Osceola County MI Archives Biographies.....Collins, Charles W. July 1, 1844 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Jan Cortez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00020.html#0004939 January 21, 2008, 8:55 pm

Author: Chapman Brothers, Chicago

Charles M. Collins, senior member of the firm of Collins & Amspoker, 
manufacturers and dealers in furniture and 

undertakers' wares, at Reed City, was born July 1, 1844, in Brant Co., Ont.  
At the age of 23 years Mr. Collins took 

leave of the farm where he had been brought up, and went to Stratford, Ont., 
where he obtained a situation in the 

agricultural house of Sharman Brothers as traveling salesman, in which 
capacity he passed a year; he then spent two 

years in the acquistion of the trade of a cabinet-maker at St. Mary's Ont.  He 
then went to Atchison, Kan., and operated 

in that line a few months.  He remove next to a farm in Brantford, Washington 
Co. Kan., operating as a farmer and 

builder until the date of his coming to Reed City, in the fall of 1876.  He 
bought the site of his present business 

stand, and erected a building and commenced the sale of furniture.  In 1879 he 
erected a brick building in the rear of 

the store, fitted it up with machinery and began the manufacture of the wares 
in which he deals.  He formed a 

partnership with T.J. Amspoker, Oct. 1, 1881, and they have a stock which 
represents a cash value of about $10,000 and 

tranact annually an extensive business.  The warehouse of the firm fronts on 
Higbe Street.

Mr. Collins was married at Norwichville, Dec. 25, 1866, to Mary Ann Clemmens.  
she was born in Bronte, Ont., June 1, 

1845, and is the daughter of Thomas Clemmens.  They have five children:  
Lillie was born Feb. 25, 1868, in Stratford, 

Ont., Leland was born April 17, 1871, in Brantford, Kansas, where Gertrude was 
born Oct. 20, 1874; Frankie was born June 

18, 1879; and Georgie, May 23, 1880.  The last two named were born at Reed 
City.

Additional Comments:
1884 Portrait & Bio Album of Osceola Co.

Chapman Brothers, Chicago

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/osceola/bios/collins1031gbs.txt

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