was our subject’s wife.

     For his second wife our subject married Susan SOUTH, February 26, 1880, daughter of Jackson and Rebecca SOUTH, natives of Ohio and Indiana respectively.  They were the parents of nine children, of whom our subject’s wife was the third child.  The names of the children are as follows: Francis, deceased; William, Susan, Jefferson, deceased; David Albert, Ransom, Minnie and Jane.  Seven of these children are still living; all are in Iowa except Ransom, who is a resident of Nebraska.

     Our subject and his wife are the parents of five children, born and named in the following order: Connie, August 2,1877; Thomas E., August 13, 1881, deceased; Cora, May 27, 1883: Minnie, April 14, 1885; Edith, December 25, 1889; Nancy May, July 4, 1891.

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