Alfred Collins
At the age of 23, Alfred Collins came to DeKalb County in 1839 to teach school and built his first home near what is now the corner of East Main and Grand Avenue in Collinsville. Later he built a two-story home on a mound of Indian origin overlooking Little Wills Creek - an Alabama Historical Association marker was placed there in 1996 and reads: "Cherokee Indians first inhabited this mound site, subsequently settled by A.H. Lamar, a captain in the Seminole War and first constable (1836) of DeKalb County. Lamar and his Cherokee wife operated a trading post and stage coach stop on site, selling the property to Alfred Collins, ca. 1842. Collins, for whom Collinsville was named, built a home and operated an inn on the stage coach line here between Rome and Guntersville. Daughter Sallie and her husband, G.W. Roberts became owners in 1886. Collinsville Baptist Church purchased the property in 1924, erecting a building on the site two years later".
Alfred Collins was born the son of Henry and Rebecca Pierce June 13, 1816, in Rhea County, Tennessee, and educated at Greenville College in Tennessee. He married Mahalia Emily Pierce (his cousin) December 31, 1841, in Rhea County, Tennessee. They moved to Alabama and Collins taught school at Sulphur Springs one year, then moved to what would become Collinsville where he lived the rest of his life.
Alfred and his father Henry began buying land. On May 5, 1842, Henry bought 240 acres of land. On January, 1844, Alfred bought 80 acres of land. Henry sold his 240 acres to Alfred on October 1, 1845, for $1937.50. January 12, 1846, Alfred bought 160 acres and in October, 1847, he bought 120 acres. By the end of 1948, Alfred had become quite a large land owner holding certificates and warrants of 680 acres and this is the land where the town of Collinsville later grew. Alfred served as a Captain in Company B 1st Regiment of the Confederate Army.
For 20 years Alfred Collins held the office of surveyor of DeKalb County. He was a merchant at the time the Civil War broke out but did not resume his mercantile business at the end of the war. At the close of the war he made application and was licensed to practice law, though for some reason he never entered actively in that profession. In 1865 and 1867 Collins was a DeKalb County representative to the Constitutional Convention and was able to help establish many important mail routes.
Alfred Collins died of paralysis on August 18, 1879, after a lengthy illness. He is buried in the Collins Cemetery, which bears his name, located near the junction of U.S. Highway 11 and Alabama Highway 68 in Collinsville. From his obituary in the Wills Valley Post we find the following: "Collins was an extraordinary man. His mind was of a mathematical turn, and capable of solving the most difficult problems. In fact, he never found a proposition he could not solve. In friendship his attachments were strong and binding. No outside influences could shake his confidence in those he once confided, but a willful and direct betrayal of trust caused him to lose confidence in the individual for all time to come. Scrupulously honest, sympathizing in his nature, liberal in an enterprise that won his approval, energetic, diligent, faithful, he was trusted and honored by all who knew him. Firm in his determinations, correct in his judgments, deep and penetrating in his investigations, he scarcely ever failed in his undertakings. No one went to him for advice, even though a known enemy, but that it was given from a firm conviction of his heart, whether in business or politics. But Alfred Collins is no more. We mourn and praise him for his many noble qualities of head and heart."
The following is also from the Wills Valley Post: "Pursuant to previous arrangements the citizens of Collinsville and vicinity held a meeting at the Collinsville Academy on the 19th instant at 3 o'clock p.m. for the purpose of expressing their feelings in a suitable manner on the death of their friend and fellow citizen, Mr. Alfred Collins. W.J. Roberts called the house to order. On motion Reverand F.M. Roberts was called to the chair and George H. Smith requested to act as secretary. A committee was appointed to draft suitable preamble and resolutions, to-wit: W.J. Roberts, Richard Roberts, A.H. Mackey, J.K. Hoge, and T.J. Nicholson. The resolution in part read: 'That out of respect for the deceased, the business houses close their doors and suspend all business until tomorrow morning at 8 o'clock.' "