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...Book...Introduction the extensive 2021 treatise on Susan Collins by Janis Bennington Van Buren, FHS'58.
...1a...Overview of the life of Isaac Collins & Sarah Ann Joiner, parents of Susan Collins.
........The Low Jackson Sr. family brought 7yr old slave boy Isaac to the Ft.Russell area, Madison.Co.IL, by 1815. 
........The Isam Joiner family was brought to St.Clair.Co.IL about the same time frame, 1813-1815. 
........Isaac Collins & the Joiner family became freed blacks/coloreds.  Southern Illinois had an early abolitionist history. 
.....1b...Jackson descendent tree and maps showing Jackson farm location.
.....1c...Isam Joiner family, (tree & map), was brought to St.Clair.Co.IL & became freed coloreds.
...2a...Wisconsin About 1857, the Collins family moved to Wisconsin.
.....2b...Adams Co.WI ...Notes/maps: 13yrs after marriage, the Collins family moved from Illinois & farmed 8-9 yrs with/near Robert Valentine in Adams.Co.WI, 1857-1865.
...3a...Isaac Collins x Sarah Ann Joiner family descendent tree.
...4a...Time-Line and Notes, The Collins Family in Fayette.Co.IA, and Susan in Africa.
........1864-65, Robert Valentine moved to a farm a mile west of Albany, Fayette.Co.IA.  By late fall 1865, Isaac Collins, after mustering out of the Union Army, located 2mi+/- ExSE of Lima, Illyria.Twp, Fayette.Co.IA, 4mi E of Robert Valentine. John Alexander Joiner, nephew of Sarah Joiner Collins, mustered out at the same time, came to Iowa, probably with Isaac Collins and then moved on to farm north of Des.Moines.IA.  Isaac Collins moved to his 16a farmstead two miles west of Albany (on the Fayette>Albany>Lima road), probably in the late 1870's, until his death in SD, 1884Nov.  The descendent trees and various notes will highlight the family and others.
...5a...Lima Cemetery, Fayette.Co.IA, Collins family burials.

Page Chronology: 
...2010Nov...Project notes uploaded.
...2017Dec...Material revisited as result of contact from Lillia.Marigaza, video producer with United Methodist Communications, who is producing/releasing a video regarding Susan Collins in 2018Jan.  She has supplied two pics from the U.M. Church General Commission on Archives and History www.gcah.org  that were added to this page.  The Rev. Jason Paine descendent tree was worked on again, and can be supplied for use by anyone needing the notes.  Material from the West.Union.IA paper has been added.  Major work was done tracking the Collins and Joiner locations in Illinois and Wisconsin. 
...2018June01...Collins page reloaded, along with new pages regarding Robert Valentine and Jason & Margaret Kent Paine.
...2021June...Janis Bennington Van Buren, FHS'58, published her extensive treatise on Susan Collins, info below.

Some Links

 Iowaz Index Page  Various Fayette.Co.IA surnames and history projects:
 Iowaz Photo Hosting Site  Contains material regarding history, maps, genealogy of Fayette, Co, Iowa:

...Robert Valentine, the family that Isaac Collins lived near or with in Adams.Co.WI.  Both families moved to the Albany/Lima area, Fayette.Co.IA:  http://www.iowaz.info/surname/valentinerobert.htm
...Lima Cemetery Burials:   http://www.iowaz.info/fayetteco/limacemeteryburials.htm
...Pleasant Hill Cem & tidbits of history regarding the pioneer 'colored' community of Fayette.Co.IA: http://www.iowaz.info/fayetteco/pleasanthill.htm
...Watrous family, primary responsible for initiating the colored pioneer movement to Fayette/Lima/Albany area: http://www.iowaz.info/surname/watrous.htm
...The Wroe families were also abolitionists of early Fayette.Co.IA settlement:  http://www.iowaz.info/surname/wroe.htm
...The Houlsworth family, abolitionist SE of Lima, Illyria.Twp, where Isaac Collins located near until moving to his 16a farmstead west of Albany http://www.iowaz.info/surname/houlsworth.htm
...First Methodist Church, Fayette.IA:  http://www.iowaz.info/fayette/methodistch.htm
...Jason & Margaret Kent Paine, close friends/mentors of Susan and the Collins family in Fayette.Co.IA:  http://www.iowaz.info/surname/painejason.htm
...Video regarding Susan, 'African American Woman's Incredible Life as a Methodist Missionary,' UMC/2018:  http://www.umc.org/who-we-are/african-american-womans-incredible-life-as-a-methodist-missionary

Book, 2021
Janis Bennington Van Buren, Fayette.IA H.S. Grad, Class of 1958,
in 2021, published her extensive treatise on the life of Susan Collins.
Pics of the content page and the back cover are in this photo folder,
https://public.fotki.com/iowaz/fayette_county_iowa/susan-collins-book/
A personal note from the author is below.

The book is available on Amazon, Barnse&Noble, WestBowPress.com, or signed from the author.

A personal note from the author
 Janis Bennington Van Buren,  FHS'58
janvan39@outlook.com

2021June, Janis writes:  As a proud Fayette High School (FHS) Cardinal, Class of 1958 I, Janis Bennington Van Buren, am excited to announce the publication of my book Susan Angeline Collins: With a Hallelujah Heart.  As a Fayette “hidden figure” Susan’s life experiences intrigued me as I learned more about this African-American woman born in Illinois in 1851 to parents who had recently been released from their indenture. Prior to 1858 they moved to the Wisconsin Dells area near several other black families.  Isaac served as an undercook in a Wisconsin regiment from August 1864 until June 1865. Five months after his return, the family moved to the Albany/Lima area in November1865.  Eventually her father bought 16.5 acres now encompassed by the Volga River State Recreation Area.  Susan was the first African American to attend Upper Iowa University and purportedly (fire destroyed records) completed the Normal Training Program in 1879.  Several years later she traveled to Huron, Dakota Territory and operated her own laundry business for three years.  

While there she took the first steps in fulfilling her dream of becoming a missionary by taking correspondence courses from the Chicago Training School for City, Home, and Foreign Missions.  In late 1885 she boarded a train for Chicago, completed the training program, and in early 1887  was sailing to the Belgian Congo to begin her life’s work as a missionary.  Two years later she was in the high plateau region of north central Angola where her faith, courage, and perseverance sustained her. Susan lived in substandard housing, survived on limited food supplies, and worked long hours providing girls living at the mission with academic, religious, and vocational training.  She retired in 1920, returned to Fayette, and lived in the home she had purchased in 1905. She led an active life until shortly before her death in June 1940.  Susan is buried in the Lima Cemetery adjacent to the graves of her mother and three of her six siblings.  Joe Rhode, FHS'61, currently (2021) lives in her house located on the Northeast corner of Alexander and State Streets, in Fayette.

Susan’s story demonstrates the difference one person can make in the lives of an unknown number of women and children, some of whom were orphaned or homeless and others escaping early marriage and subservience. Her story is one of which all FHS graduates should be proud as it illustrates the benefits of growing up in a small, accepting community. 

You can purchase my book online from either Barnes & Noble or Amazon or from the publisher, WestBowPress.com.  If you want a signed copy, you can purchase it directly from me by contacting me at janvan39@outlook.com   At that time we can plan arrangements for the transaction.  Enjoy the book!!!

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Isaac Collins x Sarah Ann Joiner
overview from NC> IL> WI> IA

...1808Mar01...Isaac (Collins) was born a slave in Wake.Co.NC, if records & enlistment data are correct.

...1815/16...Low Jackson Sr. (1770/NC-1850/IL), was one of the early settlers, near Fort Russell, T5N, R8W, Madison.Co.IL, bringing 2 colored boys with him.
......Rev. Jones came 1814 to Ft.Russell.Twp.  Low Jackson & several others came shortly after (?1815).  The area of settlement was 2/3 timber & generally level.
...1816May 31...Low Jackson Sr., in Madison.Co.IL, registered as indentured or slaves, two Negro boys, Isaac age 7y (Collins, 1808/NC-1884/SD) & Dick age 6y (assumed a brother of Isaac), in Madison.Co.IL.  Dick either died or was placed before the 1820 Census.
...1815/16...Low Jackson Sr, entered an 160a farm in the Indian Creek flowage, Rattan's Prairie area, Sec17&20, T5N, R8W, 6mi NW of Edwardsville.

...1820-1840...Isaac remained enumerated with the Low Jackson Sr. family until after the 1840 Census.
...1813-1815...Isam & Sarah Joiner with several children were brought to the Ogle neighborhood of St.Clair.Co.IL (adj to Madison.Co & abt 5mi NW of today's Lebanon.IL), and became freed coloreds.
...1824...Daughter Sarah Ann Joiner was born a free colored, 1824/St.Clair.Co.IL, the youngest of 8 children of Isam & Sarah Joiner.

...1844...Isaac Collins married Sarah Ann Joiner (mulatto, b.1824/St.Clair.Co, d.1874/Fayette.Co.IA), in Madison.Co.IL.
........Sarah's family (Isam Joiner) were freed mulatto's by 1820, from the Prairie Ridge/Ogle neighborhood of St.Clair.Co.IL, near the northern line with Madison.Co.IL.
...1844>1857/58...Isaac & Sarah Joiner Collins remained on or near the Jackson farm until they removed to Adams.Co.WI.  Low Jackson Sr., passed away 1850.
......Isaac & Sarah Collins had 5 children in Madison.Co.IL:  Mary.Ann1844, Martha.Indiana1846, Maranda1849, Susan.Angeline1851, William1854.
...1857/58...The Collins family removed from Madison.Co.IL, toward Adams.Co.WI, NxNE of the Wisc.Dells.

