My Genealogy Hound

Robert F. Collins, a prosperous planter of Proctor Township, is a native of this county, born December 16, 1843, and the son of Thomas M. Collins, who was born in Virginia, in 1813, and died in Memphis, in 1853. His parents moved from Virginia to Tennessee in an early day, and Thomas came to this State while yet single, marrying, in this county, Miss Virginia W. Hulbert, a native of Pennsylvania. After Mr. Collins’ death she was married, in 1857, to W. E. Scanlan, and died in 1878. She was a sister of Henry T. Hulbert, who was a great literary man and a prominent lawyer of Memphis. Thomas M. Collins was one of the early settlers of this county, and a prominent man, being popular as a politician; he was a member of the State legislature from an early day until nearly the time of his death, and could have been Governor had he been a Democrat instead of a Whig. He was a large owner of real estate, and was a prominent Mason; was very charitable, and educated many children with his own means. Noted for his integrity, he was mail contractor from Memphis to Little Rock for a number of years. Mr. and Mrs. Collins were the parents of eight children, of whom three sons are the only survivors. Robert F. Collins was reared in this county, and was educated in St. Joseph’s College, of Kentucky, his brothers attending St. Mary’s College of Kentucky. He lived with his mother and step-father till twenty-one years of age, when he commenced life for himself as a farmer, which he has followed up to the present time. He and his two brothers jointly own 205 acres of land, with 150 acres under cultivation. Mr. Collins was married January 5, 1870, to Miss Julia Wood, who was born in Brownsville, Tenn., September 4, 1847, and is a daughter of William P. and Ara A. (Leanard) Wood, natives of North Carolina and Tennessee, respectively; both died in Brownsville. To Mr. and Mrs. Collins have been given two children: Robert A. and Sadie W. Mr. Collins is a Democrat in politics, and cast his first vote for Hancock. He is a member of the K. of H., and he and his wife are members of the Catholic Church, and are good citizens, and highly respected.