Daniel D. Collins Biography


	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1899. Pages 685-686

	Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger,mkrueger@iw.net, 1998. 

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DANIEL D. COLLINS, deputy United States marshal, is one of the early 
settlers of Clark county, and his pleasant home is now located in the 
village of Willow Lakes. He is a man of more than usual popularity, and 
hearty, jovial "Dan" is a well known figure of his locality. His public 
life has been one of which he may well be proud, and he has performed 
the duties of his various positions with an ex-actress and fearlessness 
which has gained him the confidence of the people whom he has served. A 
brief review of his life will be of interest to the readers of this 
volume. 

Our subject was born in Allegan county, Michigan, April 9, 1861. His 
parents, Frederick W. and Mary E. (McDowell) Collins, deserve special 
mention as pioneer settlers of Clark county. The father made the first 
filing on land in the township (Collins) which bears his name. The 
latter years of his life were passed in De Smet, South Dakota, and he 
died in Kentucky, October 19, 1893, while traveling in search of better 
health. 

When but seven years of age our subject removed with his parents to 
Barry county, Michigan, and was there employed wholly at farm work 
until 1883, when he went to Clark county, and homesteaded the northeast 
quarter of section 35, in Collins township. He erected a 14x 20-foot 
house, and he and his young wife began pioneer life amidst the crude 
surroundings of an undeveloped country. He farmed for about five years 
and then removed to the village of Willow Lakes and established himself 
in the livery business. He removed to the county seat in the fall of 
1892, to accept the office of sheriff of the county. After serving two 
terms he returned to the village where he had formerly lived, and has 
since been a resident of Willow Lakes, where he can attend to the 
duties of his position and oversee his farms, consisting of six hundred 
and forty acres. 

Our subject was married March 23, 1882, to Miss Jennie M. Williams, a 
native of New York. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Collins, named as follows: Mary Winifred, Frederick F., James Ross, 
Edna B. and Harold H. Our subject is a man whose public record is well 
known and he has served in some of the more important official 
positions within the gift of the people of Clark county. He was elected 
sheriff of the county in the fall of 1892 and his re-election evidences 
his popularity and the faithful manner in which he performed his 
duties. He was chosen for his present position in 1898. He is a 
Republican and prohibitionist, and as a delegate to county and state 
conventions and as county central committeeman he has devoted himself 
to party interests. He is a man who keeps abreast of the times and has 
aided materially in matters of local government, helping to raise the 
standard of excellence and advocating only those principles which he 
deems proper for the upbuilding of a better system. His financial 
success is due alone to his industry and good management and he is one 
of the substantial members of the farming community of Collins 
township, although his residence is in the village. He has acquired a 
competence to tide him through life, and in the meantime has been 
building for himself an honorable name among his fellow men, while his 
genial hospitality and good cheer make him a favorite with his 
associates.