...1858>1865, the Collins family lived/farmed in Adams.Co.WI, on Little Roche-a-Cri Creek, in Newark.Valley.Twp (Pioneer.Twp), near Pioneer village Newark Valley, just west of Friendship, with three other colored families.
......Adams.Co.WI formed 1848.  Newark.Valley.Twp was formed 1858, in T17N, R5W.  Newark Valley village still existed in 1877.
...1858...Son Richard Wesley Collins was born in Adams.Co.WI.  Since the next known child was born 1867 in Iowa, there likely were other unknown children born between 1859-1865 in Adam.Co.WI, that did not survive to the 1864/65 move to Iowa.
...1860...Adams.Co.WI, enumerated were four families of 20 coloreds along Little Roche-a-Cri Creek; #57 Leonard Manley31NCbk, #58 Isaac Collins50VAbk, #59 Robert Valentine47NCmu, #66 John Joyce (error, is John Alexander Joiner23NC, nephew of Sarah Joiner Collins)33NYmu. 
......Note:  The Valentine & Manley surnames were linked. John A. Joiner was the nephew of Sarah Ann Joiner Collins, who came from Madison.Co.IL with the Collins family.  Robert Valentine would move to Fayette.Co.IA, as would the Collins family.  John A. Joiner would travel with them to Iowa, and settle on a farm north of Des.Moines, Salyor.Twp, Polk.Co.IA.
...1860...Census: Newark Valley village area (15+mi N of Wisc.Dells), Newark.Valley.Twp, Adams.Co.WI. Collins: Isaac50VAbk farmer $300/50, SarahA30TNbk, Indiana14ILbk, Merinda11ILbk, Susan8ILbk, WilliamH5ILbk, RichardW2WIbk.  Note:  Isaac was also enumerated as a farm hand near Leeds, in Columbia.Co.WI.
...1860...Census: Isaac was a farmhand, away from family, Leeds P.O. (30+mi SE of Wisc.Dells) Leeds.Twp, Columbia.Co.WI. Isaac Collins50NCbk farm laborer, $500/200; enumerated with Thomas Pashaw34MA farmer $1600/300 & family (wife/children in Newark.Valley, Adams.Co.WI).
...1864-1865...Isaac enlisted in the Union Army, from Newark.Valley.Twp, Adams.Co.WI (residence listed Friendship village), Adams.Co.WI, 1864Aug06, CoH, 38th Wisc Inf, cook > mustered out 1865Jun02, Camp.Randall.WI, serving as an undercook.  John Alexander Joiner (Sarah Joiner Collins' nephew) also enlisted in CoH, 38th Wisc Inf (assuming the same dates and duties, bz/2018).
...1864...According to the obit of Robert Valentine's wife Joice, the Valentine family moved to the Albany area, Fayette.Co.IA in 1864.  The Collins & Joiner families (wives & children) may have (likely) moved to Iowa with the Valentines as Isaac Collins & John A. Joiner enlisted 1864Aug, and mustered out 1865Jun.

...1865Nov...By late1865 the four colored families that had settled about 1857, along Little Roche-a-Chi Creek, west of Friendship, in Adams.Co.WI had left that area.
......After Isaac Collins and John Alexander Joiner were mustered out of the Union Army, they made the move to the Albany/Lima area of Fayette.Co.IA.   John A. Joiner, by the 1870 census, had moved to a 160a farm north of Des.Moines. Saylor.Twp, Polk.Co.IA.  Their families may have already moved in 1864 to Fayette.Co.IA, with the Valentine family, joining a colored settlement of farmers that had been in the Fayette, Spring Valley, Frog Hollow, Albany, Lima area  since the early 1850's. 

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Jackson Descendent Tree

...1815/1816...Low Jackson removed his family from NC to near Ft.Russell in Madison.Co.IL.
...Low Jackson brought with him to IL two colored boys, Isaac 7yr & Dick 6yr.
...Low entered 160a, in Wood.River/Ft.Russell.Twp, Sec 20&17, T5N, R8W,  6mi NW of Edwardsville.IL.
...1816-1850...Low farmed in the Indian.River flowage, the Rattan's Priaire area until his death from smallpox in 1850.
...Representatives of the Jackson family remain in the IL/MO area today.

...1815-1840+...The Low Jackson farm was the location of Isaac Collins until at least his marriage in 1844 to Sarah Ann Joiner.
...1844-1857/58...After marriage, Issac & Sarah Joiner Collins either remained at the Jackson farm or were in the immediate area.
...1857/58...The Collins family moved toward Newark.Valley.Twp, west of Friendship village in Adams.Co.WI.
...1864/65...The Collins family made their last move to the Lima/Albany area, Westfield.Twp, Fayette.Co.IA.

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Time Line for free Blacks/Coloreds in Illinois.

1680-1763...Illinois controlled by French.
1763-1783...Illinois in hands of England.
1800-1809...Illinois became 'Indian Territory.'
1800...298 blacks/mulattos residing in Illinois Territory, 135 slaves, 163 free persons of color.
1803...Illinois adopted an indenture law, binding coloreds to perform hard/tedious work for long years, basically making their lives slave-like.
1809...Illinois Territory was created.
1810...781 blacks/mulattos residing in Illinois Territory, 168 slaves, 613 free persons of color.
1812...Madison.Co formed out of Randolph & St.Clair Co's.
1818...Illinois became a State.  Slavery was banned, indenture continued, actual slavery continued in southern IL & along the Mississippi River. 
1818 Census: 1,173 blacks/mulattos, 847 servants/slaves, 326 free persons of color.
1819Apr...Edward Coles, b. Dec 15, 1786, Albermarle.Co.VA, the son of a rich planter received upon his fathers death, twenty slaves for his share.  At Wm. & Mary College Edward had developed the conviction of the wrong of negro slavery.  He became the private secretary for Pres. Madison, making a trip to Russia.  Upon returning to the plantation in VA, he removed his slaves to Edwardsville.IL, 1819Arp, purchased 160a for each family and superintended their free black settlement near today's Edwardsville, Madison.Co.IL.  In 1819, he was appointed by Pres. Monroe as Register of the Land Office of Edwardsville.IL, until he was elected Gov. of IL in 1822 (1823-1826).
1820...IL Census; of 1512 Af/Am, 688 were slaves, 469 free persons,  375 given no designation.
1830...IL Census; of 2384 Af/Am, 747slaves, 1836 free persons.
1840...IL Census; of 3929 Af/Am, 331slaves, 3598 free persons.
1843...Madison.Co boundary finalized.
1847...IL voters ratify constitutional change prohibiting free persons of color from immigrating to IL and preventing slave owners from bringing slaves to IL for the purpose of setting them free.
1850...IL Census:  5436 Af/Am in IL.
1853...IL Laws passed prohibiting all coloreds including freedmen from settling in IL (changed after Civil War).
1860...IL Census:  7628 Af/Am in IL.
1862...Sept Pres. Lincoln issues a preliminary Emancipation Proclamation declaring rebellious states abandon hostilities or lose their slaves by Jan 1, 1863.
1863...Jan 1, the Emancipation Proclamation is signed declaring slaves free in all States and Territories.
1865...IL repeals the State's black laws, become the first state to ratify the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery in the U.S.
1870...IL Census:   28,762 Af/Am in IL.
1874...IL Passes law forbidding segregation in schools.
1880...IL Census:  46,368 Af/Am in IL.
1885...L passes civil rights act forbidding racial discrimination in public places.
1890...IL Census:  57,028 Af/Am in IL.
1900...IL Census:  85,078 Af/Am in IL.

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Joiner family
descendent tree

Note:  The 1875 map shows development not present when the Joiner's lived/farmed in the Ogle neighborhood.
....Isaac Collins (living with Low Jackson) was 25-30mi NxNW of the Joiner family.

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Wisconsin

Wisconsin:
...1830s, slaves were brought to the lead mines along the Mississippi River in SW Wisconsin.
…1840, fewer than 200 ‘coloreds’ lived in Wisconsin.
...1860, the number of coloreds had increased to nearly 1,200.
…..More coloreds arrived from the South during the Civil War as northern troops swept through slave-holding states.
…In the decades before the war, a large number of white settlers from New England, New York, and Germany with radical political opinions, including opposition to slavery, entered Wisconsin.
…The white settlers formed abolitionist groups and helped southern slaves escape through Wisconsin to Canada on the Underground Railroad.
…They also founded the Republican Party, which was organized in opposition to slavery.
…When the Civil War broke out, coloreds were not permitted to serve as soldiers.
…Some joined regiments as non-combatant laborers.
…1863Jan01, Pres. Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation made it possible for black soldiers to enlist in Union regiments.
…1863-1864, 272 WI men of color joined the Union army. Another 81 from other states who enlisted in place of white draftees on the Wisconsin rolls, bringing the total number of Wisconsin black troops to 353.

Byron Paine, Wisconsin lawyer and abolitionist (Note: Byron was a cousin of Jason Paine, of UIU/Fayette.IA  http://www.iowaz.info/surname/painejason.htm ).
…1827…Byron Paine (born 1827Oct10/Painesville, Lake.Co.OH, 10 October 1827; died 1871Jan13/Madison.WI), attorney & abolitionist.
……Gfather Edward Paine founded Painesville, Lake.Co.OH in 1800.
……Father James Harvey Paine was a general in the OH Militia, a lawyer & early  anti-slavery champion.
…1847Before…Bryon studied at the Painesville Academy.
…1847…Bryon Paine, age 20, moved from OH to Milwaukee.WI with his father Edward.
…1849…Admitted to the Wisc. Bar & entered practice with partner Carl Schruz.
.....Bryon Paine is best remembered for representing defendants in two of the state's landmark civil rights cases.  
…1850…Census:  Census:  Milwaukee, Milwaukee.Co.WI.  Paine:  JamesH58CT lawyer $400, Marella42OH, Hortensius25OH, Byron22OH, Clarissa20OH.
…...The first in 1854, Wisconsin's best known abolitionist incident of Joshua Glover & the Fed. Fugitive Slave Law.
…..The second in 1865, Ezekiel Gillespie and black voting rights in WI.
…1854…Joshua Glover was an escaped slave, captured by his master & locked in a Milwaukee jail.
….. A sympathetic mob rescued/broke Glover out and helped him to freedom.
…..The mob's ringleader Sherman Booth was arrested & prosecuted under the Federal Fugitive Slave Law.
…..Byron Paine, a young Milwaukee lawyer, sympathetic with the abolitionist cause defended Sherman Booth all the way to the Wisc.
…..Paine’s impassioned argument on behalf of Booth attracted national attention, and was printed in a pamphlet, distributed by the thousands in Boston.
Supreme Court, which would declare the Federal Fugitive Slave Law unconstitutional.
…1856-1859…Judge of the Milwaukee County Court.
…1859-1864…Associate justice of the Wisc. Supreme Court.
…1864Aug10…Enlisted as Lt.Colonel, 45rd Wisc Inf.
…1865Nov27…Mustered out of the Union Army at the end of the Civil War.
…1865Dec-1867…Returned to Milwaukee, entered private law practice with Halbert E. Paine (another ‘radial’ Republican, no relation).
…1865…Bryon Paine carried the suit by Ezekiel Gillespie through to the Wisc. Supreme Court, that won black citizens the right to vote in Wisc.
…1867-1871…Resumed his position as an associate justice on the  Wisc. Supreme Court.
…1869…Received the degree of LL.D (Dr. of Law) from U.of.Wisc.
…1868-1871…Professor of Law at U.of.Wisc, in Madison, until his death.

