James S. Collins

    James S. Collins is one of a family of eleven children, and was born in Wayne County, Indiana, December 19, 1819. His parents, John and Jane Collins, were natives respectively of Virginia and Kentucky, were married in the latter State and emigrated to the Territory of Indiana in 1806. Mr. Collins finding the air of freedom more congenial to his strong anti-slavery principles. They settled four miles south of where Richmond now stands, and remained until 1836, when they removed to Whitely County, locating one half mile west of the present site of South Whitley, remaining there until 1846, when they removed to Columbia City, where they afterward died.

    James S. Collins remained with his parents, assisting them in pioneer labors, until the spring of 1844, when he went to Fort Wayne, and began the study of law with L. P. Ferry, an attorney of that city. He remained there until Mr. Ferry's death, when he came to Columbia City, and began the practice of his chosen profession. He was admitted to the bar at the fall term of Whitley County Circuit Court in 1844, and has since devoted his time to practice, with the exception of three years, in which he was actively employed in the construction of the Eel River Railroad, of which he was President.

    Mr. Collins was married in 1849, at Richmond, Indiana to Eliza J. Fleming, and a family of six children was the result of this union _Jane H., Reginald H., Dorothy, Howard, Sophia Du P. and William James, all living except Howard, who died at the age of six years. Mrs. Collins was formerly a Whig in politics, but is now Republican -was elected to the State Legislature in 1860, and served in the regular and special sessions of 1861.

Source: Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana, Historical and Biographical. Weston A. Goodspeed, Charles Blanchard, 1882. Page 244.