Maricopa County AZ Archives Biographies.....Collins, M. E. 1832 - living in 1896 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/az/azfiles.html ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com March 5, 2005, 4:12 pm Author: McFarland & Poole p. 478-479 GEN. M. E. COLLINS. There is no other form of investment as safe and profitable as the judicious outlay of capital in real estate, and no city in the Union offers such advantages and opportunities as Phoenix, Arizona. This market is one which by its continual progress and great future possibilities extends an invitation to men of means or business ability to reach a High plane of success through the market's channels. Among the enterprising men who have recognized this fact and who are reliable dealers in realty stands the name of Gen. M. E. Collins. He was born in Ripley, Ohio, April 22, 1832; son of Theodore and Mary (Evans) Collins, natives of the Buckeye state. The father owned a saw mill and built steamboats and flatboats for Ohio trade on the Mississippi River. Later he began tilling the soil in Ohio and died in Brown County, that state, as did also his wife, who was eighty-six years old at the time of her death. Mr. Collins was a pioneer Abolitionist, and reached the unusual age of ninety-three years. They were the parents of ten children, six of whom are living at the present time: Dr. D. B. of Virginia City, Nevada; Nancy Armstrong, George, Theodore and Susan. Gen. M. E. Collins is next to the eldest of the living children. He secured a good practical education in the public schools, and at an early age began the study of law, being admitted to the bar in the Supreme Court of Illinois about the year 1861. In 1863 he was elected treasurer of Livingston County, Illinois, and served one term. After that he began dealing and operating in lands and purchased tracts at Glyndon, on the Northern Pacific Railroad, some at Duluth and some at Bismarck. In 1872 he went to Chicago and made two or three additions to that city by buying tracts and dividing. He remained in Chicago until 1882, when he removed to Riverside, California, and thence, later, to Los Angeles, where he remained until 1886. At that date he landed in Phoenix, Arizona, and immediately began dealing in real estate. He made the University addition, Capital addition, Collins' addition and has been extensively engaged in real estate up to the present. He built the first street railway in Phoenix and first cement walks. At the present time he owns about 1,100 lots, ranging from $250 to $500 a lot. His Capital addition is situated at the west end of Phoenix, on the electric line running through the center, and it is the most valuable residence property in the city. Mr. Collins has been one of the promoters of the building up of Phoenix. He has invested all his money right here and is a great believer in the future greatness of the place. He was a member of the Board of Commissioners of Insane Asylum for some time, but he has led an extremely active life in his chosen calling, and has had no time to seek office. He deals exclusively in his own property and is a thoroughly posted real estate dealer. Mr. Collins was married in 1868 to Miss Martha A. White, who died in 1890. He has one daughter, Hattie, who is the wife of John N. Hunt of Los Angeles, Cal. Politically the General is a Republican. Additional Comments: From: A Historical and Biographical Record of the Territory of Arizona Published by McFarland & Poole, Chicago, 1896 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/az/maricopa/bios/gbs42collins.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/azfiles/ File size: 3.8 Kb