Early Wisconsin Black Settlements

There were basically three free black settlements in Wisconsin at the time the Collins family moved from Illinois.  It is likely the Valentine, Joiner, Collins group moved through one or more of these areas before settling along Little Roche-a-Chi Creek, west of Friendship, in Adams.Co.WI, or at least utilized information passed on from the free black settlements.

Stantonville, Calument.Co.WI:
...Founded 1845, on the Manitowoc River 76mi N of Milwaukee.
...Name changed to Chilton in early 1900's.

Cheyenne Valley, Hillsboro, Vernon.Co.WI:
...Assisted by Quakers, farming community formed of about 150 former slaves after the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act (returning slaves, which WI resisted).

Pleasant Ridge (Beetown), Grant.Co.WI:
…1848…William Horner, a Haymarket.VA planter moved to Wisconsin, bringing his freed slaves
…1848…Charles Shepard (Sheppard) was the head of the first African-American family to settle in what became a pioneer black settlement of Pleasant Ridge (today Beetown) about five miles west of Lancaster, Grant.Co.WI.
……Charles and Caroline nee Brent Shepard, their three children, Harriet, John and Mary, plus brother Isaac. A woman named Sarah Brown, who was left behind in slavery, later joined this family after Isaac returned to Virginia and paid for the woman's freedom. The two then married. Charles and Isaac left a mother and several brothers and sisters in Virginia who planned on heading west at a later date. Eventually, these individuals migrated to Washington D.C.

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Adams County, Wisconsin

Timeline notes, Collins family in Adams & Columbia Co's, Wisconsin

...1857/58...The Collins family with Sarah's nephew John A. Joiner, removed from Madison.Co.IL, ending up in Adams.Co.WI.
......It can be assumed that Isaac Collins knew and joined the Robert Valentine family before the move to Wisconsin and joined them in Adams.Co.WI.
...1857...Robert Valentine entered 320a of land on Little Roche-a-Chi Creek, Newark.Valley.Twp, Adams.Co.WI, the location of 4 colored families in the 1860 Census.
...1858...Newark Valley Twp. was formed in Adams.Co.WI.
...1859...In the first WI State vote in Newark.Valley.Twp, 23 votes were cast (by white male settlers).
...1860, census takers found four families totaling 20 "Black" or 'Mixed" settlers in Adams County:  Leonard and Susan Manley, Isaac and Sarah Collins, Robert and Jois(Joyce) Valentine, John and Margaret Joyce.

Free blacks/mulatto's in Newark village, Newark.Twp, Adams.Co.Wisconson, abt 1858>1865 (15-20mi N of Dells area of WI).
...1858...Newark Valley Twp, was formed from a portion of Quincy.Twp in 1858, and later divided between Adams, Quincy & Strong Prairie Twp's.
......Newark Valley village was one of the short lived early towns in Adams.Co.WI.
......Newark Valley village was along Roche-a-Cri Creek, just west of Friendship, population in 1860 was 118; Adams.Co.WI pop. 6497.

...History of Adams.Co.WI, 1999,  Michael J. Goe, pp27-28:  The 1850's saw the first large-scale migration not only of Irish but also of Germans and Norwegians to Wisconsin, and Adams County.  Two Norwegian communities began in Adam County in the 1850's, newcomers from the Norwegian settlement in the Columbia County town of Newport moved north into new Haven, but the larger, better-known Norwegian community remains in Strong's Prairie. 
.....While records and stories of the Norwegian and other ethnic communities abound, little is known of Adam County's African-American pioneers.  In historical material complied by Arthur Kingsbury in the 1950's, the story is told of a group of young men from Brookside who, followed the markers north to Roche-a-Cri Creek.   When they reached the site of the village of Friendship, "they came upon a group of log cabins and people near them were running and seem frightened.  They turned out to be Negroes who thought the boys were law officers after them." 
.....It was not unusual in the years before the Civil War for runaway slaves or freed Blacks to settle on the frontier, out of harm's way.  What happened to these original settles of Friendship village area is not known.  However, In 1860, census takers found four families totaling 20 "Black" or 'Mixed" settlers in Adams County:  Leonard and Susan Manley, Isaac and Sarah Collins, Robert and Jois Valentine, John and Margaret Joyce.  Farmers with children in school, they all lived in the Town of Newark Valley, which later became part of Quincy and Strongs Priaire, between Hwy's F & J, and west of County Highway N to the Wisconsin River.
...Note:  Newark Valley Twp was formed from a portion of Quincy.Twp in 1858, and later vacated/divided between Adams, Quincy, Strongs Prairie Twp's.  The P.O. for Newark Valley was Friendship.

...1860Census:  Adams.Co.WI, Newark Valley.Twp, Newark Valley village area, log cabins in the brush along Little Roche A Cri Creek:

.....Dwelling 57, Manley:  Leonard31NCbk farmer $300/150, Susan27NC mulatto.
.....Dwelling 58,  Collins:  Isaac50VAbk farmer $300/50, Sarah30TNbk, Indiana14IL, Merinda11IL, Susan8IL, WilliamH5IL, RichardW2WI..
.....Dwelling 59,  Valentine:  RobertF47NC mulatto farmer $2k/600, wife Joic46NC mulatto, Shedrick27NC farming $400/50, John16OH, Wm14WI, Abel11WI, Nancy7WI, Nancy Bedman40NC mulatto.
.....Dwelling 66, Joiner:  JohnA23NCmu farmer $0/200, Margarett24NC mulatto, JohnW4mWImu.
NOTE:  All of the four colored families owned some property by 1860. 
........The Robert Valentine and Isaac Collins and Robert Valentine families moved in 1864/65 to the Albany/Lima area, Westfield.Twp, Fayette.Co.IA.
........The Valentine & Manley families were related:  Lucinda Manley (sister of Leonard/Lemuel Manley) was married to John Valentine (brother of Robert Valentine). 
........The Collins & Joiner families were related:  John Alexander Joiner was the brother of Sarah Joiner Collins.

...Isaac Collins was also enumerated in 1860 at Leeds, Columbai.Co.WI, as a farmhand abt 50mi to the SE of his family at Newark.Valley, Adams.Co.WI.
.....1860Census:  Leeds, Leeds.Twp, Columbia.Co.WI. (30-35mi SE of the Dells area of Wisconson).  Isaac Collins50NCbk farm laborer $500/200, for/with Thomas Pashaw34MA $1600/300, wife Mary L. 32yW/NH; Mary E. 10y/MA; Martha J. 7y/WI; Frank E. 2y/WI; Sarah A. 6m/WI; Jane Dodge 70y/NH; Isaac Collins 50yB/NC, farm laborer $500/200

...1864Apr, Wisc.Senate/assembly:  Name change---Mary Elizabeth Smithers, a 6m infant, now bound to Lemuel (Leonard) Manley of Newark Valley village, Adams.Co.WI, is changed to Mary Elizabeth Manley.

...1864Aug-1865Jun: Isaac Collins enlisted in Wisconsin and served with a 'colored troop' during the Civil War.    After mustering out of the Union Army, Isaac removed to Albany, Fayette.Co.IA in 1865Nov.

...1864, If Robert Valentine's wife's obit is correct, the Valentine family moved to the Albany area, Fayette.Co.IA;
...1865, Isaac Collins was mustered out of the Union Army and removed to Albany village, Fayette.Co.IA.
......It is possible that Isaac's wife and children removed from WI to IA with the Valentine family.
...1865Dec14, Madison.WI paper:  The Adams County Press says the township of Newark Valley has been disorganized and assigned in portions to the towns (twps) of Adams, Strong's Prairie and Quincy.

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Isaac Collins x Sarah Ann Joiner family
descendent tree
Parents of Susan Angeline Collins

1 COLLINS, Unknown Slave b: in VA or NC? Note 1: Nov 2010 Collins history initially worked on: Barry.Zbornik Hannibal.MO iowazAThotmail.com Note 2: Jul 2013 Added info for Indiana Collins x Wm Thompson, bz/2013. Note 3: Bet. Nov 2017 - Feb 2018 Collins material revisited. Jason Paine x Margaret Kent page added, bz/2018.

.. +MOTHER, Unknown Slave b: in VA or NC?

