JOHN R. COLLINS, a retired farmer now residing in Napoleon, Ohio, was born in Crawford county, this state, on June 20, 1854, the son of Michael and Bridget (Sheehy) Collins, both natives of Ireland. The father carne to the United States in about 1849. His parents were Patrick and Mary Collins, who were farmers in their native land, where the former died sometime in the early ‘40s. His widow subsequently came to America and died in Ashtabula county, Ohio. They were the parents of seven children, Bridget, Catherine, Margaret, Mary, Ellen, Michael and Morris. Michael Collins' first experience in America was in Quebec, Canada, where for a time he was employed on a farm. Then going to Buffalo, New York, he obtained work for a year, and then carne to Wooster, Ohio, where occurred his marriage to Bridget Sheehy. He was here employed for seven years on railroad work, and later worked for a time at Galion, this state. In 1857 he carne to Marion township, Henry county, being among the earliest settlers here, and purchased fifty-two acres of land, upon which he resided during the remainder of his days. He later purchased another farm of eighty acres adjoining his home farm. He and his wife were members of the Catholic church, and were the parents of the following children: John R., Mary (deceased), Bridget, Stephen, Ella, Margaret, Edward, Alphonse and five that died in infancy unnamed.
The subject of this sketch was reared on the home farm and attended the common schools and also the schools at Republic. Subsequently he attended the normal school at Ada, Ohio, as a preparation for the pedagogic profession, following which he taught four terms of school. He then actively entered upon his career as a farmer, in which he was successfully engaged until about one year ago, when he purchased a home in Napoleon, where he has since resided, enjoying that rest which he has so richly earned.
In 1881 Mr. Collins was united in marriage to Miss Mary Shaw, who was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on February 22, 1862, the daughter of Patrick and Catherine (Hyde) Shaw, both natives of Ireland. The father came to the United States many years ago and settled at Boston, Massachusetts, where he followed his trade as a blacksmith. During the Civil war he enlisted, on December 10, 1863, in the Twelfth Massachusetts Regiment, being later transferred to the Twenty-ninth Massachusetts Regiment and then to the Thirty-second Massachusetts Regiment, with the rank of corporal. After the war he removed to Republic, Ohio, where he remained until his death, on September 1, 1894. He was a member of the Catholic church. His widow now resides in Chicago. They were the parents of eight children, John J., Philip, Patrick Henry, Mary, Nora, William, Daniel and Thomas. To Mr. and Mrs. Collins have been born five children, namely: Nora, Mary Agnes and Margaret Anna, twins, Gertrude and John A.
In politics Mr. Collins is a Democrat and has served as a member of the Marion township school board, and also in 1880 as census enumerator. The family are members of the Catholic church and the subject was instrumental in building the Catholic church at Hamler. Fraternally he is a member of the Catholic Knights of Ohio, a fraternal and insurance order, he being president of the local organization. Though now retired from active pursuits Mr. Collins still retains his landed interests, which comprise, besides his original farm, a later purchase, amounting altogether to one hundred and twenty acres in Marion township, and which is considered one of the good farms of the township. Mr. Collins is well known and is held in high regard by all.