My Genealogy Hound

ROBERT COLLINS, farmer, Sec. 25; P. O. Le Roy; one of the early pioneers of McLean Co.; born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, Jan. 25, 1819. His father, Robert Collins, died when the subject of this sketch was 7 years of age, when he was bound out and was brought up to farming in Ohio until 17 years of age, when he emigrated to Illinois and located in what is now Randolph Township, October 16, 1836, where he lived until the spring of 1839, at which time he located forty acres of land of his present place, to which he has since added, by purchase, until he now owns 224 acres, upon which he has good farm buildings. Coming to Illinois without capital, he has accumulated all of the above property by his own hard labor, in which he has been nobly assisted by his amiable wife, to whom he was united in marriage by Hiram Buck, June 25, 1840. Her maiden name was Maranda Buckles. She was born in White County, Illinois, August 25, 1825. She was the daughter of Abraham Buckles, who was born in Kentucky, and was among the first settlers of McLean Co.; he died in 1878. The children of Robert and Maranda Collins were — John A., born May 6, 1843; Anderson J., Feb. 11, 1846; Mary A., Jan. 29, 1848 (she was married to James Eskew and died April 20, 1879, leaving four children); Tabitha J., March 31, 1849; Americus E., May 31, 1850; Sarah E., Nov. 25, 1851; Maranda P., Nov. 6, 1853; William R., March 26, 1855, died March 25, 1865; Alfaretta E., Feb. 26, 1857; Mahalia, Feb. 10, 1859; Clarissa B., July. 24, 1864; Barbara F., Sept. 14, 1866; Rosetta, Aug. 8, 1870. Mr. Collins located upon his place when there were but few settlers; not a house was to be seen west of him for a distance of six miles, where now are located one or more houses upon every quarter-section—such has been the marvelous development of the country during the forty years’ residence of Mr. Collins upon his home. He has taken a deep interest in the cause of religion, having been a member of the M. E. Church for a period of forty-two years, thirty years of which time he has been Steward and Class-leader. Mrs. Collins has been a church member for nearly forty years, and, of the children, all are members save three.