Notes for James P Collins: The 1880 Federal Census shows James P. and Mary Collins living in Jefferson Township, Logan County, Ohio. At the time of the census James was 33 and Mary was listed as 23. James' occupation is listed as a farmer, Mary is listed as keeping house. Two children included in the census are a daughter Avis, age 6, and a son Orel, age 4. James' father is listed as being born in Ohio and his mother in Maryland. Both of Mary's parents are listed as being born in Ohio.
The 1920 Federal Census shows James P. and Mary E. Collins living in Jefferson Township, Logan County, Ohio. At the time of the census, James was 74, and Mary was 67. The residence listed just before their entry in the census was the home of John F. and Mabel Haas. John was Mary's brother. James and Mary ran the store in New Jerusalem, and John lived across the road from them as best I can determine. In the census, Jame's occupation is listed as general farming, and Mary is listed as proprietor of a grocery store.
A biographical sketch of James Collins appears on page 117 of Memoirs of the Miami Valley Volume III edited by John C. Hover, Joseph D. Barnes, Walter D. Jones, Charlotte Reeve Conover, Willard J. Wright, Clayton A. Leiter, John Ewing Bradford, and W. C. Culkins which was published by Robert O. Law Company of Chicago in 1920. The complete text of the sketch is presented below.
J. P. Collins. Examples are not infrequent in the Miami Valley of men who, handicapped in their youth by lack of education or other advantages, in later years overcame these obstacles and rose to places of recognized standing in their communities. In this class is found J. P. Collins, of Jefferson Township, Logan County, the owner of a well-cultivated farm of about fifty acres, who also conducts a thriving grocery business at the little community of Jerusalem. Mr. Collins was born in the same township in which he is now living, January 10, 1846, a son of Joseph and Phoebe (Cline) Collins, natives of Maryland. His parents came overland as young people to Logan County, Ohio, where they met and were married, and where the father divided his time between clearing his land from the heavy timber and following the trade of carpenter. In 1854 he moved to Paulding County, this state, where he resided for one year, and then went to Allen County, where his death occurred. Following his demise, the widowed mother and her children returned to Logan County, and here she passed away. The children were seven in number, but only four are now living: John, Susanna, Ellen and J. P. J. P. Collins lost his father when he was only a lad, and, it being necessary that he contribute to his own support, he began farming by the day when most boys of his age were engaged at their studies. As a consequence, his education was sadly neglected, but in later years by self teaching, keen observation and intercourse with his fellow men he gained a knowledge of many useful subjects so that he may, be termed a well-educated man. At the time of his marriage, he became a renter and continued thus for about thirty years, when he disposed of his interests and engaged in the grocery business at New Jerusalem, an enterprise which he still continues to conduct successfully. During the year 1919 he also farmed about fifty acres, and through his energy and industry, coupled with sound business ability, he is keeping up his position as one of. the successful men of Jefferson township. Mr. Collins is an independent voter. His career has always been honorable and useful, and he is greatly respected and admired in his community. In 1870 Mr. Collins married Mary E., daughter of Benneville Haas, and they have two daughters: Avis, who married Frank Clingerman; and Lela, who married George Corwin.
On pages 31-32 of Logan County 1982 published in 1982 by the Logan County Genealogical Society, my aunt, Mabel Clingerman Williams, is quoted as recalling a time when James and Mary ran the store in New Jerusalem. The store was later run by Mr. and Mrs. James Collins, "Who owned two cows, but had no pasture", Mrs. Mabel Williams of Zanesfield said. "When I was young, I would walk from my home at Henpeck to my grandparents' store in New Jerusalem every morning, drive the cows to our pasture and then return to attend school at New Jerusalem. To hurry the cows, I would hold their tails."
More About James P Collins: Burial: February 06, 1935, New Salem Cemetery, Jefferson Township, Logan County, Ohio.797, 798
More About James P Collins and Mary Elizabeth Haas: Marriage 1: December 03, 1870, Logan County, Ohio.799, 800 Marriage 2: 1869
Children of James P Collins and Mary Elizabeth Haas are:
James P Collins (b. January 10, 1846, d. February 05, 1935)
Notes for James P Collins: