Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Collins, Edward  
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Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 February 2, 2008, 2:46 am

Author: Past & Present Will County, 1907

EDWARD COLLINS. The agricultural interests of Will county are well represented 
by Edward Collins who is an enterprising farmer, owning and operating three 
hundred acres of land on section 14, Wilmington township, and he is likewise 
raising good grades of horses, cattle and hogs. He was born in Creaton 
Galloway, Scotland, in 1847, a son of Owen and Bridget (Gilmore) Collins. The 
father was born in Ireland, while the mother was born in Galloway, Scotland, 
and died there in 1856. Mr. Collins was a quarryman in his native country and 
had he remained there would have received a pension by reason of his length of 
service in that connection, but his children having emigrated to the new 
World, in 1867 he, too, crossed the Atlantic in order that he might spend his 
remaining days with them. He died in Joliet in 1890, having reached the 
advanced age of eighty years. He was a communicant of the Roman Catholic 
church. His family numbered six children, of whom only three now survive: 
Edward, of this review; Daniel, a resident of South Dakota; and James, who 
makes his home in Joliet. Edward Collins was reared and educated in his native 
land, there remaining until he attained his majority, when, having heard 
favorable reports concerning the advantages to be enjoyed in the new world, he 
decided to try his fortune in America, and accordingly, in 1868, took passage 
on a steamship bound for the United States. Reaching Boston Massachusetts, he 
made his way thence to Middletown, Connecticut, where he remained during the 
succeeding two years, subsequent to which time he continued his journey 
westward, settling in Wilmington township, Will county, Illinois. He was here 
employed in a quarry for a time, after which he engaged in agricultural 
pursuits, operating rented land from 1872 until 1901, during which time he had 
saved a sum sufficient to enable him to purchase a farm in the latter year, 
when he became owner of three hundred acres, situated on section 14, 
Wilmington township, constituting one of the valuable and well improved farms 
of this section of the state. In addition to raising the cereals best adapted 
to soil and climate he likewise raises good grades of cattle, horses and hogs, 
and this branch of his business is proving a gratifying source of income. He 
follows only the best methods of farming, keeping abreast with the progress of 
the times through reading, investigation and experiment. Mr. Collins was 
married, August 1, 1881, to Miss Sarah Hayes, who was born in Wilmington in 
May, 1861. Her parents were James and Margaret (Feeney) Hayes, the former born 
in Illinois, and the latter in Canada. They were among the early pioneer 
settlers of Will county, the father having here developed and improved a farm 
of one hundred and eighty acres and for many years was identified with 
agricultural interests. He died in Will county, but his wife is still living 
in Channahon township. The father was a Jacksonian democrat but never cared 
for public office. He was a communicant of the Catholic church. His family 
numbered three children, of whom Mrs. Collins is the eldest, the others being 
Robert, and Mary, the widow of Benjamin Tierney, mention of whom is made on 
another page of this work. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Collins has been blessed 
with five sons, Peter, James, Edward, Robert and Daniel, all of whom are still 
with their parents and are assisting their father in the operation of the home 
farm. Mr. Collins' study of the political questions and issues of the day has 
led him to give active and stalwart support to the democratic party. He is a 
communicant of the St. Rosa Catholic church at Wilmington. Mr. Collins is 
reliable in his business dealings with his fellowmen, so that he has won the 
confidence and good will of all with whom he has come in contact. He came to 
this country a poor man but has through his diligence, energy and perseverance 
gradually worked his way upward to prosperity, and he is rearing his sons to 
habits of thrift and economy, so that they are now proving to him able 
assistants in the management of his business affairs.

Additional Comments:
PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the 
Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1907

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