Tattnall County, Ga Biographies  Jimerson M. Collins

Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm

This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb
Archives by: Sandria G Swope (Swobunny@msn.com)


Table of Contents page: 
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/tattnall.htm
Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm


COLLINS, Jimerson M., merchant. Quince, Tattnall Co., Ga., son
of John and Mary A. Collins, was born in Tattnall county May
26,1854. His paternal grandfather, Josiah Collins, was a native
of North Carolina, whence, when a young man, he came to
Georgia. Mr. Collins’ father was a farmer all his life, was a
member of the Primitive Baptist church, and died in 1885 aged
seventy-nine years. His mother, still living, is a member of
the same church, and is eighty years of age. They were the
parents of fourteen children, of whom six survive: Joshua;
Stephen; Jimerson; Julia, wife of Bryant Jones, Bulloch county,
Ga; Susan, wife of E.H. Hancock, Richmond county, Ga., and
Eliza, wife of L.L. Hodges, Tattnall county. Mr. Collins was
educated at the common schools of the county, and when twenty-
one years of age was engaged as a clerk in the store of Mr.
Jarrall, at Ohoopee, Ga. After six years' service as a clerk
Mr. Jarrall advanced him to a partnership and two years later
sold out to him, and Mr. Collins has continued the business on
his own account down to the present time. He has been in
business in Cobbtown since 1884, has been very successful, and
has a splendid property in and near Cobbtown, where he has a
fine residence. In addition to his store he has a good farm,
and operates a ginnery. Absorbed in his business interests he
has cared nothing for office, yet in 1894 the democrats cast
about for a man popular enough to beat the populists. They
decided upon Mr. Collins, nominating him over very strong
opposing candidates, and electing him over the populist
candidate by a handsome majority, although the state democratic
ticket was defeated in the county. He started in life with a
meager education, no capital except good health, uprightness of
character, industrious and economical habits, and a
determination to rise in the world. So far his youthful
anticipations have been more than realized. His future is
bright. Mr. Collins was married in October, 1886, to Miss
Maggie, daughter of Jackson and Roxa Bird, and to them four
children have been born: Mertie, Carl, Eva and Dean. Mr.
Collins is a member of the Masonic fraternity.