My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in the book, The History of Scotland County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1887.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

* * * *

George T. Collins, a citizen of Schuyler County, and a resident of Independence Township, was born in Adams County, Ill., April 18, 1834, and is the son of Hosea and Sarah A. (Wheeler) Collins, both natives of Pendleton County, Ky. The father was a farmer, and died in Schuyler County, Mo., May 6, 1874, and was a few days beyond his sixty-sixth year. The mother was of English descent, and died in Schuyler County, Mo., February 14, 1885, and was over seventy-four years of age at the time of her death. Both parents were members of the Missionary Baptist Church. Our subject is the eldest of eleven children, ten now living. His parents moved to Illinois shortly after their marriage, settled five miles west of Memphis in March, 1838, when our subject was but four years of age. He remained with his father until June 8, 1854, when he married Miss Samantha J. Slavin, a native of Marion County, Mo., born February 8, 1836, and died in Scotland County, Mo., April 18, 1874, or on our subject’s birthday. She was a daughter of George D. Slavin, and a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. To this marriage were born five children, all living: Elizabeth A., Oscar F., Albert H., Sarah A. and James L. Our subject after marriage purchased part of the old homestead, and to this he added more land until 1860, when he sold out and rented land for six years in different portions of Scotland and Schuyler Counties. In 1864 he went across the plains to Idaho, but returned the same year. In 1867 he moved back to his old farm, which he purchased before the war, and, after remaining on this farm until 1881, he sold out and purchased a farm in Schuyler County, and three years later again sold out and purchased where he now lives. November 4, 1875, he married Sarah J. Pryor, a native of Pike County, Ill., born November 14, 1841, and the daughter of James B. Pryor. To this union one daughter, Rosalie, was born. Our subject is a Mason, and one of the old settlers of the county. He can remember when the Indians were numerous, and when all kinds of game were plentiful.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 140 biographies included in the Scotland County, Missouri portion of the book,  The History of Lewis, Clark, Knox and Scotland Counties, Missouri published in 1887.  For the complete description, click here: Scotland County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Scotland County, Missouri family biographies here: Scotland County, Missouri Biographies

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.