The following biographical sketch for James "Jim" Collins was published in the May 28, 1931, issue of The Mountain Eagle:
Uncle Jim Collins
UNCLE JIM COLLINS
SOLE SURVIVOR OF
GREAT CONFLICT
The only landmark of the late Civil War left living in the county and who was a soldier in the Union Army is Uncle Jim Collins, residing in Whitesburg. Uncle Jim was born in the county in 1843. His father was William Collins, who was a son James Collins, one of the pioneer settlers of the county and its first Methodist preacher. James Collins, for whom the subject of this sketch was named, came to the wilds of what is now Letcher County in the year 1803 or 1804 and settled near the mouth of Camp Branch. He is said to be responsible for Rockhouse Creek having its name. Up near where Charlie Crase used to live a company of adventurers, of which the pioneer James Collins was one, built a camp and stayed several weeks, for it was in the wintertime and the weather was extremely cold. After that time the stream was known as Camp Branch.
James Collins, under consideration in this sketch, had little schooling, and yet he obtained enough education to do almost any kind of business. In 1863 when the Civil War was at its height and the battlefields were red with human gore, Mr. Collins enlisted for service under the command of Col. Lilly and went immediately to the scene of action. He saw service on a number of battlefields. When war's alarms were subsided, he was mustered out of the service in the state of Tennessee and returned to his home on Rockhouse Creek. He married a daughter of the late J. D. Hale, and to this union was born two daughters and four sons. These are all still living and are among our most prominent and useful citizens. The daughters are Mrs. Frank Davis, residing in Indiana; Mrs. C. H. Back, of Whitesburg. The sons are William, residing at Ice; Elisha, Sam and Jiner, residing also in Whitesburg. His son Sam was a former prohibition enforcement agent for Kentucky and as such attained a high reputation for his honesty and integrity. No man in the state is held in higher esteem. At the present he is serving as one of the parole officers of the state under the supervision of Judge Cochran.
For Years Jim Collins engaged in farming and resided on Sandlick, but some years ago, after he had lost his first wife and remarried, Mrs. Minerva Polly, he bought property in the city, built a home in which he now resides. Though aged and feeble, he still retains much of his vitality and is frequently found talking and mixing with his many friends. Everybody loves and admires him and wish for him many more years of life. As stated above, he is the only living Union pensioner in our entire county so far as is known.
Uncle Jim Collins is the oldest living representative of one of the greatest families that ever settled in our mountains. In years past, the children of his grandfather, Uncle Jimmy Collins, Nat Collins, Bob, William, Madison, Wesley and maybe others were among the greatest forces that molded and shaped Letcher County's civilization. Then generations like them likewise have been powers for great good in the country.
Uncle Jim Collins
UNCLE JIM COLLINS
SOLE SURVIVOR OF
GREAT CONFLICT
The only landmark of the late Civil War left living in the county and who was a soldier in the Union Army is Uncle Jim Collins, residing in Whitesburg. Uncle Jim was born in the county in 1843. His father was William Collins, who was a son James Collins, one of the pioneer settlers of the county and its first Methodist preacher. James Collins, for whom the subject of this sketch was named, came to the wilds of what is now Letcher County in the year 1803 or 1804 and settled near the mouth of Camp Branch. He is said to be responsible for Rockhouse Creek having its name. Up near where Charlie Crase used to live a company of adventurers, of which the pioneer James Collins was one, built a camp and stayed several weeks, for it was in the wintertime and the weather was extremely cold. After that time the stream was known as Camp Branch.
James Collins, under consideration in this sketch, had little schooling, and yet he obtained enough education to do almost any kind of business. In 1863 when the Civil War was at its height and the battlefields were red with human gore, Mr. Collins enlisted for service under the command of Col. Lilly and went immediately to the scene of action. He saw service on a number of battlefields. When war's alarms were subsided, he was mustered out of the service in the state of Tennessee and returned to his home on Rockhouse Creek. He married a daughter of the late J. D. Hale, and to this union was born two daughters and four sons. These are all still living and are among our most prominent and useful citizens. The daughters are Mrs. Frank Davis, residing in Indiana; Mrs. C. H. Back, of Whitesburg. The sons are William, residing at Ice; Elisha, Sam and Jiner, residing also in Whitesburg. His son Sam was a former prohibition enforcement agent for Kentucky and as such attained a high reputation for his honesty and integrity. No man in the state is held in higher esteem. At the present he is serving as one of the parole officers of the state under the supervision of Judge Cochran.
For Years Jim Collins engaged in farming and resided on Sandlick, but some years ago, after he had lost his first wife and remarried, Mrs. Minerva Polly, he bought property in the city, built a home in which he now resides. Though aged and feeble, he still retains much of his vitality and is frequently found talking and mixing with his many friends. Everybody loves and admires him and wish for him many more years of life. As stated above, he is the only living Union pensioner in our entire county so far as is known.
Uncle Jim Collins is the oldest living representative of one of the greatest families that ever settled in our mountains. In years past, the children of his grandfather, Uncle Jimmy Collins, Nat Collins, Bob, William, Madison, Wesley and maybe others were among the greatest forces that molded and shaped Letcher County's civilization. Then generations like them likewise have been powers for great good in the country.