2 [1] COLLINS, Isaac b: 01 Mar 1808 in Wake.Co.NC d: 03 Nov 1884 in Dau Susan's homestead/laundry, Huron, Beadle.Co.SD Burial: Riverside Cem (James River Cem), Huron, Beadle.CoSD Note 1: 01 Jan 2018 Collins surname edited: Barry.Zbornik Hannibal.MO iowazAThotmai.com Note 2: 31 Mar 1816 Madison.Co.IL, Indentured Records: Low Jackson (of T5N, R8W) registered two indentured (slave) negro boys, Isaac age 7y & Dick age 6y (by 1815Mar01). Note 3: Bet. 1820 - 1840 Census: enumerated with Low Jackson Sr. family, Sec 17&20 farm, T5N,R8W, Ft.Russell.Twp, Madison.Co.IL, 6mi NW of Edwardsville. Note 4: 04 Jan 1844 Iaasc Collins 35y, married in 1844, Sarah Ann Joiner 19y, in Madison or St.Clair.Co.IL; they lived near the Jackson's in Ft.Russell.Twp 1844-1857+, before moving to Adams.Co.WI. Note 5: 1850 Census: Ft.Russell.Twp, T5N,R8W, abt 4mi NW of Edwardsville.Madison.Co.IL, 1mi S of Low Jackson farm, adj to son James.Jackson. Collins: Isaac42NCbk, Sarah Ann nee Joiner24ILbk, MaryA6ILbl, Indiana4ILbk, Miranda1ILbk; JohnA. Joiner15ILmu (Sarah's nephew?) Note 6: 1850 Location: Speculate near the interface of sec's 29/28-32/33, along Indian.Creek, in SW corner of Ft.Russell.Twp, Madison.Co.IL, 4mi NW of Edwardsville, 8mi SE of Alton; near farmers Lynch, Hill, Leseman. Note 7: Bet. 1857 - 1858 Moved family toward Newark.Valley village area, on Little Roche-a-Cri Creek, Newark.Twp (ghost), just W of Friendship on Little Roche A Cri Creek, farmed, owned some land/tools/stock in 1860 Census is adj to Robert Valentine, (15mi N of Wisc.Dells). Note 8: 1860 Census: Farmhand, away from family, Leeds P.O. (30+mi SE of Wisc.Dells) Leeds.Twp, Columbia.Co.WI. Isaac Collins50NCbk farm laborer, $500/200; enumerated with Thomas Pashaw34MA farmer $1600/300 & family (wife/children in Newark.Valley, Adams.Co.WI). Note 9: 1860 Census: Newark Valley (ghost) village area (15+mi N of Wis.Dells), Newark.Valley.Twp(ghost), Adams.Co.WI. Collins: Isaac50VAbk farmer $300/50, SarahA30TNbk, Indiana14ILbk, Merinda11ILbk, Susan8ILbk, WilliamH5ILbk, RichardW2WIbk. Note 10: 1860 Census: Adams.Co.WI, enumerated 4 families of 20 coloreds along Little Roche-a-Cri Creek; #57 Leonard Manely31NCbk, #58 Isaac Collins50VAbk, #59 Robert Valentine47NCmu, #66 John Alexander Joiner23NCmu (nephew of Sarah Joiner Collins). Note 12: Bet. 06 Aug 1864 - 02 Jun 1865 Enlisted in Newark.Valley.Twp, Adams.Co.WI (residence listed Friendship village), Adams.Co.WI, 1864Aug06, CoH, 38th Wisc Inf, cook > mustered out 1865Jun02, Camp.Randall.WI, undercook. Note 13: Nov 1865 Came with WI neighbor Robert Valentine, to the 'Colored Colony' in Fayette & Albany/Lima area, Westfield/Illyria Twp's, Fay.Co.IA. Note 14: Abt. 1866 Speculate, farming on or near Peter Bass, Sec 19, Illyria.Twp, Fay.Co.IA, bz/2010. Note 15: 12 Oct 1969 Land.Purchase: Isaac Collins from Richard Earle, 6+a for $75; E 3/10 of W1/2 of NE1/4 of SW1/4, Sec 15, T93N, R8W, Westfield.Twp, Fay.Co.IA (1mi E of Albany on Fayette>Lima Road). Note 16: 19 Feb 1870 Land.purchase: Isaac Collins from Albert W. Callender, 10a for $100, starting 20rds W of center Sec 15, Westfield.Twp, > N 80rds> W 20rds> N80rds> E20rds> to beginning, containing 10a (attached to 1869's 6+a). Note 17: Jun 1870 Census: Illyria.Twp, Fay .Co.IA. Enumerated adj/near Joseph Houlsworth49PA Sec 17 farmer $7075/2325; Robert Richardson50NY Sec 17 farmer $1600/1500; close to the Bass families in Sec 18. Note 18: Jun 1870 Census: 1.5+/-mi ExSW of Lima, in/near sec 17/18, Illyria.Twp, Fay.Co.IA. Collens/Collins: Isaac 60/VA farming (share/rent) $0/255, Sarah nee Joiner 45/VA, Wm 17/IL, Wesley 12/IL, Albert 3/IA Note 19: 1870 Census time: Dau's Miranda21 & Susan19 were domestics at the Fayette House (hotel) & for families in Fayette village, Fay.Co.IA. Note 20: Abt. 1870 Would have moved to newly acquired 16a farmstead, 1mi W of Albany, in middle of Sec 15, on Fayette>Albany/Lima Road. Note 22: Bet. 1872 - 1877 Deaths from TB/consumpiton: wf Sarah1824-1874, dau Martha1846-1874 Thompson, dau Maranda1849-1873, son WmH1854-1877, unknown dau abt1871-1873. Note 25: Jun 1880 Census: 16a farmstead, 11a tilled (9a corn), 4a woods, 20 chickens, 1+mi W of Albany on Fayette/Albany rd, mid Sec 15, Westfield.Twp, Fay.Co.IA. Collins: Isaac71/NC bk, illiterate, Hannah65/KY illiterate, Susan28/IL domestic, AlbertJ13/IL. Note 26: Abt. Jun 1884 Fayette.IA paper: Isaac joined dau Susan in Beadle.Co.SD after death of 2nd wife Hannah (May 1884); Isaac died 6m later in Beadle.Co.SD. Note 27: 04 Nov 1884 Died at dau Susan's homestead, Huron, Beadle.Co.SD, 6m after 2nd wife Hannah died at Albany.IA. Note 28: 1885 Census: Dau Susan, enumerated back in Fayette.IA. Note 29: 15 Jan 1889 Estate: Son AlbertJ Collins petitioned to dispose of estate as no will left, 16a land, less than $25 property, death stated 1884Nov03.

.... +JOINER, Sarah Ann 'Sally' b: 1824 in Ogle neighborhood, 5mi NW of Lebanon, Ridge.Prairie.Twp, St.Clair.Co.IL d: 18 Jan 1874 in Illyria.Twp, 1+mi E of Lima, Fay.Co.IA Burial: Lima Cem, Sec 2, Westfield.Twp, Fay.Co.IA m: 04 Jan 1844 in Madison or St.Clair.Co.IL Father: Isam Joyner JOINER Mother: Sarah Gauf GOFF Note 4: Bef. 1850 Refer to parents timeline. Note 6: 1850 Census: 2-6mi N of Edwardsville (20+/-mi NE of St.L), in Ft.Russell.Twp, T5N, R8W, Madison.Co.IL: Collins: Isaac42NCbk, Sarah Ann nee Joiner24ILbk, MaryA6ILbl, Indiana4ILbk, Miranda1ILbk; John A. Joiner15IL mulatto (?Is John bro/cousin of Sarah.Ann?). Note 8: 1860 Census: Adams.Co.WI, enumerated 4 families of 20 coloreds along Little Roche-a-Cri Creek; #57 Leonard Manely31NCbk, #58 Isaac Collins50VAbk, #59 Robert Valentine47NCmu, #66 John Alexancer Joiner23NCmu (nephew of Sarah Joiner Collins). Note 9: Jun 1860 Census: Newark Valley (ghost) village area (15+mi N of Wis.Dells), Newark.Valley.Twp(ghost), Adams.Co.WI. Collins: Isaac50VAbk farmer $300/50, SarahA30TNbk, Indiana14ILbk, Merinda11ILbk, Susan8ILbk, WilliamH5ILbk, RichardW2WIbk. Note 10: 1860 Census: Leeds P.O. (30+mi SE of Wisc.Dells) Leeds.Twp, Columbia.Co.WI. Isaac Collins50NCbk farm laborer, $500/200; enumerated with Thomas Pashaw34MA farmer $1600/300 & family. Note 11: Cause of death; TB. Note 22: Burial inscription on same stone as son William; near dau's Susan & Miranda, bz/2010.

... 3 COLLINS, Mary Ann b: 1844 in Ft.Russell.Twp, T5N, R8W, Madison.Co.IL, 5mi NW of Edwardsville d: Bef. 1860 in Specualte: Madison.Co.IL or Adams.Co.WI, bz/2017. Burial: Assumed unmarked in ghost village, Newark Valley area, Adams.Co.WI. Note 11: 1850 Census: 2-6mi N of Edwardsville (20+/-mi NE of St.L), in Ft.Russell.Twp, T5N, R8W, Madison.Co.IL: Collins: Isaac42NCbk, Sarah Ann nee Joiner24ILbk, MaryA6ILbl, Indiana4ILbk, Miranda1ILbk; John A. Joiner15IL mulatto (?Is John bro/cousin of Sarah.Ann?).

... 3 COLLINS, Martha Indiana Indiann b: 05 Dec 1846 in Ft.Russell.Twp, T5N, R8W, Madison.Co.IL, 5mi NW of Edwardsville d: 19 Feb 1874 in Illyria.Twp, 1+mi E of Lima, Fay.Co.IA Burial: Lima Cem, Sec 2, Lot 13, Westfield.Twp, Fay.Co.IA. Note 7: 1860 Census: Newark Valley (ghost) village area (15+mi N of Wis.Dells), Newark.Valley.Twp(ghost), Adams.Co.WI. Collins: Isaac50VAbk farmer $300/50, SarahA30TNbk, Indiana14ILbk, Merinda11ILbk, Susan8ILbk, WilliamH5ILbk, RichardW2WIbk. Note 9: Bet. 1866 - 1869 Worked as domestic in Fayette.iA bef. marriage. Note 15: 1870 Census: in/near sec 19, Illyria.Twp, Fay.Co.IA. Thompson: Wm32bk/MS farming $0/110, wf Indiana23bk/IL nee Collins; near f/law Isaac Collins. Note 19: Feb 1874 West.Union.IA paper: Death notice; Martha & husb Wm, living with father Isaac Collins on Patch Prairie, Frog/Hollow/Albany area, Westfield.Twp, Fay.Co.IA. Note 22: 1885 Census: LaPorte City, Bk.Hawk.Co.IA. Thompson: Wm46bk/MS herder, 2nd wf Catherine44bk/VA, b.law Albert Collins47bk/Fay.Co.IA farm hand, Lulu Cobb22bk/Benton.Co.IA school. Note 28: Death at father Isaac's home, Albany/Frog.Hollow aera, after long illness.

....... +THOMPSON, William b: Feb 1838 in Mississippi d: Aft. 1900 in Laporte City, Bk.Hawk.Co.IA? Burial: Not listed in Fay.Co.IA, bz/2013. m: 11 Feb 1870 in Taylorsville area, Fairfield.Twp, Fay.Co.IA (by Rev. O.R.Robbins) Father: Locate Black THOMPSON Note 8: 1870 Census: in/near sec 19, Illyria.Twp, Fay.Co.IA. Thompson: Wm32bk/MS farming $0/110 near f/law Isaac Collins, wf Indiana23bk/IL nee Collins Note 9: Feb 1874 Farmhand for R.A. Richardson, sec 17, Illyria.Twp, E of Lima when first wife Indiana Collins died; would remarry in 3yrs. No children with either wf; aft 1877, adopted Lulu.Cobb b.1872IAbk. Note 10: 1877 Remarried Catherine Unknown b.1841/VA. Note 11: 1880 Census: 236 Sycamore.St, LaPorte City, Bk.Hawk.Co.IA. Thompson: Wm42MSbk laborer parents b.MS, wife Katie50VAbk, Lulu Cobb8IAbk adopted Note 12: 1885 Census: LaPorte City, Bk.Hawk.Co.IA. Thompson: Wm46bk/MS herder, 2nd wf Catherine44bk/VA, b.law Albert Collins47bk/Fay.Co.IA farm hand, Lulu Cobb22bk/Benton.Co.IA school. Note 16: 1900 Census: Sycamore.Twp, LaPorte.City, Bk.Hawk.Co.IA. Thompson: Wm62bk/MS teamster, parents b.VA, 2nd wf Catherine59bk/VA, had no children. Note 19: Aft. 1900 Census, not found, bz/2013.

