November
Ancestral Birthdays & Anniversaries

4th Nancy Roxanna Martin Grisso “Roxie”
born: 4 Nov 1876 – in Wild Cherry, Fulton Co., Arkansas
parents: William Enoch Henry Martin & Sarah Elizabeth Wyatt
married: William Austin Grisso – 5 July 1899 in Fulton Co., Arkansas
died: 11 Sept 1948, in Seminole Oklahoma.







5th Mary Law Sturgeon
born: 5 Nov 1770 – Rockbridge Co., Virginia
parents: possibly Michael and Rebecca Law
married: Simpson Sturgeon – about 1795
died: 15 Nov 1857 - Trafalgar, Johnson Co., IN

7th Jennie June Rhoades married A. Mark Collins
married, 7 Nov 1922
Red Oak, Montgomery Co., Iowa












8th Caroline Ostermeier Schmoe married
Ernst Heinrich Wilhelm Schmoe
8 Nov 1852 – Hancock Co., Indiana







11th Nancy C. Beavers Wyatt
born: 11 Nov 1826 in TN
parents: possibly Thomas Beavers? & unknown
married: John J. Wyatt about 1855 perhaps in Arkansas
died: 12 Dec 1900 in Wild Cherry, Fulton Co., Arkansas

12th Rebecca Conner Sturgeon
born: 12 Nov 1831 in Dublin Ireland
parents: unknown
married: John S. Sturgeon – 3 Jan 1856 in Johnson Co., Indiana
died: 26 March 1907 - Coin, Colfax Twp.. Page Co, Iowa

[note - this photo was originally identified as Elizabeth Sheets Rhoades, by June Collins. However, June's Cousin Corine Ehnes identified the photograph as Rebecca Conner Sturgeon.]



12th Elizabeth Maurer married Mathias Grisso
12 Nov 1771 - New Hanover, Montgomery Co, PA


14th Ernest Anton Frederick Schmoe
born: 14 Nov 1865 – Hancock Co., Indiana
parents: Ernst H. W. & Caroline Ostermeier Schmoe
married: Minta Victoria Moon - 27 Aug 1889 - Lawrence, Douglas Co., Kansas
died: 19 Nov 1955 (5 days after his 90th birthday) – Newberg Oregon








15th John S. Sturgeon
born: 15 Nov 1831 Louisville, Jefferson Co, Kentucky
parents: Thomas Law and & Mary Sturgeon Sturgeon
married: Rebecca Conner - 3 Jan 1856 in Johnson Co., Indiana
died: 25 Oct 1890 – buried in Shenandoah, Page Co., Iowa







15th Elizabeth Sheets Rhoades
born: 15 Nov 1823 – Fairfield Co., Ohio
parents: Joseph & Mary “Polly” Jackson Sheets
married: Jacob Rhoades – 17 Jan 1845 – Fairfield Co., Ohio
died: 11 Dec 1899 – Shenandoah, Page Co., Iowa

16th Thomas Law Sturgeon
born: 16 Nov 1799 in Kentucky or Pennsylvania
parents: Simpson & Mary Law Sturgeon
married: Mary Sturgeon – 20 Dec 1821 – Jefferson Co., Kentucky
died: 8 Jun 1850 – Johnson Co., Indiana


25th Lavina Burnside married John Peter Moon
25 Nov 1833 – Richland Monthly Meeting, Hamilton Co., Indiana


27th Rebecca Sanders Rich
born: 27 Nov 1812, near Caesers Creek MM, Clinton Co. Ohio
parents: William & Amy Williams Sanders
married: Moses Rich – 10 March 1836 - Lick Branch MM, Marion Co., Indiana


27th Jane Miller & Peter Burns
married: 27 Nov 1789 – Augusta Co., Virginia


30th Tracie Grisso Schmoe

born: 30 Nov 1901 – Wild Cherry, Fulton Co., Arkansas
parents: William Austin & Nancy Roxanna Martin Grisso
married: Geary E. Schmoe – 25 Oct 1919 – Fulton Co., Arkansas
died: 4 May 1994, Newberg, Yamhill Co., Oregon

Collins Timeline Map 1817-1900

Click on image to enlarge.


