My Genealogy Hound

A. J. Collins, farmer, Holly Bend, Ark. Pope County, Ark., is acknowledged by all to be one of the best agricultural portions of the State, and as such its citizens are men of advanced ideas and considerable prominence. A worthy man among this class is found in the person of Mr. Collins who was born in the Old Dominion, Botetourt County, in March, 1840. He removed from Virginia to Alabama in 1861, and there he was occupied in repairing telegraph line and was engaged in the same business in Mississippi and Tennessee until 1871. After that he had charge of a gang of section hands on the M. & C. K. B. for two years. He then returned to Mississippi, bought land and was engaged in farming until 1880. In 1865 he was married to Miss Matilda Feagin, daughter of Thomas Feagin, of Mississippi, and to them were born ten children, viz.: William F., A. J., J. D., Minnie J., Fanny Ann, George S., Lily D., Lulu May, Luther J. and Ann Elizabeth. Three of these children are deceased: Lulu May, Luther J. and Ann E. William F. and A. J. are residing in Texas, but the other children are at home with their parents. Mr. Collins lost his first wife in September, 1885, and was left with eight children to care for. In January, 1886, he was married to Miss Mary J. McMasters, daughter of Jonathan McMasters of Mississippi. Our subject returned to the last named State on purpose to marry Miss McMasters, having formed her acquaintance some years before while in that State. To the last union were born two children: Anna Eliza and Luther Franklin, the latter deceased. Mr. Collins now owns 120 acres of good land situated in Holly Bend Township, Pope County, and near Holly Bend post-office, and has sixty-five acres under cultivation. He and Mrs. Collins are members of the Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. Collins was one of twelve children, eight now living, two besides our subject residing in Arkansas, born to the union of John D. and Nancy (Perry) Collins, both natives of Virginia. The paternal grandparents were of Irish and the maternal of German descent.