My Genealogy Hound

Asa King Collett is one of Adair’s prominent citizens, and is a native of Madison County, Ky. He was born on November 7, 1821, the youngest son of William and Jane (Hubbard) Collett, to whom were born two sons and two daughters. The father was a Virginian, and lived in Kentucky, finally moving to Howard County, Mo., where his wife died in 1827. He afterward married Mrs. Fanny (Vaughn) Moffett, by whom he had two children, one of whom was born after their removal to Monroe County, in 1833. During the winter of 1830-37 the father and Mr. Martin selected a site on the Chariton River. After a few years there, and a couple of years about three miles up the river, he went to Iowa in 1850. He soon after returned to Chariton County, where he lost his second and third wives, and made his home with his children. The father died in Kansas, in 1881. The children by his first marriage are Minerva, Mary, Ervin, and our subject, the first of whom died in Monroe County, Mo., and the second of whom lives in Idaho, where she has resided since the death of her husband, Mr. Williams. The last mentioned of these, Asa K., began work for the Connor Bros., at the age of seventeen. He continued working for these gentlemen, who were running a tannery at his father’s place, until the opening of the Mexican War, in which conflict he served over a year, in Price’s regiment. He was married January 9, 1848, to Bersheba Cain, and the following year went to California, where he spent ten years in mining. Since his return he has lived on the old home place. He served two terms as township trustee, and in 1882 was Democratic candidate for county judge. Mr. and Mrs. Collett have had but one child, Ira R. Two of his ancestors served in our famous war, the grandfather, William, in the Revolution, and the father in the War of 1812, participating in Dudley’s defeat. The former died in Virginia. Mr. Collett has been a success as a miner and farmer.