I am in the process of updating the Collins Timeline Map. I have new information to add and a couple of corrections. It will be back soon.

Mary Ellen Collins Morgan Barber 1901 marriage

Just a few days before Mary Helpher Collin's fall, her daughter Mary Ellen married for the 2nd time to John H. Barber. Below is the text of the newspaper notice.

Pierce City Empire [Pierce Missouri]
September 5, 1901 page 3, column 3

Mr. J. H. Barber and Mrs Mary E. [nee Collins] Morgan, of this city, were married at the Mt. Vernon Hotel, in Mount Vernon, August 26th, Rev. John H. Bright, officiating. Mr Barber and his bride returned to their home in this city last night, and will soon go to Joplin to live, where Misses Bertha and Persis Barber are employed as teachers in the public schools. The Empire, together with the many friends of the family extend congratulations to the bride and groom.

Mary Collins injured in Fall

I just received this from the great people at the Missouri Historical Society, who for a very small fee will do newspaper lookups.

Lockwood Luminary, 30 Aug 1901

The wife of Elder S. L. Collins was quite seriously injured last Monday morning at their home northeast of town. She went to the spring which is a few feet from the door and fell in a swoon partially , in the water and her head struck against a rock in such a manner that blood flowed freely from the wound. Mr Collins went to her assistance as soon as the accident was discovered and the neighbors came to their assistance. Tuesday her condition was better and they were enabled to come to town and visit their son T. Collins. Mr and Mrs Collins are about 80 years of age.

note: Mary Collins died about a year later.

Mary Maria Helfer (Helpher) Collins

I recently received the following newspaper records from the Missouri Archives.

Mary Maria Helpher (my GG-Grandmother) was the wife of Stephen L. Collins. I have more information about her possible family, I will post separately. Mary may have been the daughter of Christopher & Lydia Helfer who lived in Wayne County Ohio at the time of Mary's marriage (1840) to Stephen L. Collins. The circumstantial evidence supports this but so far there is no proven link.

Mary Maria Helpher Collins Obituaries

(from the Missouri Archives)

Lockwood Luminary 26 Dec 1902

As we go to press we learn of the death of Mrs. Collins, widow of the late S.L. Collins at her home near Lockwood today. Funeral services were held at the residence and the interment at the cemetery in the neighborhood. Mrs Collins was about 78 years of age and was a woman whose life had been spent in well doing. She had resided in Dade County many years.

Lockwood Luminary 9 Jan 1903

Obituary

Mary Maria Collins, nee Helpher, died at her home near Lockwood, Dec. 26, 1902. She was born Feb. 28, 1822, in Ashland Co., Ohio, was married to S.L. Collins, Feb. 27, 1840 and joined the Baptist Church the same year. At the time of her death she was 80 years, 10 months, and 10 days old. She leaves 8 children, 5 boys and three girls, 5 children have preceded her to the better land. The children will always remember her kind words and loving deeds of mother may they all be prepared to meet her in that heavenly home where old age never comes and the inhabitants of that city shall not say I am sick, but will be one unending day of joy, a family reunion never to break up. Funeral services were conducted at her home by the writer from Psalms 116:15. The remains were laid to rest in the cemetery nearby to await the resurection morn. J. L. Leonard..

Alpha L. Collins 1844-1881

Alpha L. Collins 1844-1881

Alpha L. Collins was the oldest son of Stephen L. & Mary Marie Helpher Collins. He was born in Ohio 23 Jan 1844.

I have not yet found the family in the 1850 census. If anyone can find them I'd be thrilled to hear.

