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He could not read or write by 1870. Residences & events in his life: Till 3/1831 North Carolina From 9/1831 Coles Co, IL, Greasy Creek, Morgan Twp The History of Coles Co records: "Like most pioneers, the family were poor, and the subject of this sketch turned his attention to do what was in his power to the support of his father's family; one occupation was getting out fence-rails at 25 cents per hundred; one season he worked at Vincennes, Ind, at $6 per month, the earnings being used for the support of the family and to procure stock; breaking prairie with five or six yoke of oxen was another occupation; his milling was done at Terre Haute, Freeport, Eugene and Palestine, this trip consuming from four to eight days, made with three or four yoke of oxen; his furniture was homemade; for chairs he made stools, and bedsteads were made by boring a hole in the side and end logs of his house, in which poles were inserted, entering a post where the ends met; this was known as the raccoon bedstead; there is now in the family a cupboard made by Mr. Collins, which is put together by wooden pins, not a nail being in use--a relic valued highly; he commenced the stock business by first buying a single calf, which business he increased until he became a large stock-dealer, feeding from 150 to 200 head of cattle for several years previous to his death, at which time he owned upward of 500 acres of ladn, and had 500 rented for his stock, etc. Mr. Collins.....mourned and respected by all who knew him." 1850 Coles Co, IL. He was living next door to Aaron Collins in the census with property = $1200. 1860 His property now = $5250/150. When his wife died, the 3 younger children went to live with their uncle Aaron where they are listed in the census. Morgan Twp, Coles Co, IL. He gave estray notice for a heifer, J.S. Rardin, Justice. No date was recorded. 1866 The tax assessor listed: 80 acres in corn, 10 in other grain; 17 horses at $714, 65 cattle at $1324, 10 sheep at $10, 112 hogs at $303; 1 carriage at $50; $150 in money and credits; and $125 enumerated property. The total = $2678 plus over $2000 in real estate. 1870 Curtisville, Coles Co, IL. According to the census, he had no property at all. Two children, Boyd, 5, & Rosa, 3, living with him were probably grandchildren. |
| Cemetery records state he arrived in Illinois in 1830, not 1831. |