Richard Collins

    Richard Collins was born in Wayne County, Indiana, May 8, 1815, and is a son of John and Jane (Holman) Collins. His early life was spent in Wayne County, where he received all the advantages the schools of that early day had to offer. He came to Whitley County, with his parents, September 25, 1836, locating in Cleveland Township, which has since been his home.

    He was married May 8, 1844, to Mary Rhodes, who became the mother of two children -Walter S. and Mary E., both deceased -the mother dying August, 1847. In the month of April, 1850, Mr. Collins married his present wife, Catherine Hildebrand, who is the mother of eight children, but four surviving. At the time of his marriage, Mr. Collins was County Clerk as well as Recorder, and served as such until November, 1855. He was the first Sheriff elected in Whitley County; in addition to these, he has filled various local offices of honor for some time, until recently he changed his occupation for that of a lumber dealer, which business he still follows. He is one of the first and most highly honored citizens of Whitley County; he is a Republican, but previous to the organization of that party was identified with the Whigs. He is a man possessing the confidence of all who know him.

Source: Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana, Historical and Biographical. Weston A. Goodspeed, Charles Blanchard, 1882. Page 245.