1860 Nebraska Terr Census Nemaha County, Brownville pages 61 & 62, 29 Jun 1860

Collins, Stephen 44 m Baptist Minister 700 800 New York

Collins, Mary 38 f Ohio

Collins, Alpha 16 m Asst. Farmer Ohio

Collins, Christopher 13 m Ohio

Collins, Maria 10 f Indiana

Collins, Ellen 6 f Indiana

Collins, Charles 3 m Illinois

Collins, Mark 1 m Nebraska

=

1870 Missouri, Dade Co., Center Twp, p.3

Stephen L Collins 54 b. NY, Minister of the gospel

Mary M Collins 48, b. OH

Alpha L Collins 26, b. OH, farm labourer

Lydia M Collins 20, b. IN

Mary E Collins 15, b. IN

Charles M Collins 13, b. Neb

Ahirah M Collins, 11, b. Neb

Daniel D Collins, 8, b. Neb

John T Collins 6, b. Neb

Emily M Collins 3, b. MO

1880 MO, Center Twp., Dade Co., p.189B

Alpha L. COLLINS Self M Male W 34 OH Pauper OH OH

N. J. COLLINS Wife M Female W 30 TN Keeping House TN TN

Cyrus COLLINS Son S Male W 2 MO OH TN

Alpha married Naomi J. Wright (b. Sept 1849) on the 26th of November 1876 in Dade Co., MO. Alpha's father Stephen L., performed the ceremony. Alpha and Naomi had one child, Cyrus Jerome Collins, He was born, 27 Oct 1878 in Missouri, (and died about Jun 1940). After Alpha's death in 1881, Naomi married, Daniel W. Gamble, 13 Dec 1883 in Dade Co., MO. They moved to Labette Co., KS.

Cyrus Jermoe Collins registered for the WWI draft in 1918 in Labette County Kansas. He lists his birthday as 27 Oct 1878, of medium height, medium build, blue eyes and red hair.

from Lauren Leeman, The State Historical Society of Missouri

rcd 10 July 2008

Greenfield Vedette & the Greenfield Dade Co., Advocate

(same obit ran in both newspapers)

14 July 1881

Obituary

Died of paralysis, June 30th, 1881, in Centre Township, Dade county, Mo., Alpha L. Collins, aged 37 years, oldest child of Elder S.L. Collins and Mary M. Collins, of this county. He leaves a wife, a little son three and a half years old, parents, brothers, sisters and numerous friends to mourn their loss. He professed Christianity at about 14 years of age and joined the Baptist church and was faithful until the end.

Charles Martin Collins 1857-1941

Charles Martin Collins was born in May 1857, (his obit says 14 May 1855 but all other records list 1857). Census records indicate he was born in Illinois but I have no idea what county. His obituary states he was born in Buchanan County Missouri but I believe this is incorrect. He was the son of Stephen L. & Mary Marie Helfer Collins, and the brother of my Great-grandfather (Ahira Mark Collins b. 1859 in NE). Charlie would have been about 11 years old when they moved to Dade county Missouri. He spent the rest of his life there. He married Cordelia Jane Harris King on 21 Jan 1877, in Dade County. They had 5 children; Edward R. 1877-1916, Dora Effie (Asher),1882-1902, William Stephen 1884-1921, Frances "Fannie" Leora (Cochran), 1891-1973, and Joseph (who probably died as a child). Either Cordelia died, or they divorced before 28 Nov 1922, which is the date Charley married Cordelia's sister Lillian Ann Harris Cook. Lillian died in 1928. Charley was a farmer his entire life.

This photo is identified as Charley Collins and his brother Ahira Mark Collins taken in the late 30's in Missouri.

Charley died tragically when his home caught fire in December 1941.
His death notice and obituary are from the Lockwood Luminary and supplied by the State Historical Society of Missouri.

Obituaries of Charles M. Collins
Both from the Lockwood Luminary

Friday, 2 January 1942

Chas. M. Collins Meets Horrible Death in Fire
A tragic death occurred to Charley M. Collins, one of Dade County's pioneer residents, Monday morning about eight o'clock. He was 86 years of age and lived alone on his farm about four miles northeast of Lockwood. He had arisen and built a fire in a kitchen stove. In some manner his clothing caught fire and he ran outside to a well where there was a small trough. Apparently he either tore the burning clothing from his body or it was burned and fell from him because near the well there were several pieces of clothing and a pipe which he evidently had been smoking. Either in an effort to return to the house to save some of his belongings or because he was dazed with pain, he returned to the house. The building was enveloped in flames when nearby neighbors arrived at the place and there was nothing they could do to put out the fire.
After the fire died down a search was made for the aged man and what was left of his body was found among the ruins. R.L. Haunschild, undertaker, was called and brought the remains to his home for preparation for burial. Services are announced for Thursday afternoon at the Lockwood Baptist church. Burial will follow at the Collins cemetery, north of Lockwood.

