Wesley Collins, son of William and Elizabeth Collins was born on May 7, 1813 in Madison County, Kentucky, near Silver Creek. Little is known of Wesley's early life as he was just ten years of age when the family moved from Madison County, Kentucky to Shelby County, Indiana around 1823.
Wesley's brothers were some of the first pioneers of the county, having arrived there in 1823. His father, William Collins, purchased his first land in Shelby County on February 22, 1823. Wesley lived within one mile of his father's land most of his life.
He married Martha Butler, daughter of Clifford and Lucinda Bulter on May 14 1835 in Shelbyville, Shelby County, Indiana. Sometime after Wesley's marriage in 1835 both of his parents came to live with the family. They appeared only as an elderly couple in the 1840 census; However, in the next census of 1850 Elizabeth was still living with the Wesley Collins family. Evidently, the father had died between 1847 and 1850 for he was no longer found in Shelby County records.
The Wesley Collins family prospered and they were able to establish a good sized farm located about 4 1/2 miles southwest of Shelbyville. His brothers also owned land adjacent or nearby Wesley's land. There were many Collins and Boone family relatives living in the area.
Wesley evidently worked hard to build up his farm and this may have contributed to his early death in 1860. Wesley died on July 22 1860 near Smithland, Shelby County, Indiana. There were many Collins family deaths between 1860 and 1862 according to Bible records. The reason for these deaths can only be speculated as no facts are available.
The Civil War started in 1861 and the fortunes of the family deteriorated rapidly. Can you imagine Martha trying to manage the farm alone with her older sons gone off to the war, and having very young children not yet of school age? There was no one left to keep up the farm. It eventually was divided up among the children a few years later. Each received about seventeen acres of land, hardly enough to continue farming in Shelby County. Therefore, the Collins children began to look westward and all eventually left Shelby County.
Wesley's brothers were some of the first pioneers of the county, having arrived there in 1823. His father, William Collins, purchased his first land in Shelby County on February 22, 1823. Wesley lived within one mile of his father's land most of his life.
He married Martha Butler, daughter of Clifford and Lucinda Bulter on May 14 1835 in Shelbyville, Shelby County, Indiana. Sometime after Wesley's marriage in 1835 both of his parents came to live with the family. They appeared only as an elderly couple in the 1840 census; However, in the next census of 1850 Elizabeth was still living with the Wesley Collins family. Evidently, the father had died between 1847 and 1850 for he was no longer found in Shelby County records.
The Wesley Collins family prospered and they were able to establish a good sized farm located about 4 1/2 miles southwest of Shelbyville. His brothers also owned land adjacent or nearby Wesley's land. There were many Collins and Boone family relatives living in the area.
Wesley evidently worked hard to build up his farm and this may have contributed to his early death in 1860. Wesley died on July 22 1860 near Smithland, Shelby County, Indiana. There were many Collins family deaths between 1860 and 1862 according to Bible records. The reason for these deaths can only be speculated as no facts are available.
The Civil War started in 1861 and the fortunes of the family deteriorated rapidly. Can you imagine Martha trying to manage the farm alone with her older sons gone off to the war, and having very young children not yet of school age? There was no one left to keep up the farm. It eventually was divided up among the children a few years later. Each received about seventeen acres of land, hardly enough to continue farming in Shelby County. Therefore, the Collins children began to look westward and all eventually left Shelby County.
Wesley Collins, son of William and Elizabeth Collins was born on May 7, 1813 in Madison County, Kentucky, near Silver Creek. Little is known of Wesley's early life as he was just ten years of age when the family moved from Madison County, Kentucky to Shelby County, Indiana around 1823.
Wesley's brothers were some of the first pioneers of the county, having arrived there in 1823. His father, William Collins, purchased his first land in Shelby County on February 22, 1823. Wesley lived within one mile of his father's land most of his life.
He married Martha Butler, daughter of Clifford and Lucinda Bulter on May 14 1835 in Shelbyville, Shelby County, Indiana. Sometime after Wesley's marriage in 1835 both of his parents came to live with the family. They appeared only as an elderly couple in the 1840 census; However, in the next census of 1850 Elizabeth was still living with the Wesley Collins family. Evidently, the father had died between 1847 and 1850 for he was no longer found in Shelby County records.
The Wesley Collins family prospered and they were able to establish a good sized farm located about 4 1/2 miles southwest of Shelbyville. His brothers also owned land adjacent or nearby Wesley's land. There were many Collins and Boone family relatives living in the area.
Wesley evidently worked hard to build up his farm and this may have contributed to his early death in 1860. Wesley died on July 22 1860 near Smithland, Shelby County, Indiana. There were many Collins family deaths between 1860 and 1862 according to Bible records. The reason for these deaths can only be speculated as no facts are available.
The Civil War started in 1861 and the fortunes of the family deteriorated rapidly. Can you imagine Martha trying to manage the farm alone with her older sons gone off to the war, and having very young children not yet of school age? There was no one left to keep up the farm. It eventually was divided up among the children a few years later. Each received about seventeen acres of land, hardly enough to continue farming in Shelby County. Therefore, the Collins children began to look westward and all eventually left Shelby County.
Wesley's brothers were some of the first pioneers of the county, having arrived there in 1823. His father, William Collins, purchased his first land in Shelby County on February 22, 1823. Wesley lived within one mile of his father's land most of his life.
He married Martha Butler, daughter of Clifford and Lucinda Bulter on May 14 1835 in Shelbyville, Shelby County, Indiana. Sometime after Wesley's marriage in 1835 both of his parents came to live with the family. They appeared only as an elderly couple in the 1840 census; However, in the next census of 1850 Elizabeth was still living with the Wesley Collins family. Evidently, the father had died between 1847 and 1850 for he was no longer found in Shelby County records.
The Wesley Collins family prospered and they were able to establish a good sized farm located about 4 1/2 miles southwest of Shelbyville. His brothers also owned land adjacent or nearby Wesley's land. There were many Collins and Boone family relatives living in the area.
Wesley evidently worked hard to build up his farm and this may have contributed to his early death in 1860. Wesley died on July 22 1860 near Smithland, Shelby County, Indiana. There were many Collins family deaths between 1860 and 1862 according to Bible records. The reason for these deaths can only be speculated as no facts are available.
The Civil War started in 1861 and the fortunes of the family deteriorated rapidly. Can you imagine Martha trying to manage the farm alone with her older sons gone off to the war, and having very young children not yet of school age? There was no one left to keep up the farm. It eventually was divided up among the children a few years later. Each received about seventeen acres of land, hardly enough to continue farming in Shelby County. Therefore, the Collins children began to look westward and all eventually left Shelby County.
Family Members
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
