Biography of M. F. Collier, Randolph Co, AR *********************************************************** Submitted by: Bridgette Cohen Date: 1998 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************** SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas Copyrighted and Published 1889 by Goodspeed Publishing Company M. F. Collier, of the law firm of Lomax & Collier, is one of the prominent men who make up the strength of the Arkansas bar. He is a native of Ohio County, Ky., born in the year 1849, and is the son of H. H. Collier and Susan F. (Allmon) Collier, also natives of the Blue Grass State. The father was a shoemaker in early life, but later followed agricultural pursuits, and is now engaged in merchandising at Prairie Grove, Ark. He emigrated to this county in 1860, settling in the northern part of the same, where he remained until 1881, and then moved to his present home. He was appointed United States census taker of Randolph County, and is quite a prominent man. He and his wife are worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. M. F. Collier was reared on a farm in the county, and there remained until nineteen years of age, when he came to Pocahontas. He was there engaged in a packing house as a laborer, and later was made hostler for the firm. Some time after this he was employed as salesman in the store of Mr. Hecht, where he continued three years. He was made book-keeper for the same man at Jacksonport, Ark., remained with him two years, and then returned to Pocahontas, where he took charge of the books in the main store. At the end of four years' service in that capacity, he took an interest in the real-estate business, and studied law. He was admitted to [p.385] the bar in February, 1886, and formed a partnership with Mr. Lomax, with whom he has remained up to the present time. He commands the confidence of the people and the respect of his law brethren, and is an acquisition to Pocahontas. He selected Miss Sophia E. Richter, a native of Louisiana, for his wife, and was wedded to her in 1876. They have an interesting family of five children: Eugene L., Alma, Beryl, Thomas and Laurane. Mr. and Mrs. Collier are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in which he is Sunday-school superintendent, and takes an active interest in church and Sunday- school work. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Chapter and Council, also of the Eastern Star, and the K. of H. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F. He owns some town property, and considerable land. The firm makes a specialty of real-estate business, and their extensive practice is but a natural result of their individual and confederate action.