..... 4 THOMPSON, No Children

... 3 COLLINS, Maranda Merinda J. b: 10 Mar 1849 in Ft.Russell.Twp, T5N, R8W, Madison.Co.IL, 5mi NW of Edwardsville d: 10 Feb 1873 in Illyria.Twp, 1+mi E of Lima, Fay.Co.IA Burial: Lima Cem, Westfield.Twp, Fay.Co.IA. Note 6: 1850 Census: 2-6mi N of Edwardsville (20+/-mi NE of St.L), in Ft.Russell.Twp, T5N, R8W, Madison.Co.IL: Collins: Isaac42NCbk, Sarah Ann nee Joiner24ILbk, MaryA6ILbl, Indiana4ILbk, Miranda1ILbk; John A. Joiner15IL mulatto (?Is John bro/cousin of Sarah.Ann?). Note 8: 1860 Census: Newark Valley (ghost) village area (15+mi N of Wis.Dells), Newark.Valley.Twp(ghost), Adams.Co.WI. Collins: Isaac50VAbk farmer $300/50, SarahA30TNbk, Indiana14ILbk, Merinda11ILbk, Susan8ILbk, WilliamH5ILbk, RichardW2WIbk. Note 10: 1870 Census: (NEcorner State/North??) Fayette, Fay.Co.IA. Pane/Paine: Jallen/Jason32OH speculator $7k/4k, Margaret nee Kent36VT, Charles3IA; father Corley/Cortez64NY, mother Silney/Silva51NY; Moranda Collens/Collins20IL domestic/bk (sister of Susan Collins). Note 11: Cause of death TB, age 23.

....... +UNMARRIED

... 3 COLLINS, Susan Angeline b: 03 Jul 1851 in Ft.Russell.Twp, T5N, R8W, Madison.Co.IL, 5mi NW of Edwardsville d: 07 Jun 1940 in Hattie Lewis 40a farm, NW corner of Sec 16, Westfield.Twp, 3/im SE of Pleasant Hill Cem or 2mi N of Fayette, Westfield.Twp, Fay.Co.IA Burial: Lima Cem, Westfield.Twp, Fay.Co.IA. Note 2: Bet. 1857 - 1858 Family moved from Madison.Co.IL (20mi NE of St.L.MO) to White.Creek village (15mi N of Wisc.Dells), Adams.Co.WI. Note 4: 1860 Census: Newark Valley (ghost) village area (15+mi N of Wis.Dells), Newark.Valley.Twp(ghost), Adams.Co.WI. Collins: Isaac50VAbk farmer $300/50, SarahA30TNbk, Indiana14ILbk, Merinda11ILbk, Susan8ILbk, WilliamH5ILbk, RichardW2WIbk. Note 5: Bet. 1862 - 1865 Age 11-14, father in colored troup during Civil War; family stayed in Columbia.Co.WI. Note 6: Bet. 1866 - 1867 Age 15, father moved family from WI to Lima/Albany area, Westfield.Twp, Fay.Co.IA. Note 7: Aft. 1868 Susan & sister Maranda, domestics at Fayette House (hotel) & various families, including Rev. Jason & Margaret Paine family. Note 8: 1870 Census: Have not located yet, bz/2017. Note 9: Abt. 1876 Encouraged by Rev. Jason Paine, abt age 24, enrolled in several (four?) terms of classes at UIU (likely Prepratory Dept, H.S. leve, bz/2017). Note 10: Abt. 1878 Domestic with Jason Paine family while he was preaching/living, Monticello, Jones.Co.IA (Janet.B,2017). Note 13: 1880 .Co.IA. Collins: Isaac71/NC bk, illiterate, Hannah65/KY illiterate, Susan28/IL domestic, AlbertJ13/IL illiterate. Note 14: 1881 West.Union.IA paper: Enrolled for Normal term at UIU (teacher certification/test for common/country schools) (have not found ever taught near Fayette, bz/2017). Note 15: 1882 Took train to Huron, Beadle.Co.SD, made land claim & ran laundry. Note 16: Jun 1884 Father Issac joined Susan in Huron, Beadle.Co.SD; died abt 6m later (1883Dec-Jan1884). Note 17: 1885 Census: Had returned to Fayette.IA, after selling Huron, Beadle.Co.SD claim & laundry. Note 19: Nov 1886 Went to Lucy Rider Meyers Training School for Bible Study (foreign missionary training) in Chicago. Note 20: Bet. Apr 1887 - 1899 Sailed, age 36, with Bishop Wm Taylor for missionary work in the Congo, near Banana Point; 1889, sent to Dondo, Angola, Africa. Note 21: Bet. 1889 - 1900 Served at Malange, Angola, Africa; aft 1900, sent to Quessua, Angola to teach & established a girls school growing to 50+ boarding girls; 1900 sent back to America, forced retirement due to age. Note 22: Bet. 1902 - 1920 Returned, age 51, to Quessua, Angola, supported by Pacific (CA) Brand of Woman's Foreign Missionary Soc. Note 24: 1905 Returned to Fayette; bought house & lots 1,2,3, bk 11, S.R.Roberston Add, Fayette. Note 25: Bet. 1905 - 1920 Returned & stayed in Africa another 15yrs; Fayette home rented while in Africa. Note 26: Aug 1920 Age 69, retired from Africa back to Fayette home; traveled, lectured. Note 27: Bet. 1922 - 1934 Lived in sm. home on 3lots, NE corner Alexander & State St's, in Fayette. IA. Note 28: Bet. 1930 - 1934 Cornelia Charvis 'Nellie' nee Valentine Crosswhite (John, divorced) (1855/WI-1935/Fayette.IA) moved from Waukesha.WI & lived with & cared for Susan. Note 29: Bet. 1934 - 1940 Cared for on Mrs. Harriett Lewis farm 2mi north of Fayette & by neighbor Mrs. Julia Stepp. Note 30: 07 Jun 1940 Cause of death: Carcinoma of bowel & uterous, age 88y11m4d; death informant Margaret E. Paine, Fayette.IA.

....... +UNMARRIED

... 3 COLLINS, William H. b: 03 Dec 1854 in Ft.Russell.Twp, T5N, R8W, Madison.Co.IL, 5mi NW of Edwardsville d: 15 Mar 1877 in Speculate: Sec 15 farmstead, 1mi W of Albany, Westfield.Twp, Fay.Co.IA Burial: Lima Cem, sec 2, Westfield.Twp, Fay.Co.IA. Note 6: 1860 Census: Newark Valley (ghost) village area (15+mi N of Wis.Dells), Newark.Valley.Twp(ghost), Adams.Co.WI. Collins: Isaac50VAbk farmer $300/50, SarahA30TNbk, Indiana14ILbk, Merinda11ILbk, Susan8ILbk, WilliamH5ILbk, RichardW2WIbk. Note 26: Cause of death; TB? Note 27: Burial inscription on same stone as mother Sarah Ann Joiner Collins.

....... +UNMARRIED

... 3 COLLINS, Richard Wesley b: 1858 in Newark.Valley.Twp (absorbed), T17N, R5W, Adams.Co.WI d: Bet. 1881 - 1889 in Have not located, bz/2010. Burial: Not listed in Fay.Co.IA. Note 6: 1860 Census: Newark Valley (ghost) village area (15+mi N of Wis.Dells), Newark.Valley.Twp(ghost), Adams.Co.WI. Collins: Isaac50VAbk farmer $300/50, SarahA30TNbk, Indiana14ILbk, Merinda11ILbk, Susan8ILbk, WilliamH5ILbk, RichardW2WIbk. Note 8: 1880 Census: Richard Collins22bk farmhand for Gaynor family, 244 farmstead, SW corner, Sec 21, Smithfield.Twp, 5mi S of Fayette, Fay.Co.IA: Gaynor: T.P.(R)39, M.Z.27, Fed11, Gertrude9, Ema7, E.O.4, W.H.6; Richard Collins22bk/WI.

....... +UNMARRIED

... 3 COLLINS, Indiana 'possible' b: Bet. 1861 - 1865 in Newark.Valley.Twp (absorbed), T17N, R5W, Adams.Co.WI d: Bef. 1865 in Newark.Valley.Twp (absorbed), T17N, R5W, Adams.Co.WI

... 3 COLLINS, Albert J. b: 1867 in Illyria.Twp, 1+mi E of Lima, Fay.Co.IA d: Aft. 1895 in LaPorte City, Bk.Hawk.Co.IA? Burial: Not listed in Fay.Co.IA. Note 12: 1885 Census: LaPorte City, Bk.Hawk.Co.IA. Thompson: Wm46bk/MS herder, 2nd wf Catherine44bk/VA, b.law Albert Collins47bk/Fay.Co.IA farm hand, Lulu Cobb22bk/Benton.Co.IA school. Note 14: 1895 Census: LaPorte.City, Bk.Hawk.Co.IA. Collins: Albert28bk/Fay.Co.IA.

*2nd Wife of [1] COLLINS, Isaac:

.... +UNKNOWN, Hannah b: 1815 in KY d: 04 Mar 1884 in Albany/Lima area, Fay.Co.IA. Burial: Speculate, unmarked grave, Lima Cem, Westfield.Twp, Fay.Co.IA, bz/2010. m: Aft. 1874 in Fay.Co.IA Note 8: 1880 Census: Albany (enumerated between mill & gen. store), Westfield.Twp, Fay.Co.IA. Collins: Isaac71/NC bk, illiterate, Hannah65/KY illiterate, Susan28/IL domestic, AlbertJ13/IL illiterate; Robert68NCbk & Joyes67NCbk farming close. Note 15: Paper: Death 1884May, uterine tumor.

2 COLLINS, Richard 'Dick' (suspect brother) b: 01 Dec 1809 in Wake.Co.NC, to slave parents.

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Timeline and notes,
The Collins family in Fayette County, Iowa

...1865Jun...Isaac Collins and John Alexander Joiner (nephew by marriage) mustered out of the Union Army.

...1865Nov...Isaac Collins moved from Adams.Co.WI, to a mile plus ExSE of Lima, in the 'Patch Prairie' neighborhood, in northeastern Illyria.Twp, Fayette.Co.IA.
......Free coloreds had been farming from north of Fayette village to just east of Lima since 1852-54.

...About 1866-mid/late1870's..Issac probably rented, share-cropped or labored just east of Lima from about 1866 to the mid/late 1870's.  A speculation is he was on or around the Peter Bass farm in Sec 18, Illyria.Twp, a mile plus ExSE of Lima.
...The Collins children starting in the mid/late 1860's, about age 13-14, would have likely attended the Lima School or Illyria #5 in Sec16.
...Susan and her sisters Maranda/Miranda and Martha by the late 1860's, when in their late teens & early twenties were working as domestics at the Fayette House Hotel and for Fayette families in Fayette village.  They likely stayed in Fayette most of the time.  The girls my have been taking grammer school classes at Fayette or preparatory (H. S. level) courses in the UIU Seminary building (College Hall) or in various locations in Fayette as there was no Fayette high school building until 1900.  The Payne family would have encouraged their education.  UIU offered a 'Preparatory Course.'   It had been reported Susan took four terms at UIU, which were likely Preparatory Department terms and not college courses.  Susan did, however, enroll in one Normal Institute held at UIU (preparation for certification to teach in common/country schools).

...1869Oct12...Land.Purchase: Isaac Collins from Richard Earle, 6+a for $75; E 3/10 of W1/2 of NE1/4 of SW1/4, Sec 15, T93N, R8W, Westfield.Twp, Fay.Co.IA (1mi E of Albany on the Fayette>Lima Road).
...1870Feb12...Land.purchase: Isaac Collins from Albert W. Callender, 10a for $100, starting 20rds W of center Sec 15, Westfield.Twp, > N 80rds> W 20rds> N80rds> E20rds> to beginning, containing 10a (attached to 1869's 6+a).
.......Speculation/bz:  Isaac continued to live somewhere near the Bass, Houchins, Richardson farms in the Patch Prairie area of NE Illyria.Twp, just E of Lima, until at least 1875.  He likely planted some corn and other items on his 16a of land in Sec 15, and used it as a wood lot.  By the late 1870's, he moved to the 16a farmstead with what remained of his family: second wife Hannah, son Albert, son Richard Wesley, dau Susan (wife Sarah and other children had died from TB). They would basically have been a subsistence type of farming, and working as farmhands, with Susan as a domestic in Fayette.

...1870Feb26, West.Union.IA paper:  Married on 1870Feb11, by Re. O.R. Robbins, at his residence, near Taylorsville, Fairfield.Twp, Mr. William Thompson and Miss Indiann (Indiana) Collins (colored), both of Illryia.Twp, Fayette.Co.IA.

1870 Census
Fayette Co, Iowa, Illyria.Twp, East of Lima village (Lima is near the Westfield/Illyria.Twp's).
Collins, Issac, 60yB/VA, farming (share or renting), $0/225, Sarah Ann (Joinier) 45yB/VA, William 17yB/IL, Wesley 12yB/IL, Albert 3yB/IA.  Note:  Dau's Miranda and Susan are domestics in Fayette village, Westfield.Twp, Fay.Co.IA.

...1871-1877...Isaac's family suffered several deaths from TB in the early to mid/late 1870's to include at least his wife Sarah Ann nee Joiner, dau Miranda, another unknown dau (assuming Martha nee Collins (Wm) Thompason), and son William, and perhaps later son Wesley.  Burials were in the Lima Cemetery, either marked or unmarked.  Isaac had lost two other children either in IL or WI, Mary Ann and son Indiana.
...Isaac's family by the late 1870's consisted of two children, Susan in her late 20's and son Albert in his early teens.  Isaac by the late 1870's had remarried Hannah 'Unknown' and moved the remainder to his 16a farmstead in the middle of Sec 15, Westfield.Twp, a mile plus west of Albany.

1873 Feb 10 Isaac's dau Maranda 23y old, died of TB and was buried in the Lima Cemetery.  She along with her sister Susan 21yrs old, had been working in Fayette as domestics in the Fayette House Hotel and for Fayette families. 

1874 Jan 18  Isaac's wife Sarah Ann Joiner died from TB and was buried in the Lima Cemetery.  An unknown dau (assuming Martha nee Collins (Wm) Thomspon) died of TB about the same time as did a son William.

...1874Feb27, West.Union.IA paper:  Fayette news; We are sorry to hear of the death of Mrs. William Thompson (Martha Indiana Collins), at the home of her father, on Patch Prairie, Mr. Isaac Collins, on Tues, after a long and distressing illness.  Mrs. Thompson was a patient, Christian sufferer, and leaves a lonely husband, as well as inmates of her father's family.  At one time in Fayette, she was a faithful help to Mrs. Prof. Nightingale, who had the greatest confidence in her youthful assistant.  Mr. Thompson has been engaged upon the farm of R.A. Richardson (Sec 17, Illyria.Twp), and his domestic loss falls heavily upon him.  Her age was 27, and she leaves many friends in Fayette as well as nearer to her home who will kindly remember her.  For 15yrs she was in faithful communion with the society of United Brethren.
.....Note: 1878Hist.Fay.Co.IA; Patch Prairie, named by Wm. Wells, commenced about 3mi SE of Knob Prairie (West.Union), and extended in a southeasterly direction to the Clayton County line. Patch Prairie included what would become known later as Frog Hollow, with the area of NW Illyria.Twp becoming known as the Patch Prairie neighborhood.

1875-1879  Isaac Collins remarried Hannah Unknown and probably moved onto his 16a farmstead in Sec 15, Westfield.Twp.  He continued to be listed as a farmer but likely was also doing day labor work.   Dau Susan continued to work as a domestic in Fayette.  Susan had attended country school around Lima and probably took preparatory classes (high school level) at Upper Iowa University.  She has been reported to have taken four terms at Upper Iowa, which were likely not college level classes.  Susan did enroll for one term/session of the Normal Institute held at UIU, which certified one to teach in common/country schools.

Collins notes from historic 'Milestones,'
by Margaret Paine, 1932

The following notes are from the pages of 'Milestones.'
(not verbatim and with additions)  http://www.iowaz.info/surname/painejason.htm
Pics (jpg's) of 'Milestones' pages for full reading:
https://public.fotki.com/iowaz/fayette-co-ia-genea/jason-paine-x-marga/my-95-milestones-by/

Page 104, 'Milestones,' by Margaret Fletcher Kent Paine, 1932
Of the Collins sisters Maranda & Susan:
…1866/1867, When Charles a baby, b.1866Oct30, Maranda Collins(b.1849-d.1873), a colored girl worked for us.
…Later, and when we lived in Monticello (Fall1876>1878Fall), her sister Susan Collins (b.1851-d.1940) helped me.
…Susan attended school at Fayette a number of terms.  (Likely the Preparatory Dept. at UIU, a high school equivalent.  Fayette's H.S. was built 1900.  She also enrolled in the 1880’s for a term of the Normal Institute held at UIU to qualify & pass the test to teach in the Common/country schools, bz/2017)
…Many in the Fayette.Co area went to Dakota Territory for claims.
…Susan took up a claim near Huron, Beadle.Co.SD, abt. 60mi NW of Sioux.City.
…Susan proved up her claim and had a laundry business in Huron.
...Her father joined Susan in Huron.  She lived there a short time until her father died (1884Nov).
…She sold out and entered the Chicago Training School.
…Susan had wanted to be a missionary.
…I was surprised reading she had gone to a self-supporting mission in Angola, Africa , opened by Bishop William Taylor.
…Susan had always said she did not want to go to Africa.
…I wrote to her, learned she was badly in need of certain kinds of clothing.

Page 105, Milestones, Susan Collins, back to Africa 1900-1920.
…We did not have much for her, about all we could do ourselves is to make ends meet.
…We had Jennie (horse) and the buggy, we went around to friends, getting enough to fill a box.
…Later we sent her two more boxes.
…About 1900 Susan came home; the General Board refused to send her back, she was older than they wanted.
…Susan spent the winter in California, where a branch of the Women’s Foreign Missionary Society sent her out again.
…She organized a girl’s school in Quessau, Africa, doing wonderful work until coming back in 1920.
…Second time returning to Africa, Susan had a salary, and her expenses were not great.
…She saved a little and sent it back to us for deposit and invest.
…After a while she asked Jason to buy her a little house and lot.
…Jason attended to renting Susan’s house while he was alive.
…Margaret looked after the house until Susan returned.
…After returning Susan had to accustomed herself to the many changes, as autos.

1880Census...Westfield.Twp, Fayette.Co.IA

.....Dwelling73 (farm 1+mi WxSW of Albany): Valentine:  RobertF68NC mulatto farmer father b.VA, mother NC; Joyes67NC mulatto general debility, father b.NC, mother NC.
.....Dwelling80 (16a farmstead 1+mi W of Albany: Collins:  Isaac71NC farmer, 2nd wf Hannah65KY, Susan28IL domestic servant, AlbertJ13IA (all listed black).

...1880 Agricultural Census: Isaac Collins, 16a farmstead, 11a tilled (9a corn), 4a woods, 20 chickens, 1+mi W of Albany on Fayette/Albany road, in the middle of Sec 15, Westfield.Twp, Fay.Co.IA. Collins: Isaac71/NC bk, illiterate, 2nd wife Hannah65/KY illiterate, Susan28/IL domestic, AlbertJ13/IL, (son Richard Wesley was working as a farmhand for the Gaynor family in Smithfield.Twp, south of Fayette village).

1880 Census
W=white, M=malatto, B=black
Dwelling, Westfield.Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa
These families are living in/near the Albany village area.
67 Orr, John 42yW/Can, stock farm (147a farm sec's 16,27, on Fayette/Albany road).
68 Hubbell, Mark E, 61yW/Scotland, farmer (farm in NE 1/4 area of sec 27, on Fayette.Albany road).
69 Hutcheson, John, 31yW/Scotland, farmer.
70 Clark, Ira, 62yW/NY, farm day labor.
71 Graves, Theodore, 23yW/IL, farmer.
72 Doland, James, 29yW/NY, farmer.
73 Valentine, Robert, 68y/NC mulatto, farmer (80a farm 1mi SW of Albany).
74 Livermore, John, 35yW/PA, farmer.
75 Fauser, Louisa 52yW/Germany, wife of John, weaver (husb was also a weaver, this would be in Albany village).
76 Carpenter, Lovina, 59y/NY, widowed, living in Albany village; son John Wing 30yW/NY, farmer; son Erwin Wing, 30yW/NY, blacksmith; dau Emma Wing 23yW/NY.
77 Padden(sp?), Thomas, 41yW/IN, miller (Albany mill)
78 Earle, George R., 31yW/IL, carpenter (farm land around Albany, running Albany Mill).
79 Gregory, Elijah, 54yW/IN, miller (Albany Mill)
80 Collins, Isaac, 71y/NC black, mother b. NC, farmer (on 16a farmstead, Sec 15, 1+mi W of Albany on Fayette/Albany road); wife Hannah 65yB/KY; dau Susan Collins, 28y/IL, domestic servant; son Albert J. 13yB/IL. 
......Note:  Isaac's first wife Sarah Joiner (1824-1874), dau Martha (1846-1874) Thompson, dau Maranda (1849-1873), son William H. (1854-1877) were reported dying of consumption (TB). 
81 Nefzger,Simon 59yW/Germany, general store in Albany.
82 Fauser, John, 52yW/Germany, farmer (55a, farmstead 1mi N of Albany).
83 Matsel, Robert, 52yW/IL, blacksmith (Albany village).
84 Fuhsman (sp), John, 53yW/Germany, shoemaker & day laborer (Albany village).
85 Oelberg, John P, 59yW/Germany, tailor (Albany village).
86 Widger, Eli, 52yW/NY, insurance agent (Albany village).
87 Earle, Edwin B, 22yW/Albany.IA, farmer.

1880JuneAgCensusWestfield.Twp, Fayette.Co.IA:
…Hutchison, John C., Sec 10, 30 tilled, 3a pasture/orchard, 7a woods,
…Graves, Theodore, 3a tilled, 1a woods,
…Valentine, Robert, Sec 22 (west/adj to Hiram Marvin’s Mill property), 25a tilled, 2a pasture/orchard, 43a woods.  Robert Valentine was adj. to Issac Collins in Adams.Co.WI, and removed to Fayette.Co.IA.
…Livermore, John, 5a tilled, 10a woods,
…Earle, George, Sec23?, 25a tilled, 15a woods,
…Gregory, Elijah, Sec29, 12a tilled,
…Isaac Collins: Sec 15 west of Albany, 16.5a, 11a tilled, 4a woodland; land $550, equipment $0, livestock= 20 chickens $5; 9a corn, 250bu; 1/4a potatoes = 85bu,  1/8a apples = 10bu, value of produce sold, $23; 8 cords wood cut, value sold $16.
…Nefzger, Simon, Sec 2 & 14, 20a tilled, 20a woods, farm production 1879 value $140;
…Fauser, John, Sec 14 & 23, 22a tilled,  20a pasture, 5a woods,

...1881Sep09, West.Union.IA paper:  Teachers' Normal Institute at UIU in Fayette.IA convened Mon1882Aug13 (training and certification to teach in a Common/Country School).  Susan Collins was one of the 75 pupils enrolled for the term.

...1882...Susan, age 31, took the train to Huron, Beadle.Co.SD, a newly platted village along the railroad.  She made a land claim and started a small laundry in the village.

.....Note:  Huron, Beadle.Co.SD is located in east central South Dakota.  Huron's early history was linked to the coming of the Chicago & Northwester RR.  The Huron village site was located in 1879, surveyed/platted 1880, a town government formed 1881, and incorporated as the City of Huron in 1883.

...1884...Isaac joined dau. Susan in Huron.SD, about June 1884, but lived only another six months, passing away 1884Nov03, and is buried at James River Cem, Huron.Beadle.Co.SD.  Susan would dispose of her claim and laundry in Huron.SD before returning to Fayette.Co.IA.

...1884May...Susan's father, Isaac's second wife Hannah died at home 1mi E of Albany, 1884Mar04 (burial unknown, possibly unmarked at Lima or Pleasant Hill).
...1884June... Isaac joined Susan at her claim and laundry in Huron, Beadle.Co.SD
 ...1884Nov03...Isaac Collins died 1884Nov03 at Huron.SD, and buried in James River Cem at Huron.

...1885...Susan had returned to Fayette.
...1886Nov...Susan took a train to Chicago to attend bible school in Nov 1886. 
...1887April...Susan sailed for missionary work in Africa until 1905.

...1905....Susan would not return to Fayette again until 1905, at which time she bought the house and lots in the NE section of Fayette village. 
...1905>1920Aug...Susan left again in 1905 for Africa and would not return to Fayette until Aug 1920. 
...1921Aug....Susan would move into her house for the first time and remain living there, with Mrs. Nellie nee Valentine Crosswhite (related to Robert Valentine, and apparently came to Fayette to live with and care for Susan) much of the time, until Susan could not completely care for herself. 
...1935About...Susan was moved to the Lewis farm just north of Fayette where she was cared for by Mrs. Harriett Lewis and Mrs. Julia Stepp.
...1940Jun07...Susan passed way at the Harriett Lewis farm north of Fayette.

...1885Jan23, West.Union.IA paper:  Fayette news; It may be news to some, the death of a well known old man, Issac Collins, who used to live in Lima, and after the decease of his wife there went to live with his daughter, Susie Collins in Dakota, following in six months his (2nd) wife Hannah (d.1884May04) to the grave. (Isaac's death would have been about Dec1884).

...1885Census...Susan was enumerated in Fayette village, therefore she returned to Fayette.Co.IA before summer 1885, or shortly after her father Isaac died in Huron.SD. 
......The story goes that Susan remained on her claim, running her laundry, and that she found a paper wrapped around some clothing advertising a new school in Chicago, the 'Lucy Rider Meyers Training School in Bible Study,' and that Susan left for Chicago in Nov 1886, after her claim and laundry could be disposed.  This version my be correct, that she found the advertisement at her Huron.SD laundry but she would have been in Fayette.IA village from 1885Summer until leaving by train for Chicago in 1886Nov, to attend bible school.

...1886Nov, Susan left Fayette.IA for bible study in Chicago.

...1887 Apr 6:  Bishop Wm Taylor sailed with Susan Collins (age 36) and others to missionary work in Angola, southwestern Africa, serving the next 33yrs.  Susan worked the first 18yrs without any pay, surviving on local donations of food and clothing, plus the few boxes of necessities/donations shipped by friends back in Fayette.IA.  Susan would eventually establish a girls' school in Quessau.

...1887-1905:  Susan, age 36-44yrs,  did missionary work without pay, with necessities supplied by local natives in Africa.

...1900Jul04, West.Union.IA paper:  Fayette news; Miss Susan Collins who went to Africa a M.E. Missionary some years ago, is expected home this month.
...1900Sept12, West.Union.IA paper:  Fayette news;  Miss Susan Collins who has for so many years been a faithful worker in the Missionary field in Africa, is expected to arrive in Fayette this week, a guest at the home of Rev. Jason Lee Paine.
...1900Sept28, West.Union.IA paper:  Randalia.IA news; Miss Mabel Allen a returned missionary from China, spoke in the church last Sunday morning.  Susan Collins, a returned missionary from Africa, was also present.
...1900Oct24, West.Union.IA paper:  Illyria village news (on the road between West.Union & Elkader); Miss susan Collins gave two lectures at the Illyria Church, Sat & Sun evenings.  Her talks were well received.
...1901Oct11, West.Union.IA paper:  At the Baptist Mission Circle, thee were on exhibition some curiosities from South Western Africa, brought last fall by Miss Susan Collins; a beautiful work basket and a piece of cloth woven of grass by the natives, also a porcupine quill, a number of seashells and specimens of the kind of bread they eat.  They dig roots, dry and poind them to a pulp which is then baked.  In appearance the bread resembles white sea coral.  Miss Collins is a Fayette Co. Missionary, who spent 12 yrs in Africs.  She goes back this fall to a new field in Liberia.
...1901Oct23, West.Union.IA paper:  Lima news; Susan Collins is in Fayette at the home of Rev. Jason Paine (on E. State.St).  She expects to sail for Africa soon to take up her missionary work.
...1901Nov20, West.Union.IA paper:  Fayette news; Miss Susan Collins sailed on the Oceanica for Liverpool, on her way to Africa, on Wed, Nov13.
...1902Dec17, West.Union.IA paper:  Fayette news; There is a very interesting letter in the last 'Reporter' from Miss Susan Collins, wh is missionary in Malange Angola, Africa.
...1902Jan22, West.Union.IA paper:   Fayette news; A letter from Miss Susan Collins, who started for Africa some weeks ago has been received.  She writes from Lisbon, Portugal, and is in good health and spirits.

1905Sep, Fayette Paper:  Susie Collins who has been teaching in a mission school in Africa for several years arrived in Fayette.  Susan is a guest at the home of Jason Paine and expects to visit the Iowa area for a couple of months and then may go to California for the winter.

...1905Dec20, West.Union.IA paper:  Land transfer; Ella E. Buchanan to Susan Collins, home & lots 1, 2, 3, bk 11, S.H. Robertson addition to Fayette, for $700.

...1905...Susan, age 54 was returned to America in 1905 and came back to Fayette. She requested return to Africa but Bishop Hartsell advised that the M.E. Board was not sending her back because of age and lack of a college degree.  Susan bought a small house on the NW corner of Alexander and State St's, expecting to stay in Fayette.
...The Pacific Branch of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society in California, felt that because of her language knowledge and her ability to withstand the extreme climate overbalanced her lack of college work and sent Susan back to Angola.
...1905-1920...Susan spend the next 15 years, at the girls' school she had started in Quessau, Angola, SW Africa.  This time she had a salary and her living conditions were better.

...Susan wanted to return to Africa but the area M.E. power structure declined her wish.  One reason given was that she did not have a college degree.  Thus assuming she would be living in Fayette, she apparently bought a home and lots.  Susan bought lots 1,2,3, bk 11, S.R. Roberston's Add, NE corner of Alexander & State St's, Fayette.IA.

1905-1920 Susan returned to Africa.  M.E. politics on the Pacific Coast (California) felt Susan was highly qualified, as Susan knew the language, could handle the climate and culture, plus had a great amount of in the field experience.  Susan was sent back to Africa, per her wishes.

