Gwinnett-Fulton-Dekalb County GaArchives Obituaries.....Collier, Wesley Gray March 1, 1906
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Lena S janie_reb_aingeal@yahoo.com June 5, 2008, 4:07 pm

Atlanta Constitution
Another Rugged Pioneer Dies In Wesley G. Collier – Friday, 02 March 1906
Atlanta Constitution 

    In the death of Wesley Gray Collier, Atlanta has lost another of those 
rugged pioneers who laid the foundation of the city’s greatness, and the last 
of a remarkable generation of men has been gathered to his fathers.

    Wesley Gray Collier had ten brothers and five sisters. The only survivor 
of this large, and, in many respects, extraordinary family is a sister, Mrs. 
Emily Evins, of Atlanta.

    Like most of his brothers and sisters, Wesley Gray Collier reached an 
advanced age. He was in his eighty-fourth year when the final summons came to 
him, at nine thirty o’clock yesterday morning, at his home, five miles out on 
the Peachtree Road. 

    In that house, over which the hush of death has fallen, Wesley Gray 
Collier lived for sixty years or more. It stands in the midst of a princely 
demesne similar to that owned by his brother, George Washington Collier, 
though further removed from the city.

    Nine weeks ago he was taken ill of the grip, and though his iron 
constitution resisted the disease stubbornly, his years were against him. It 
was no common man that died.

                    COLLIERS ARE CAROLINANS
    The Collier’s came from North Carolina. The nineteenth century was in its 
infancy when Meredith Collier and his wife, who was Elizabeth GRAY, migrated 
from their home on the Tar River and came to Gwinnett County, Georgia. They 
remained there several years, during which time a number of children were born 
including George Washington Collier. Then, in 1822, they came to what is now 
Fulton County and settled in the north of what became the city of Atlanta.

    Their home-the old Collier home as it is called-was the house occupied by 
George Washington Collier when he died a couple of years ago. In that Wesley 
Gray Collier and most of the children were born.

    A primeval forest covered all that region, and the Collier children grew-
up in the shadow of the great murmuring trees. They were sturdy and strong, 
and though they had few opportunities to acquire the lore of books nature had 
endowed them with keen judgment, and sound, hard sense.

    They were farmers, for the most part, and lived in the open, breathing the 
pure, fresh air of the woods and hills, engaging in occupations that steeled 
the physique. So they became splendid specimens of the American pioneer.

    The first real estate he owned was land lot 112. Later he bought land lot 
113 and the major portion of land lot 111. All told, there were five hundred 
acres in this property. It lies five miles north of the city, on Peachtree 
Road.

    It is creeping steadily nearer and nearer to it and it is a matter of only 
a short time until the property, which fronts a mile and a quarter on the 
Peachtree Road, will be as valuable as that of George Washington Collier.

                    WESLEY GRAY COLLIER WAS A FARMER
    Wesley Gray Collier was a farmer. He called for little besides his family, 
his fields and his church, though he was not lacking in civic duty. He never 
sought office, however or engaged in to any extent in politics. His life was 
simple, homely and healthy. He sought to teach his children right living, and 
was devoted to his church, and he knew how to till the soil.

    His church membership was at Sardis a Methodist congregation, whose house 
of worship lies near Buckhead. For decade after decade he has been one of the 
main supporters of that little religious fellowship.

    The funeral services over his body will be held at his home at two o’clock 
Saturday afternoon and he will be laid to rest in church yard at Sardis church.
Rev. Dr. Jones, his pastor, will officiate.

    Mr. Collier was married twice. His first wife was Miss Luceller SMITH. She 
bore him four children of which three are still living. His second wife who 
was Miss Eliza McDONALD survives him as do six of the seven children she bore 
him. The living children are George W. Collier, J. R. Collier, W. J. Collier, 
Mrs. Carrie L. WALKER, Mrs. Willie O. STEELE (Neppie Nevada COLLIER Steele), 
John W. Collier, Frank M. Collier, Charles F. Collier and Sanford G. Collier.















Additional Comments:
Third-great Uncle through his marriage to Luceller SMITH, sister of my Second 
Great-Grandmother Martha Lucinda SMITH Steele who was the mother of Willie O. 
Steele as well, Aunt Luceller & Grandmother Martha were the daughters of 
Robert Hiram & Elizabeth HAWKINS Smith of DeKalb County.

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