Mahonri Moriancur Collings was born at Tom's River, New Jersey on January 17, 1856. His parents were James and Elizabeth Bewick Collings of Deptford, Kent, England.
In 1845 they became converts to the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Soon after this they decided they would like to come to America.
There was not enough money for all of them to make the trip so James , the father of the family came over and secured work. In 1854 he had raised enough money to bring his wife and children to America. The trip took six weeks which was made on an old sailing vessel. a calm period held them in mid ocean for three days.
Their first home was in Brooklyn, New York, where they lived for a year. They then moved to Tom's River, New Jersey, where Mahonri was born.
In the fall of 1856 the family moved to St. Louis, Missouri. This trip was made by train and boat. Later on, they moved from St. Louis to Omaha, Nebraska and then on to Flor4ence, Nebraska, where they remained for three years. James Collings returned to St. Louis to work so he could obtain money to buy a wagon, oxen and supplies for the trip across the plains.
In 1862 they started on toward the Rocky Mountains. They had their own wagon and oxen and their own provisions so they were able to enjoy a little more freedom . They secured an abundance of clothing before they started west. They brought a coal oil lamp with them that became the first one in Paris, Idaho.
Near the first of October, 1860 from the mouth of Emigration Canyon they beheld the Valley of the Great Salt Lake. They made their home for the next two years in Salt Lake.
In 1862 it seemed advisable for the family to move to Logan, Utah. Here, more land was available and work could be obtained for the boys. Four years were spent in Logan.
The family was living here at the time of the battles with the Indians. During one of these battles a small Indian lad was left an orphan, and James and Elizabeth took him into their home and raised him. They called him Indian John. He was about the age of Mahonri.
While they were swimming one day he saved Mahonri from drowning. He stayed with the family until the time Mahonri got married.
In the spring of 1866 the family moved to Paris, Idaho.
On June 26, 1885 he and Annie Emeline Horsley were married in the temple at Logan, Utah. They moved into a home that he and his father had built for them one mile south of Paris, and they lived there until his wife passed away in December 1938.
There was 11 children born to them, 2 passing away as infants.
The nine children living are Mahonri M. Jr., Thomas, Vera, Deseret, Mabel, Lyman, Amy, Lavenia and Laura Mae.
The jobs he held during his life was he rode for Hyrum Wooley for years in his cattle ranch.
He helped carry mail with his brother James. He was also a farmer and Gardner. He always had one of the best gardens and worked it as long as he could.
After his wife passed away he lived with his daughter in Utah in the winter months and lived with his son Mahroni Jr. in Paris in summer.
He passed away on October 2, 1947 at Paris, Idaho at the home of his son. (Find A Grave contributor julrene thornberg)