Obituary of John B. Collins, d. 1841

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Anne Futch, 
afutch@prodigy.net

USGENWEB NOTICE:  In keeping with our policy of providing free 
information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial 
entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These 
electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other 
presentation.  This file may not be removed from this server or altered
in any way for placement on another server without the consent of the 
State and USGenWeb Project coordinators and the contributor.

***********************************************************************

                  Obituary of John B. Collins

          In  St.  Marks,  on  the llth inst. of  the  prevailing
fever,  Col.  John  B.  Collins, Quarter Master  General  of  The
Florida Militia, aged about 40.

     The  deceased was a native of Connecticut. In early life  he
emigrated to the Western country, and thence to Florida where his
usefulness  as an enterprising citizen is fully attested  in  the
universal  grief at his loss, by a large circle  of  friends  and
acquaintances   throughout  Florida.  As   a   officer   he   was
indefatigable and prompt in performance of his duties - ardent in
his devotion to the service in which he was engaged; for the last
five years, he frequently descended from his responsible station,
to  perform the duties of the humblest individual attached to the
Department over which he presided. It may be truly said that "the
post of danger" to him "was the post of honor". In him Governor's
Call  and  Reid   and  the  gallant Col.  Bailey  ever  found  an
efficient  and untiring coadjutor. His knowledge of  the  country
and  fastnesses of the Seminoles, together with his  interminable
resources  (when the Territory was without a dollar) in supplying
the troops with subsistence and forage, marked him at once as one
of Florida's ablest officers.

     In  private  life  his character was unexceptionable.  As  a
gentleman and man of business, his manly bearing - his integrity,
promptness, industry, and discretion obtained for him the  esteem
and  confidence  of all. In his domestic relations  he  was  ever
kind, faithful and affectionate. Though separated from his family
circle  by  official duties his constant source of enjoyment  was
the  anticipation of the quiet seclusion of home. He has  left  a
disconsolate wife and three children, to whom, his loss  will  be
irreparable, and while we lament their loss, we feel that we have
lost a true friend, and his country a valuable citizen.

     This  obituary was copied from "The Floridian" published  at
Tallahassee,  Territory  of  Florida  14  Aug  1841.  Copies  are
available   on  microfilm  at  the  Florida  State   Library   in
Tallahassee and the University of Florida in Gainesville.