Friday 9 January 1942

Charley M. Collins
Charley M. Collins was born May 14, 1855, in Buchanan county, Missouri, and departed this life December 29, 1941, at nine o'clock a.m at the age of 86 years, 7 months, and 15 days. He was the son of Rev Stephen and Martha Collins. At an early age he came to Dade county with his parents, and spent the remainder of his lifetime in this county.
He was united in marriage to Cordelia Jane Harris in January, 1878. To this union five children were born, Edward, Dora, Effie, William Stephen, Joseph and Fannie Leora. All have preceded him in death except Mrs Fannie Leora Cochran. He is survived by four grandchildren, Gilbert and Maurice Collins, Vera Beisner and Golden Collins, also six great grandchildren.
He was converted at the age of twenty-two and was later ordained a deacon in the Lockwood Baptist church, where he served the remainder of his life.
Funeral services were held at Lockwood Baptist Church, Thursday afternoon, January 1st. The sermon was delivered by Rev Geo Gray. Burial was at the Collins cemetery, north of Lockwood, under direction of R.L. Haunchild.

Clara M. (Collins) Powell 1870-1940

Clara M. Collins was born about March of 1870, the oldest child of Christopher Royce and Esta Jennie Cleavinger Collins, the first cousin of my Grandpa Mark Collins. In 1870 she is living with her parents in Daviess County Missouri. Christopher & Jennie had married there in Dec of 1868. In 1880 she is living with her family in Brownville, Nemaha Co., Nebraska. By 1887 her family had moved to St. Joseph, MO, where she is listed as a seamstress working for Wood Manufacturing Co, and living at 311 Middleton St. With her mother and brother Stephen Moses Collins, they moved to 1208 N. 3^rd St in St. Joe by 1890, she is still listed as a seamstress. 10 years later, the 1900 census has Clara M. Collins born, March 1870 in MO, divorced, a dressmaker, her father born in OH, and her mother born in MO. I cannot find Clara in the 1910 census. Sometime before the death of her father in 1919, Clara married Bertrand B. Powell and moved to Chicago where she and her husband were listed in the 1920 census. By 1930 they had moved to Marion Co., IN, where she died in 1940 of lobar pneumonia. Her residence was listed as 2421 N. Ritter St. in Indianapolis IN. As far as I can tell she had no children.

John Timothy Collins 1864-1926

John Timothy Collins was born the 9th of June 1864 in Nebraska, the son of Stephen L. & Mary Marie Helpher Collins. He was a farmer and shoemaker. In Jan 1884, he married Laura M. Rogers in Dade Co., MO, and they had 5 children. They were: Ira Jacob (b. Dec 1884), Mary F. (b. July 1892), Laura Maud (b. July 1896), Charley (b. 1901), and Linnie L. (b. 1904).

From the good folk at the Missouri Archives.

Lockwood Luminary - 19 Mar 1926
J.T. Collins passed away at his house in Lockwood Monday morning at an early hour, following a grave illness that extended over several months duration. Early last year Mr. Collins was taken to a Springfield hospital for an operation. He was brought home in a short time, his family being advised that he would never be well. A greater part of the time his suffering has been intense. Regardless of the many disappointments, in the face of the fact that he knew his condition was hopeless, he was a patient sufferer. Those who knew him best and saw him most were his best friends. Mr. Collins had maintained a shoe repair shop in Lockwood for years. He submitted to an operation years ago, at which time one of his limbs was amputated near the hip. He was compelled to use a crutch and often working all day at his place of business when others of much better health would have been at home. He was 61 years of age. Funeral services were held at Lockwood Baptist Church Tuesday afternoon, conducted by Rev. E. L. Leonard, of Springfield, a former friend of the deceased. Burial was at Lockwood Cemetery. Mr Collins is survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters, other relatives and friends.

Lockwood Luminary
Ira Collins left Sunday morning for Bethany MO, where he has secured employment. Mr Collins spent the past several weeks at this place assisting in the care of his father, J.T. Collins. The later passed away the day following the departure of his son.

Lockwood Luminary
Charley Collins and wife returned to Lockwood Saturday from Kansas City where the former ha been employed since the first of the year. They will remain indefinitely at the home of Mrs J.T. Collins.

Lockwood Luminary
Mr & Mrs Jack Baker were called to Lockwood Monday from their home in Kansas City by a message announcing the death of the latter's father, J.T. Collins.

Christopher Royce Collins update #2

OBITs and More..

To see the other Christopher R Collins, posts go HERE and Update #1 Here.

Through the kindness of Chester O. Fiene and the State Historical Society of Missouri, we now have the following additional information about Christopher R. Collins

Lexington News - 17 April 1919
C.R. Collins, 71 years old, died of heart disease, at the home of his step son, C. W. Selby, near Lexington, Monday, April 14. Mr Collins was born in Seaville, Ohio, May 11, 1847. He is survived by his wife, one son, S.M. Collins of St. Joseph Missouri, one daughter, Mrs B.B. Powell of Chicago, and one step son, C. W. Selby. He is also survived by three brothers, and three sisters. Before coming to Lexington Mr Collins made his home in Golden City Missouri. The funeral was held at four o'clock Monday afternoon.

Card of thanks - Lexington News (Missouri) 17 Apr 1919
We wish to thank our friends and neighbors for their kindness and sympathy in the death of our beloved husband and father. We shall never forget you in this hour of sadness. Mrs C.B. Collins, Mrs B.B. Powell, S.M. Collins, Mr & Mrs C W Selby and family.

The Lexington Intellinger , 18 April 1919 (lookup by Chester O. Fiene)

Death of C.R. Collins - C.R. Collins died at the home of his step-son, C.W. Selby, east of Lexington, Monday morning at 12:25 o'clock. His death was due to heart trouble. Mr Collins was born in Ohio and leaves a wife, one son and one daughter. The funeral was held Monday evening at 4 o'clock.

Cemetery listing showing page 168, Machpelah Cemetery, Lexington Missouri, Ewing Addition II. (lookup by Chester O. Fiene May 2008)

Collins, Christopher R. ; 11 May 1847; 14 Apr 1919

From this we now know that

Christopher was buried in Machpelah Cemetery (Ewing Addition II).

Christopher's daughter (Clara) married B. B. Powell, and they lived in Chicago. S. M. Collins is Stephen Moses Collins who later moved from St. Joseph to California.

Christopher and Jenny's daughter Sarah must have died before his death. in fact the only record I have of Sarah is the 1880 census.

Clara must have married between 1900 (census St Joseph MO), and the Apr 1919, death of her father. We still don't know if Clara had children.

We are indebted to Reference Specialist, Lauren Leeman at The State Historical Society of Missouri and Chester O. Fiene, for this great boost to our Collins Family research.

Christopher Royce Collins update #1

See my earlier post re: Christopher Royce Collins. As an update I have found a bit more to fill in the picture of his life. I am still looking and welcome any information. Listed below are Christopher's probable marriage record to Jennie Cleavinger, and the 1900 census listing. I've requested an obituary but have not received it thus far. Except for Christopher's son Stephen Moses Collins who migrated to California, I know almost nothing about his children, who would be my grandfather's first cousins.

Probable marriage record: Daviess County MO, P.209, 23 Dec 1868

This document was difficult to read, but is reasonably consistant with the information we have about Christopher & Jennie Cleavinger Collins.

Missouri, Daviess County, on the 23rd day of December 1868, I joined as husband and wife, G. C. R. Colins, Esta J. Clevinger. This given under my hand this the 17th day of January 1869. V. G. Anderson, A member of the Gospel of the M.E. Church.
Filed for Record Feb, 11, 1869
Robert H. Grantham, Recorder

note: The California Death Index listing for Stephen Moses Collins (son of Christopher & Jennie), lists the mother's maiden name as Cleavinger.

*******************
1900 Missouri, Barton County census
Golden City, Dist 20, page 46, 13 June 1900

Collins, Chester: head, born- July 1846 in OH; age 53; married 7 yrs; occupation- harnessmaker; father b. OH; mother b. PA; can -read, write, & speak English; owns his house free of mortgage.

Collins, Annie: wife, b. Jan 1852 in IN; age 48; married 7 yrs; 4 children born - 2 yet living; parents b. IN. can read, write & speak English.

Moore, Mary A: help, b. Aug 1830 in OH; age 69; widow; 8 children born - 7 yet living; parents b. OH; helps in housework; can read, write and speak English.

Christopher Royce Collins - I had it wrong!

This is a developing story but I thought I'd post a tease until I have all the facts straight.

Christopher Royce Collins was the brother of Ahira Mark Collins. Both were the sons of Stephen L. Collins and Mary Marie Helpher.

From various sources I had the following about Christopher:
He was born abt 1847 in Ohio.
He married Jennie Cleavinger in about 1868, possibly in Daviess Co., MO.
In the 1870 census, he is living in Daviess Co. MO, Monroe Twp p. 359. The listing shows a Samuel Will age 83 born in TN, unknown relationship; Jenny age 20 b. MO; Clara is listed as 2/12 b. MO.; and Christ age 33, b. OH.
He was living in Nemaha Co., Neb in 1880, with wife Jennie & 3 children:
Clara M. Collins b. abt Mar 1870 in MO.
Stephen Moses Collins b. 30 Jun 1872, in Caldwell Co., MO, died in CA.
Sarah Collins b. 1876 in MO.
Christopher was a harness maker.
Various St Joseph, Buchanan Co., MO, directories have the following:
Christopher R. Collins harnessmkr. r. 311 Middleton Saint Joseph MO 1887
Clara Collins Wood manufacturing co works r. 311 Middleton St Joseph MO 1887
Mrs. Jennie Collins r. 311 Middleton Saint Joseph MO 1887
Arthur McCurdy M. G. Post teamster r. 311 Middleton Saint Joseph MO 1887
Collins Clara seamstress Wood Mfg Co. r 1208 n 3d 1890
Collins Jennie (wid Christopher R.) r 1208 n 3d 1890
Collins Moses driver r 1208 n 3d 1890
McCurdy Arthur H. teamster r 1208 n 3d 1890

Database: Buchanan County, Missouri Taxpayers, 1891-95, 1901
Surname Given Name Township Post Office Year
Collins Jennie St Joseph 1895

From the above I assumed that Christopher had died about 1889, possibly in or near St. Joseph Missouri, but... I WAS WRONG. Through FamilyTreeMaker v16's automatic search feature, which searches ancestry.com, I discovered a 1910 listing for a Christopher R. Collins living in Barton Co., MO, with wife Annie, what a surprise. A further hunt has located a marriage record of Annie Ladd to Christopher R. Collins, married 24 Dec 1892, in Barton County MO. Christopher's 1919 death certificate was also found at Missouri Digital Heritage. I am still looking for the details, but suffice it to say that Christopher did NOT die in 1889 and lived another 30 years. Expect an update in the next few weeks.....as details emerge.

Ahira Mark Collins – Serendipity at the cemetery.

Ahira Mark Collins was born at Brownville, Nemaha County, Nebraska Territory, 17 Jan 1859.

He was the son of Stephen Loren and Mary Marie Helpher Collins. In an interview (1979) with my grandfather Mark Collins (b. 1901), I asked how his father had decided to move to Oregon. I was told that his dad had been helping his father farm a place in SW Missouri when he had a vivid dream. In the dream the devil told him to go to Oregon and an Angel told him to stay in Missouri. In 1889 A. Mark Collins arrived by train at The Dalles, Oregon. In 1893 he married Julia Porter at The Dalles, Wasco County, Oregon.

Their 5 children; Jesse McKinley, Thomas Antone (Ed), Fairy Valentine, Ahira Mark, & Joseph Claude, were all born near Tygh Valley Oregon. A. Mark homesteaded 21 acres, about 1 ½ miles north of Shearer Bridge Road. Joey the youngest died as a baby and may be buried at the homestead, along with his oldest brother Jesse McKinley who drown in about 1914-5. In 1910 Julia become ill and went to stay with her sister in Iowa. Julia died there, 13 March 1910, of tuberculosis, and is buried in Essex, Page County Iowa. The children remained with Julia's sister Jesse who raised them as her own. Ahira Mark Collins died 13 Oct 1939, at The Dalles Oregon, and is buried in the IOOF cemetery.

Five years ago on a trip to The Dalles, with my sister, we visited the IOOF cemetery. Once there, we found two maintenance workers one of whom indicated that Great-Grandpa Mark was buried in a certain section, but that he did not know the exact spot without checking the records in the cemetery office. With a 180 degree sweeping motion of his arm, he indicated where we should start looking. This was a huge area.. I hopped out of the car and my sister with the aid of one of the workers started up and down the rows of graves. Instead, I headed out on foot angling across with no sense of where I was headed or even if there would be a headstone to mark the grave. I walked at a steady pace for a few minutes until I felt the sudden urge to stop. Looking down at that spot, not 6 inches from my foot, was the small flat headstone of my great-grandfather, Ahira Mark Collins. I firmly believe he guided me straight to his grave.

Obituary: "The Dalles Weekly Chronicle" 14 Oct 1939 page 2 – The Dalles, Wasco County Oregon. Mark Collins, 80, resident of Tygh Valley for 52 years, died yesterday at a local hospital. Funeral arrangements will be announced later by C.R. Callaway & Sons. Surviving relatives include, Mrs Abe Fulkerson, Shenandoah IA, and two sons Mark Collins, Dundee, and Ed Collins, Redmond.

The Dalles Daily of Oct 16th 1939
Services Announced - Funeral rites for Mark Collins, long time resident of Tygh Valley who died here Friday, will be held from Callaway's chapel tomorrow at 3:30 pm, it was announced today.

The Dalles Daily of Oct 17th 1939
Funeral serviced for Mark Collins, Tygh Valley man who died last week, were held this afternoon from Callaway's chapel with Rev. W. I. Eck officiating. Burial was in Odd Fellows Cemetery. (The Dalles).

*
Misc records:
BLM records www.glorecords.blm.gov
Ahira M. Collins
Wasco Co. Oregon, Twp 3S, Range 14E, Section 31, lot 2.
Title Issued - 14 Sept 1908
21.13 Acres. Document # 5711
Misc Doc # 8575
Accession/Serial # 13229 BLM serial # ORTDAA 062560

1922-23 Wasco County Oregon Farmers Directory
Collins, A.M. , PO The Dalles; owns 21 acres; sec 31, twp 3S, RG 14; assd. $330; 2 mi NE Tygh Valley.

1905-6 Wasco County Oregon Tax List - R.L. Polk & Co.
Collins, A.M. $525, Tygh.

The Winter of 1889-90 in NE Nevada.

The winter of 1889-90 in Northeastern Nevada was brutal to ranchers. It has been estimated that up to 95% of the cattle in Elko County perished that winter due to the deep snows and frigid temperatures.

From the Daily Nevada State Journal 2 March 1890:
"A.G. Dawley returned last evening from Halleck. He reports a fearful state of affairs in Ruby Valley. In his corrals and about his stables the snow is drifted to a depth of 15 feet. He has two stallions in the stable which cannot be got out as the snow is piled up almost as high as the building, and feed and water is carried in to them through a small opening. During the recent storm about eight inches of snow fell which was fearfully drifted by the hurricane which prevailed during the fore part of the week. Mr Dawley fears this winter will pretty near wind up the stock business in Ruby Valley."