The community was shocked this morning by the news of the sudden death of Mr. J. W. Collins, one of the earliest settlers in Laramie, who passed away at 7 o'clock last evening at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. John Costin, on Sixth street, from heart failure.
Mr. Collins came in from his ranch near Boulder Ridge, eighteen miles southwest of the city, four weeks ago last Sunday. Previous to that it had been custom, no mutter how severe the weather, to come to town on Friday of each week, and his departure from the rule in taken as an evidence that he was not in his usual health. He drove direct to his daughter's home and when he went in the house complained of feeling ill, for the first time that can be recollected.
It seemed to be a pluritic pain in the left side and he doctored himself for it at first. He was unable to lie down, but could walk back and forth between the rooms. He gradually grew weaker and was obliged to call a physician, by whom he was treated for asthma and heart trouble. Last night he at supper with the family and leaving the table in advance of the rest walked into the front room, where he was talking with his brother, Perry Collins about business matters.
James Wesley Collins was born in Indiana December 12, 1832, and hence was approaching his 67th year. He came west in the early 60s and engaged in freighting from Atchison, Kas., to Denver and Pueblo. He came to Laramie slightly in advance of the Union Pacific railroad, his family joining him a little later, and had been here for thirty-two years.
He established a general store at the northwest corner of Second and Garfield streets, afterwards the site of the Trabing Commercial company's line block, destroyed by fire. Later, he opened a boarding house, and. in connection with it, a livery stable on the opposite side of the street. The stable was struck by lightning and burned, and about twenty-one years ago Mr. Collins put up the large brick block, on the same site which bears his name, and in which he conducted a store for many years.
Five years ago Mr. Collins moved to his ranch near Boulder Ridge and has ever since devoted his time to stock-raising, feeding 500 or 600 head last winter. It is believed that the worry and exposure he underwent in taking care of his herd through that long and severe winter are largely responsible for his death, though he was apparently in excellent health until he came to the city four weeks ago.
Mr. Collins, in 1854, was united in marriage to Lavina Lancaster of Missouri, who died in March, 1895. As a result of this union eleven children were born to them six of whom survive, as follows: Samuel Collins, who went out two weeks ago to take charge of the ranch; Mrs. Nancy Bolton of Creston, Ia.; Mrs. Annie Crocker of Ogden, Utah; Mrs. Alice Wheat of Renton, Wash.; Mrs. John Costin of Laramie and Mrs. Eva Snyder of Chicago.
Mr. Collins left surviving him thirty grandchildren, of whom all but seven are boys. In addition to his brother Perry Collins of this city, he has two brothers, Samuel Collins, residing in Chapman, Neb., and Thomas Collins of Fort Collins, Colo., and two sisters, Mrs. Mollie Lowe of Atchison, Kas., and Mrs. Maggie Roberts, living on Horse Creek.
Excerpts from © Daily Boomerang no. 209 November 14, 1899, page 3
Mr. Collins came in from his ranch near Boulder Ridge, eighteen miles southwest of the city, four weeks ago last Sunday. Previous to that it had been custom, no mutter how severe the weather, to come to town on Friday of each week, and his departure from the rule in taken as an evidence that he was not in his usual health. He drove direct to his daughter's home and when he went in the house complained of feeling ill, for the first time that can be recollected.
It seemed to be a pluritic pain in the left side and he doctored himself for it at first. He was unable to lie down, but could walk back and forth between the rooms. He gradually grew weaker and was obliged to call a physician, by whom he was treated for asthma and heart trouble. Last night he at supper with the family and leaving the table in advance of the rest walked into the front room, where he was talking with his brother, Perry Collins about business matters.
James Wesley Collins was born in Indiana December 12, 1832, and hence was approaching his 67th year. He came west in the early 60s and engaged in freighting from Atchison, Kas., to Denver and Pueblo. He came to Laramie slightly in advance of the Union Pacific railroad, his family joining him a little later, and had been here for thirty-two years.
He established a general store at the northwest corner of Second and Garfield streets, afterwards the site of the Trabing Commercial company's line block, destroyed by fire. Later, he opened a boarding house, and. in connection with it, a livery stable on the opposite side of the street. The stable was struck by lightning and burned, and about twenty-one years ago Mr. Collins put up the large brick block, on the same site which bears his name, and in which he conducted a store for many years.
Five years ago Mr. Collins moved to his ranch near Boulder Ridge and has ever since devoted his time to stock-raising, feeding 500 or 600 head last winter. It is believed that the worry and exposure he underwent in taking care of his herd through that long and severe winter are largely responsible for his death, though he was apparently in excellent health until he came to the city four weeks ago.
Mr. Collins, in 1854, was united in marriage to Lavina Lancaster of Missouri, who died in March, 1895. As a result of this union eleven children were born to them six of whom survive, as follows: Samuel Collins, who went out two weeks ago to take charge of the ranch; Mrs. Nancy Bolton of Creston, Ia.; Mrs. Annie Crocker of Ogden, Utah; Mrs. Alice Wheat of Renton, Wash.; Mrs. John Costin of Laramie and Mrs. Eva Snyder of Chicago.
Mr. Collins left surviving him thirty grandchildren, of whom all but seven are boys. In addition to his brother Perry Collins of this city, he has two brothers, Samuel Collins, residing in Chapman, Neb., and Thomas Collins of Fort Collins, Colo., and two sisters, Mrs. Mollie Lowe of Atchison, Kas., and Mrs. Maggie Roberts, living on Horse Creek.
Excerpts from © Daily Boomerang no. 209 November 14, 1899, page 3
The community was shocked this morning by the news of the sudden death of Mr. J. W. Collins, one of the earliest settlers in Laramie, who passed away at 7 o'clock last evening at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. John Costin, on Sixth street, from heart failure.
Mr. Collins came in from his ranch near Boulder Ridge, eighteen miles southwest of the city, four weeks ago last Sunday. Previous to that it had been custom, no mutter how severe the weather, to come to town on Friday of each week, and his departure from the rule in taken as an evidence that he was not in his usual health. He drove direct to his daughter's home and when he went in the house complained of feeling ill, for the first time that can be recollected.
It seemed to be a pluritic pain in the left side and he doctored himself for it at first. He was unable to lie down, but could walk back and forth between the rooms. He gradually grew weaker and was obliged to call a physician, by whom he was treated for asthma and heart trouble. Last night he at supper with the family and leaving the table in advance of the rest walked into the front room, where he was talking with his brother, Perry Collins about business matters.
James Wesley Collins was born in Indiana December 12, 1832, and hence was approaching his 67th year. He came west in the early 60s and engaged in freighting from Atchison, Kas., to Denver and Pueblo. He came to Laramie slightly in advance of the Union Pacific railroad, his family joining him a little later, and had been here for thirty-two years.
He established a general store at the northwest corner of Second and Garfield streets, afterwards the site of the Trabing Commercial company's line block, destroyed by fire. Later, he opened a boarding house, and. in connection with it, a livery stable on the opposite side of the street. The stable was struck by lightning and burned, and about twenty-one years ago Mr. Collins put up the large brick block, on the same site which bears his name, and in which he conducted a store for many years.
Five years ago Mr. Collins moved to his ranch near Boulder Ridge and has ever since devoted his time to stock-raising, feeding 500 or 600 head last winter. It is believed that the worry and exposure he underwent in taking care of his herd through that long and severe winter are largely responsible for his death, though he was apparently in excellent health until he came to the city four weeks ago.
Mr. Collins, in 1854, was united in marriage to Lavina Lancaster of Missouri, who died in March, 1895. As a result of this union eleven children were born to them six of whom survive, as follows: Samuel Collins, who went out two weeks ago to take charge of the ranch; Mrs. Nancy Bolton of Creston, Ia.; Mrs. Annie Crocker of Ogden, Utah; Mrs. Alice Wheat of Renton, Wash.; Mrs. John Costin of Laramie and Mrs. Eva Snyder of Chicago.
Mr. Collins left surviving him thirty grandchildren, of whom all but seven are boys. In addition to his brother Perry Collins of this city, he has two brothers, Samuel Collins, residing in Chapman, Neb., and Thomas Collins of Fort Collins, Colo., and two sisters, Mrs. Mollie Lowe of Atchison, Kas., and Mrs. Maggie Roberts, living on Horse Creek.
Excerpts from © Daily Boomerang no. 209 November 14, 1899, page 3
Mr. Collins came in from his ranch near Boulder Ridge, eighteen miles southwest of the city, four weeks ago last Sunday. Previous to that it had been custom, no mutter how severe the weather, to come to town on Friday of each week, and his departure from the rule in taken as an evidence that he was not in his usual health. He drove direct to his daughter's home and when he went in the house complained of feeling ill, for the first time that can be recollected.
It seemed to be a pluritic pain in the left side and he doctored himself for it at first. He was unable to lie down, but could walk back and forth between the rooms. He gradually grew weaker and was obliged to call a physician, by whom he was treated for asthma and heart trouble. Last night he at supper with the family and leaving the table in advance of the rest walked into the front room, where he was talking with his brother, Perry Collins about business matters.
James Wesley Collins was born in Indiana December 12, 1832, and hence was approaching his 67th year. He came west in the early 60s and engaged in freighting from Atchison, Kas., to Denver and Pueblo. He came to Laramie slightly in advance of the Union Pacific railroad, his family joining him a little later, and had been here for thirty-two years.
He established a general store at the northwest corner of Second and Garfield streets, afterwards the site of the Trabing Commercial company's line block, destroyed by fire. Later, he opened a boarding house, and. in connection with it, a livery stable on the opposite side of the street. The stable was struck by lightning and burned, and about twenty-one years ago Mr. Collins put up the large brick block, on the same site which bears his name, and in which he conducted a store for many years.
Five years ago Mr. Collins moved to his ranch near Boulder Ridge and has ever since devoted his time to stock-raising, feeding 500 or 600 head last winter. It is believed that the worry and exposure he underwent in taking care of his herd through that long and severe winter are largely responsible for his death, though he was apparently in excellent health until he came to the city four weeks ago.
Mr. Collins, in 1854, was united in marriage to Lavina Lancaster of Missouri, who died in March, 1895. As a result of this union eleven children were born to them six of whom survive, as follows: Samuel Collins, who went out two weeks ago to take charge of the ranch; Mrs. Nancy Bolton of Creston, Ia.; Mrs. Annie Crocker of Ogden, Utah; Mrs. Alice Wheat of Renton, Wash.; Mrs. John Costin of Laramie and Mrs. Eva Snyder of Chicago.
Mr. Collins left surviving him thirty grandchildren, of whom all but seven are boys. In addition to his brother Perry Collins of this city, he has two brothers, Samuel Collins, residing in Chapman, Neb., and Thomas Collins of Fort Collins, Colo., and two sisters, Mrs. Mollie Lowe of Atchison, Kas., and Mrs. Maggie Roberts, living on Horse Creek.
Excerpts from © Daily Boomerang no. 209 November 14, 1899, page 3
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