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Giles County, Tennessee
Collins Biographies
THOMAS COLLINS, farmer, of Marshall County, Tenn., and son of Willis and
Phoebe (Martin) Collins, is one of nine children and was born in the State
of Georgia July 27, 1818. He was reared on a farm, and his early education
was wholly and needlessly neglected. He was married at an early age, being
only nineteen when he and Sarah Childs were united in marriage. Of
the six
children born to them only two are living: W. P. and Fannie. Since his
marriage he has followed agricultural pursuits, and at one time was the
owner of nearly 800 acres of land, the greater part of which he has given
to his children. In 1884 his wife died, and, after living with his
children a year, he was married to Mrs. Nancy E. (Clark) Judia. Previous to the war Mr. Collins was a Whig; since that time he has not cast a party
vote. He has been a resident of Marshall County some thirty years, and has
the confidence and respect of all who know him. Our subject’s father and
mother were born in North Carolina and Virgina, respectively, and were
married in Georgia. The father was an overseer in the latter State, and
came to Tennessee in 1826, where he became the possessor of nearly 1,000
acres of land. He was a soldier under Jackson, and in politics was an old-
line Whig. He died in 1854. The mother lived to be about eighty-four
years of age. (Goodspeed's History of Marshall County, 1886)
WILLIS P. COLLINS is the son of Thomas Collins (above written) and
was raised on a farm in Giles County, Tenn., where he was born November 11,
1845. He received a common school education and like his father choose the
free and independent life of a farmer. In 1866 he married Margaret Smith,
who died in 1874, leaving four children. In 1875 he married Hannah G.
Beard and to them were born five children. Mr. Collins and his wife are
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. His first wife belonged
to the Christian Church. After his first marriage Mr. Collins resided on a
farm given him by his father until 1871 when he located on a farm of 257
acres where he now resides. He is considered one of the skillful farmers
of the county and is a man who commands the respect of all.
Thomas COLLINS is on the 1850 Giles County census in District 10, HH1326, age 32, born in Georgia, with Sarah [CHILDS] Collins, 33, TN, Phebe A., 8, TN, Wm. H, 7, Willis P., 4, Lucinda F., 1, all born in TN. Willis COLLINS, the father, not located, and not on the 1836 tax list.
See Marshall County, TNGenWeb for more Marshall County Goodspeeds' biographies.
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