No Farewell words Were Spoken.

No Time To Say Goodbye.

You Were Gone Before We Knew It.

And Only God Knows Why.

c/o Gr. Grandau., Susie

On Thursday evening last, Sept. 28, this community was shocked upon learning that Peter A. Collins had died very suddenly at his farm home, a short distance southwest of this city. [450 State Hwy. 151, formerly known as the Old Galena Road].

During the day Mr. Collins joined with other neighbors in helping to fill a silo on the John Marr farm. Mr. Collins seemed to be in his usual good health. Upon returning home near evening he remarked it was getting quite chilly and that he would get some wood., went out and proceeded to splitting. Not returning in due time his son Joe went to call him to supper and found him prostrate at the wood pile. Dr. Gratiot was hurriedly called but nothing could be done. Death had been instantaneous of apoplexy. He was carried into his home that only two days before was the scene of a happy nuptial event. The last sound of the daughter's wedding bells had scarcely ceased ere they tolled out the sad tidings of the father's death.

Deceased was the fourth son of Mr. and Mrs. John Collins and was born in this city January 29, 18864. He was married to Miss Melissa Crow on the 23rd of November 1886.

To them, nine children were born, two of whom died in childhood [Earl/Nill, ?-? and John, 1893-1900]. The others, Leo, May, Mrs. Charles Jackson, Clarence, Francis, Joseph and Marie, with the sorrowing wife, are left to mourn a loving husband and father. He also left three brothers and three sisters, John A. of Klodyke, Will of Beloit Mrs. H.J. Kane of Madison, Mrs. F.W. Graber, Frank F. and Miss Alice Collins of this city.

The funeral which took place Monday from St. Paul's Catholic Church with Rev. Fr. L.P. O'Reilly officiating, and was the largest ever held in the church. The body was laid to rest in St. Paul's Cemetery. with services at St. Paul's Catholic church, ... as being the largest ever held in the beautiful new edifice.

Those from away attending the funeral were: Miss Mae Collins of Kenosha; Clarence Collins of Milwaukee, W.R. Collins of Beloit, Mr and Mrs. John Collins, Will Collins, Mr and Mrs. Leo Collins, Mrs. Thomas Ryan, M. Ducey, wife and daughter of Hollandale, Mrs. Joana Kluck of Fairplay, Mr and Mrs. Andrew Crow and and Miss Frances Crow of Kenosha, Mrs. John Lynch of Delavan, Mr and Mrs. Frank Lynch of Neilsville, Mrs. Peter Whaley of Benton.

(MINERAL POINT TRIBUNE, Mineral Point, Wis., Thur., Oct. 5, 1916, p.1)

and

ENTERED INTO REST - Peter Collins.

On Thursday evening the whole community was shocked to learn that Peter A. Collins had died very suddenly. During the day, he with a number of other neighbors, was helping to fill a silo on the John Marr farm. He seemed in his usual health upon returning to his home [450 State Hwy. 151, formerly known as the Old Galena Road]. Near evening he remarked that it was going to be a cold night and that he would get in plenty of wood, and went out to get it. Not returning, his son Joseph went to call him to supper, and found him lying beside the wood. Dr. W.M. Gratiot was hurriedly called but nothing could be done. Death from apoplexy had been instantaneous. He was carried into his home that only two days before was the scene of a happy wedding. The last sound of the daughter's happy wedding bells had scarcely ceased when the same bell tolled out the sad tidings of the father's death.

The deceased was the fourth son of Mr. and Mrs. John Collins and was born in this city January 29, 1864. He was married to Miss Melissa Crow November 23, 1886. To them nine children were born, two of whom died in childhood [Earl/Nill, ?-? and John, 1893-1900]. The others, Leo, May, Mrs. Charles Jackson, Clarence, Francis, Joseph and Marie, with the sorrowing wife, are left to mourn a loving husband and father. He also left three brothers and three sisters, John A. of Klondike, Will of Beloit, Mrs. H.J. Kane of Madison, Mrs. F.W. Graber, Frank F. and Miss Alice Collins of this city.

Mr. Collins was a generous, broad minded man whose kind and benevolent disposition made him loved by all who knew him, as plainly shown for from the hour of his death on Thursday until he was laid to rest on Monday, people came from many miles in every direction and his home was filled to show love for him and sympathy for his family in their hour of great sorrow.

The funeral took place Monday from St. Paul's Catholic Church with Rev. Fr. L.P. O'Reilly officiating, and was the largest ever held in the church. The body was laid to rest in St. Paul's Cemetery.

Those from out of town who attended the funeral were: Miss Mae Collins, Kenosha; Clarence Collins, Milwaukee; W.R. Collins, Beloit; Mr and Mrs. John Collins, Will Collins, Mr and Mrs. Leo Collins, Mrs. Thomas Ryan, Mr. and Mrs. M. Ducey, Miss Ducey of Hollandale; Mrs. Joanna Kluck, Fairplay; Mr and Mrs. Andrew Crow, Miss Frances Crow of Kenosha; Mrs. John Lynch, Delavan; Mr and Mrs. Frank Lynch, Neilsville; and Mrs. Peter Whaley, Benton.

(IOWA COUNTY DEMOCRAT, Mineral Point, Wis.,Thurs., Oct 5, 1916, pg. 1/col.2)

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Above birth and death dates taken from Iowa Co., Wis. sources and the JOHN COLLINS FAMILY BIBLE: "Peter Was Borne January 29, 1864; Peter A. Collins died Sept. 23, 1916".

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* Family Photo courtesy of Stacy (Collins) O'Connor (great granddaughter)

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Peter was nominated and elected in the March 1897 election as Mineral Point Assessor. (see 25 Mar 1897 paper).

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Iowa County Democrat (Mineral Point, Wisconsin)Thur, Jan 2, 1908 Pg 8:

Miss Annie Fallon, Miss Alice and Peter Collins, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Collins and John and

Bess Collins attended the funeral of Mr. Ed Collins last Monday in Waldwick. * Substantial prof of Peter and Alice attending their 1st cousin, Ed Collins' funeral. Ed's father was James and Peter's was John.

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In the summer of 1902, Peter became connected onto the Belmont Telephone Line No. 198.

[I.C.Democrat, Thur, 10 July 1902].

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On Tue., 27 Oct 1908, Peter Collins and family left for Riverside, California to make their home.

Source: Iowa Co. Democrat, Thur. 29 Oct 1908, pg. 8

Peter returned back to Mineral Point for a visit for a few weeks while his family remained at their home in California, according to the Thur. 2 Dec 1909 Pg. 8 issue of the Iowa County Democrat.

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"Peter Collins family formerly from here moved back from Riverside, CA, having moved there about two

years ago" . (14 July 1910 Min. Pt. Tribune p. 5)

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