My Genealogy Hound

JOHN B. COLLINS is one of Jamestown’s representative business men whose pride is in her prosperity, and whose efforts are concentrated towards her advancement. He was born at Dovre, East Canada, October 28, 1848, being a son of Capt. Thomas and Elizabeth (Marcy) Collins, who were respectively of Irish and Welsh extraction. This combination, together with a long residence under the stars and stripes, serves to make a number one American. His grandfather Collins came of a family familiar to readers of Irish history. His maternal grandfather was a Welshman well known in the locality where he lived and died. Captain Thomas Collins (father) was born in Ireland, and when but nine years old, being of an adventurous disposition, went to sea, which dangerous calling he followed until he arrived at manhood, when he married Elizabeth Marcy and came to America. The date of his arrival is not established, but probably some time in the early forties. He, for some time, was a captain of a vessel plying the waters of Lake Erie, and afterwards navigated the Mississippi river in like capacity. During the war of the Rebellion he served as a lieutenant, and was afterwards promoted to captain in the Union army. He afterwards settled at Detroit, Michigan, where he lived for a number of years, and died in Dubuque, Iowa. Independent in politics, Capt. Collins had the courage of his convictions to vote as he chose. His wife, Elizabeth Collins, is still living, making her home with a son in Denver, Col., and although seventy-two years of age, is still hale and hearty. She was the mother of eight children, equally divided as to sex; of the sons, the oldest, James, is an experienced and trustworthy engineer, living at Denver, Col. He was with the Union army three months, entering the service from Iowa, where he joined the 1st Iowa Infantry; Thomas is a resident of Salt Lake city, Utah; Matthias is traveling in Europe, where he has spent a number of years.

John B. Collins received his early education at the public schools, and while yet a young man secured employment as a railroad fireman, which he followed for some time, and has the distinction of firing the first locomotive that crossed the Mississippi river, which occurred at Dubuque, in 1861. Remaining there until 1862, Mr. Collins went south, and fired on a southern railroad, and then ran a locomotive until, discovering his adaptability for the work, he entered the secret service of the United States army, and served in this capacity until the close of the war, the scenes of his operations being chiefly in Georgia, under General Sherman. He was present at the battles of Kennesaw Mountain and Franklin, Tenn., and during his service was thrice captured, the first time being in the interior of Alabama, where he escaped after forty-eight hours detention; again, by General Morgan, and the third time by John Morgan, at Tilton, Ga., and both the latter were very narrow escapes. Mr. Collins’ services to the army were very valuable, and the courage displayed was much greater than required of a common soldier, for capture and detection meant “death at sunrise.” At the close of the war he went to Colorado and engaged in mining until 1877, when, returning east, he decided to again enter mercantile life, which was done in New York city. Remaining here one year this business was disposed of and he moved to Buffalo, this State, where he was employed on salary until 1880, when he again established himself, this time permanently, for his present fine store is a branch house established while in Buffalo, and discovering that this city was all that could be desired for a business house, in 1883 he made this his headquarters, and built the magnificent establishment known as “The Fair,” which requires two store-rooms, 20 by 80 feet, to accommodate his patrons, and employing at times as many as twenty assistants. He also conducts in connection with this a fine store at Corning. Mr. Collins was one of the leading spirits in the organization of the Jamestown Driving Park association, and has been the secretary since its organization, in 1886. Politically he is a democrat, but in local elections he eliminates partisanship from his convictions. In addition to his connections with the Driving Park association, he is a member of the board of trade, and is always foremost in every enterprise advanced to promote the city’s prosperity.

On January 7, 1885, Mr. Collins married Mary T. Powers, a daughter of John Powers, of Corning, and has four children: Mary E., Frank T., Harry J., and Louis W., in whom he takes much pride and comfort. He is a prominent member of the I. O. O. F., and at the organization of the Royal Arcanum connected himself with it.