BIO: John Joseph SCOLLINS, Clearfield County, PA
 
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From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania,
and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr.,
Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, pages 974 - 976.
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  JOHN JOSEPH SCOLLINS, Justice of the Peace, at Houtzdale, Pa., is one of the 
best known of the younger generation of business men in the Borough.  He was 
born at Houtzdale, May 12, 1885, and is a son of Michael and Alicia (Ronan) 
Scollins.
  Michael Scollins, his father, was born in England but was reared in Ireland 
and came from there to America at an early age.  He lived at Tioga County, prior 
to coming to Houtzdale in the early 80's.  He followed mining as an occupation, 
and for a time conducted a licensed restaurant and the Woodward Hotel at 
Houtzdale, retiring from this business in 1899.  He then went to Pittsburgh and 
worked for some years in the employ of the Carnegie Steel Company.  He returned 
to Houtzdale, where he died in 1905.  He married Alicia Ronan, who was born in 
Huntingdon County.  Her father, John Ronan, was a miner and a man of 
considerable prominence at Dudley, where he served on the School Board, and as 
its secretary, for thirty years.  Mrs. Scollins still survives.  Seven children 
were born to Michael Scollins and his wife, namely:  Nora, who is the wife of 
Charles W. Pie, of Somerset, Pa.; Margaret, who died in infancy; John; Agnes; 
Mary, who died at the age of twelve years; Paul and Catherine.
  John Scollins received his primary education in the parochial school at 
Houtzdale and in 1903 graduated from the Houtzdale High School.  While a student 
at the High School he was appointed to the office of Town Clerk, which position 
he held continuously until 1909, when he resigned to assume the duties of his 
present office.  Upon graduation, he became connected with the law offices of W. 
H. Patterson and J. A. Gleason, took the necessary examination and secured a 
teacher's certificate, following which he taught one term at the Beaverton 
School in Decatur Township, and was then elected to teach the Moshannon School 
at Osceola.  He was crippled in infancy and about this time, owing to his active 
life, his injury developed to an extent that caused the loss of a leg, in 1904.  
In the meantime he opened a fire insurance agency, which he still conducts in 
conjunction with his other work.  He is recognized as a young man of more than 
the usual amount of ability, while his personality is such that he has hosts of 
friends.  He succeeded to the office of Justice of the Peace by appointment of 
Governor Stuart; and is now serving a full term having been elected to this 
office on the Democratic ticket.  He is deeply interested in educational 
affairs; was one of the organizers of the Alumni Association of the Houtzdale 
High School, and its secretary since organization; is a member of the Roman 
Catholic Church, and is identified with the Knights of Columbus.

**Note:  An error was made at this point which is a repeat of most of this 
sketch.**