The following biographical sketch for James "Jim" Collins was published in the May 28, 1931, issue of The Mountain Eagle:
Uncle Jim Collins
UNCLE JIM COLLINS
SOLE SURVIVOR OF
GREAT CONFLICT
The only landmark of the late Civil War left living in the county and who was a soldier in the Union Army is Uncle Jim Collins, residing in Whitesburg. Uncle Jim was born in the county in 1843. His father was William Collins, who was a son James Collins, one of the pioneer settlers of the county and its first Methodist preacher. James Collins, for whom the subject of this sketch was named, came to the wilds of what is now Letcher County in the year 1803 or 1804 and settled near the mouth of Camp Branch. He is said to be responsible for Rockhouse Creek having its name. Up near where Charlie Crase used to live a company of adventurers, of which the pioneer James Collins was one, built a camp and stayed several weeks, for it was in the wintertime and the weather was extremely cold. After that time the stream was known as Camp Branch.
James Collins, under consideration in this sketch, had little schooling, and yet he obtained enough education to do almost any kind of business. In 1863 when the Civil War was at its height and the battlefields were red with human gore, Mr. Collins enlisted for service under the command of Col. Lilly and went immediately to the scene of action. He saw service on a number of battlefields. When war's alarms were subsided, he was mustered out of the service in the state of Tennessee and returned to his home on Rockhouse Creek. He married a daughter of the late J. D. Hale, and to this union was born two daughters and four sons. These are all still living and are among our most prominent and useful citizens. The daughters are Mrs. Frank Davis, residing in Indiana; Mrs. C. H. Back, of Whitesburg. The sons are William, residing at Ice; Elisha, Sam and Jiner, residing also in Whitesburg. His son Sam was a former prohibition enforcement agent for Kentucky and as such attained a high reputation for his honesty and integrity. No man in the state is held in higher esteem. At the present he is serving as one of the parole officers of the state under the supervision of Judge Cochran.
For Years Jim Collins engaged in farming and resided on Sandlick, but some years ago, after he had lost his first wife and remarried, Mrs. Minerva Polly, he bought property in the city, built a home in which he now resides. Though aged and feeble, he still retains much of his vitality and is frequently found talking and mixing with his many friends. Everybody loves and admires him and wish for him many more years of life. As stated above, he is the only living Union pensioner in our entire county so far as is known.
Uncle Jim Collins is the oldest living representative of one of the greatest families that ever settled in our mountains. In years past, the children of his grandfather, Uncle Jimmy Collins, Nat Collins, Bob, William, Madison, Wesley and maybe others were among the greatest forces that molded and shaped Letcher County's civilization. Then generations like them likewise have been powers for great good in the country.
Uncle Jim Collins
UNCLE JIM COLLINS
SOLE SURVIVOR OF
GREAT CONFLICT
The only landmark of the late Civil War left living in the county and who was a soldier in the Union Army is Uncle Jim Collins, residing in Whitesburg. Uncle Jim was born in the county in 1843. His father was William Collins, who was a son James Collins, one of the pioneer settlers of the county and its first Methodist preacher. James Collins, for whom the subject of this sketch was named, came to the wilds of what is now Letcher County in the year 1803 or 1804 and settled near the mouth of Camp Branch. He is said to be responsible for Rockhouse Creek having its name. Up near where Charlie Crase used to live a company of adventurers, of which the pioneer James Collins was one, built a camp and stayed several weeks, for it was in the wintertime and the weather was extremely cold. After that time the stream was known as Camp Branch.
James Collins, under consideration in this sketch, had little schooling, and yet he obtained enough education to do almost any kind of business. In 1863 when the Civil War was at its height and the battlefields were red with human gore, Mr. Collins enlisted for service under the command of Col. Lilly and went immediately to the scene of action. He saw service on a number of battlefields. When war's alarms were subsided, he was mustered out of the service in the state of Tennessee and returned to his home on Rockhouse Creek. He married a daughter of the late J. D. Hale, and to this union was born two daughters and four sons. These are all still living and are among our most prominent and useful citizens. The daughters are Mrs. Frank Davis, residing in Indiana; Mrs. C. H. Back, of Whitesburg. The sons are William, residing at Ice; Elisha, Sam and Jiner, residing also in Whitesburg. His son Sam was a former prohibition enforcement agent for Kentucky and as such attained a high reputation for his honesty and integrity. No man in the state is held in higher esteem. At the present he is serving as one of the parole officers of the state under the supervision of Judge Cochran.
For Years Jim Collins engaged in farming and resided on Sandlick, but some years ago, after he had lost his first wife and remarried, Mrs. Minerva Polly, he bought property in the city, built a home in which he now resides. Though aged and feeble, he still retains much of his vitality and is frequently found talking and mixing with his many friends. Everybody loves and admires him and wish for him many more years of life. As stated above, he is the only living Union pensioner in our entire county so far as is known.
Uncle Jim Collins is the oldest living representative of one of the greatest families that ever settled in our mountains. In years past, the children of his grandfather, Uncle Jimmy Collins, Nat Collins, Bob, William, Madison, Wesley and maybe others were among the greatest forces that molded and shaped Letcher County's civilization. Then generations like them likewise have been powers for great good in the country.
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