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Below is a family biography included in The History of Marshall County, Tennessee 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.

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DAVID COLLINS is a son of Jones Collins, who was born in 1791 in North Carolina. The mother, Sophia (Wright) Collins, was born in 1798, in Georgia. The father participated in the war of 1812, and in 1832 came to Marshall County, Tenn. He is a Jacksonian Democrat, and at the breaking out of the late war led some fourteen of his children and grandchildren to the front. He has always followed farming, and at one time was one of the most extensive land owners in the county. In 1875 the mother died. The father is now (1886) ninety-four years old and enjoys good health. The Collins family were among the earliest settlers of the county and are of Scotch-Irish descent. David Collins was born March 16, 1827, in Georgia. He had good educational advantages but did not improve them, which fact he has always regretted. At the age of seventeen he enlisted to serve in the Mexican war, and after a short service had his leg shattered by an ounce ball at Monterey, disabling him for further service. After he returned home he clerked, farmed, and at the age of twenty-two began operating the Allen Leper Mills. In 1853 he wedded Margaret Glenn, and to them were born five sons. Mr. Collins is a Democrat and the owner of 175 acres of land. His son, John C. Collins, was born September 15, 1858, in Marshall County. His rudimentary education was obtained in the common schools, and later he finished his education at Culleoka. After his return he kept several fine horses for about three years. In 1883 he came to Gill’s Chapel and opened a grocery store in an old log house, his capital being $300. By good management he has built a new store-room, a nice frame residence and has increased his stock of goods many fold. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South and is a Republican in politics.

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This family biography is one of the numerous biographies included in The History of Marshall County, Tennessee published in 1887 by Goodspeed.  The History of Marshall County was included within The History of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford & Marshall Counties of Tennessee. For the complete description, click here: History of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Beford and Marshall Counties of Tennessee

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