BIO:  A. J. COLLINS, Mountjoy Township, Adams County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
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History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania
Chicago:  Warner, Beers & Co., 1886
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Part III, History of Adams County, Page 483

A. J. COLLINS, farmer, P. O. Two Taverns, was born November 14, 1849, in Adams 
County, Penn., son of Edward Collins.  He was educated in the schools of this 
county, and his early life was spent on his father’s farms.  At the age of 
eighteen he entered the employ of Reyburn Hunter & Co., of Philadelphia, in the 
lightning rod business, and for nine years traveled for the firm through 
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia.  After this he 
returned to his native county, and engaged in farming.  Here he was married to 
Miss Maggie S., daughter of Joseph Mackley.  To this union was born, October 28, 
1879, one son-Ellis C.  After marriage Mr. Collins farmed for two years on one 
of his father’s farms.  He next engaged in mercantile business at Two Taverns, 
keeping a general store and running a market car from Littlestown, Penn., to 
Baltimore, Md., for about five years.  While making one of these trips, in the 
night of June 20, 1881, and while going at full speed, his car was run into by 
another car, and wrecked, and he lost his right leg, being otherwise injured.  
He proved by the suit which he entered against the railroad company, that the 
cars were running at a speed of fourteen miles an hour, and obtained a verdict 
for $8,000 damages, after which the suit went to the court of appeals, where the 
verdict was sustained, with interest from date of accident.  The litigations 
lasted four years.  Mr. Collins obtaining judgment May 27, 1884.  Our subject’s 
whole life has been an active one.  He sold his interest in the mercantile 
business in March, 1883, when he bought his farm, on which, he now resides, and 
which comprises 125 acres of land.  He is a stanch Democrat in politics, and has 
ever taken an active interest in political matters.