1905 Dec  Fayette Paper, Land Transfer; Ella E. Buchanan to Susan Collins, lots 1, 2, 3, bk 11, Sam. H. Robertson's addition to Fayette.  Note, bz/2010:  NE corner of Alexander & State St, Fayette, IA.  This property had a small house/cottage on lot 1.   The cottage was rented out until Susan returned to the States in 1920 and wanted into the house about 1921.  It can be speculated that the Jason Paine family monitored the renting and business while she was gone.  Cortez Paine and son Jason had championed the abolitionist cause throughout their lives and were strict Methodist.  Susan Collins likely was a domestic for the Paine family and became a close friend.  Since it has been reported in articles that she worked for no pay in Africa to the time of her visit to Fayette in 1905, it can be speculated that the Paine family may have assisted her in the purchase of the property, and taken care of rental of the home after Susan returned to Africa.  Susan likely did not expect to be returned to Africa when the home in Fayette was purchased.

1911 Mar 31  Fayette Paper;  Letter from Susan B. Collins; It was 24 yrs last night that I left Chicago for New York.  I sailed from Chicago for Africa on April 6, 1887.  There will probably be greater progress made in the Christianizing of Africa in the next 24 yrs, than the last 24 yrs.  Bishop Harizal and ??, are expected here in May, with special meetings at Quessau this week, when the District Superintendent was with us.  Twenty joined the church on proposition of them being from our school.

Jason & Margaret Kent Paine, close friends in Fayette.IA: 
http://www.iowaz.info/surname/painejason.htm

...1912Mar12, West.Union.IA paper:  Fayette news; Miss Ada Whitely came last week from Charles City and rented the  Susan Collins property north of the F.S. Walker residence.
...1912May01, West.Union.IA paper:  Fayette news;  The Susan Collins' cottage in the east part of Fayette has received a new coat of paint.  Charles Estey worked the paint brush.

1912 July  Fayette Paper; Lima has sent many students to U. I. U. and are proud of the fact that she sent out Miss Joan Davis whose work in India has made her name familiar to readers of any of the great papers of the Methodist church in the North, her sister Miss Sadie Davis whose work has been in the southern branch of the church, Miss  Anna Oelberg who gave efficient service to the orphanage at Luke Bluff and Miss Susan Collins who is rounding out twenty live years  of fruitful toil in the continent of Africa. This is not all that Lima is proud of. There is not a better general store in the county than the one which has been conducted by various members of the Oelberg family and now under the firm name of Oelberg Bros., A. R. and C. F., with the former as manager, occupies a superb double room besides nearby wares house. It also conducts a saw and grist mill and provides the community.

1915 Sept  Oelwein Paper; Glen Thomas has rented Miss Susan Collins cottage in north east part of town.  Note,bz:  In Aug 1921, Glen Thomas rented the S. T. Payne residence in the east part of Fayette for a month or until he could find another place. His family was are living in the Mrs. Susan Collins house and had to vacate, as Susan had returned to the States from Africa in 1920 and wanted into her home.

1920 Aug  Oelwein Paper;  Miss Susan Collins whose arrival from the Africa missionary fields has been expected for some time, has reached Fayette and is at the Mrs. Jason L. Paine home.  She is 69 years old, 67 being the retirement age, but owing to sickness of the person who was to relieve her she stayed at her post for another two years.   She may go to California to spend the winter in order to more gradually become accustomed to the change in climate after spending so many years near the equator.  She first went into missionary work under the self supporting plan, but later was sent out (supported) by the California Brand of the W.F.M. Society of the M.E. Church.

...1920...Susan, age 69yrs, arrived back in Fayette during Aug 1920.  She had been kept on her post in Africa for two extra years due to sickness of her replacement.  She visited and stayed with friends in Fayette but may have spent the winter of 1920/1921 in California to re-acclimatize to the U.S.  While she was in Africa her house in Fayette had been rented.1934...Susan became more feeble and ill about 1834-35 to the point of not being able to care for herself all the time.  Mrs. Harriett Lewis moved Susan to the Lewis farm 2mi north of Fayette where Susan was cared for in her later years on the 40a farm of Mrs. Hattie Lewis (NW corner Sec 16, Westfield.Twp, 2mi N of Fayette Main.St or 3/8mi SE of Pleasant Hill Cem) and also from a neighboring farm, Mrs. Julia Stepp (descendents of the 'colored' pioneer families/community in the Fayette/Albany/Lima area).

...1920Aug05, West.Union.IA paper: Fayette Leader;  Fayette Woman Returns from Africa;  After nearly a life time spent in Africa on missionary work Miss Susan Collins, who was years ago a resident of Fayette and still owns a house here will give up her work permanently and is expected to arrive in Fayette at an early date.   The last heard from her enroute she was at the Madeira Islands, and may be in New York by this time.  Miss Collins is 69yrs of age and should have been relieved from duty two years ago, but owning to sickness of one who was to relieve her she stayed at her post for another two years.  It is expected that she will be in Fayette for a while, but will probably spend the coming winter in California in order to more gradually become accustomed to the change in climate, as she has spent about 32yrs near the equator. She first went into missionary work under the self-supporting plan, but later was sent out by the California branch of the W.F.M.S. of the M.E. church.
...1920Aug25, West.Union.IA paper:  Fayette news;  Miss Susan Collins arrived in  Fayette on Wed, and is at the home of Mrs. Jason L. Paine (on the NE corner of State/North St's, 2bk's west of her own property).  Susan came from the African missionary field, where she work many years.
...1920Oct06, West.Union.IA paper:  Fayette news;  The regular meeting of the Methodist W.F.M.S. was held Fri, at the home of Mrs. J.W. Dickman.  Miss Susan Collins, a recently returned missionary from Africa, gave a very interesting talk.

1920 Sep 30  Miss Susan Collins returned from a visit in the Charles F. Paine home at Eldora.

1920 Oct  Oelwein Paper;   The regular monthly meeting of the W.F.M.S. of the M.E. church of Fayette, was held Friday afternoon, Oct 1, at the home of Mrs. J. W. Dickman.  Miss Susan Collins, a recently returned missionary, gave a very interesting talk, after which a social and light refreshments were enjoyed.

...1921Aug...Susan moved into her house on the NE corner of Alexander & State in FayetteIA.  Mrs. Nellie (Gothard) Crosswhite would live with Susan for most of the coming years until near Nellie's death in 1935.
...Susan traveled to visit friends and to give talks about her missionary experiences throughout the 1920's and early 1930's.  Susan had a close association and friendship with Cortez/Jason/Charles Paine family throughout her life.  Cortez Paine, an M.E. Minister settled in Fayette (descendent tree near bottom of page).

1921 Aug Oelwein Paper; Glen Thomas has rented .the S. T. Payne residence in the east part of town for a. month or until he can find another place. They are living in the Miss Susan Collins house and have to vacate.  Note:  Susan had returned from Africa and wanted into her home she had purchased on a return visit in 1905.

...1921Aug03, West.Union.IA paper:  Fayette news; Glen Thomas has rented the S.T. Payne residence in the east part of Fayette, for a month or until he can find another place.   They are living in the Miss Susan Collins house, and have to vacate.

1922 -1934  Susan, age 70-83 yrs, lived in a small home built on the NE corner Alexander & State St's, S.H. Robertson's Add, bk11, lots 1,2,3.  The lots she had purchased on her 1905 return to Fayette before leaving for Africa a second time.  About 1934, Susan became ill enough that Harriett Lewis moved Susan to her farm just north of Fayette, and with Julia Stepp, cared for and watched over Susan until she died in June 13, 1940, age nearly 90yrs.

...1922Oct25, West.Union.IA paper:  Lima news; Miss Susan Collins gave a very interesting talk at the Lima Church on Sunday night.
...1923Jan18, West.Union.IA paper:  Fayette news; Mrs. M.C. Crosswhite of Waukesha.WI left after a visit in the home of Miss Susan Collins.

1923 June  Oelwein Paper; Miss Susan Collins went to Atlanta.GA, to be with a friend who is seriously ill.

1926 July 8 Oelwein Paper; Miss Susan Collins' neighbors planned a surprise birthday party for her Friday at the home of Mrs. Jason L. Paine. Miss Collins says this is her first birthday party.
...1926July15, West.Union.IA paper:  Fayette news;  A party of 15 neighbors and friends was entertained Friday evening by Mrs. Jason L. Paine and Miss Margaret Paine, complimentary to Miss Susan Collins, whose 75th birthday it was.  The evening was greatly enjoyed.  Miss Collins 30+ yrs experience as a missionary had made here career an interesting as well as useful one.

...1927Jun01...West.Union.IA paper:  Fayette news; Miss Celicia Cross from Lisbon.ND is visiting Miss Susan Collins.  These ladies were co-workers in Africa.

...1929May01, West.Union.IA paper:  M.E. Women of the Dubuque district convention of the Woman's Foreign Missionary society met at the West.Union M.E. Church.  Delegates from Fayete were Mrs. N.S. Walker, Mrs. J.W. Dickman, Mrs. Cora A. Ross, Miss Susan Collins.  Miss Ethel Ruggles, returned missionary from Burhanpur, India, gave three talks concerning her work.  Missionaries lead busy lives, often being called in to do something for which thye have had no training and which in America they would note dream of doing.  Miss ruggles has one unique method of dispensing medicines.  The natives there do not respect anything  which they do not have to pay for.  So if the patient is very poor, Miss Ruggles manages to get them to bring her an egg, which she then buys, and they in turn buy the medicine, which she makes them swallow in her presence.

1930 July  Mr. and Mrs. Gibbs and daughter were visitors at the home of Miss Susan Collins.  They were on furlough from Quessau Africa, and were co-workers with Miss Collins when she was in the missionary field.  They came up to Fayette from Iowa City.

1930 Oct  Oelwein Paper;  Nearly 100 delegates were present at the annual meeting of the second unit of the Dubuque district of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society, held at the home of Mrs. J.W. Dickman in Fayette.  One of the main speakers of the afternoon was Miss Susan Collins of Fayette on her Africa work.

...1931Apr23, West.Union.IA paper:  Fayette news; Mrs. Susan King has been taking care of Miss Susan Collins, who was ill.  At this writing she is much better.

...1933Oct12, West.Union.IA paper:  Wadena news; Miss Susan Collins of Fayette attended the Missionary society at the Mrs. Maggie Johnson Home on Wed.  The lesson was on Africa and Miss Collins who was an African Missionary for 33yrs brought African curios.  an African lunch was served.  There were 21 present.

1834  Susan Collins became very ill and would be moved to the farm home of Mrs. Harriet Lewis, N of Fayette for care.  Susan was cared for by Mrs. Harriett Lewis and Mrs. Julia Stepp in her later years, until her death in 1940.

1937 May  Fayette Paper; Bishop Honors Fayette Negro, Woman, 86, For Mission Work, We Have our Negro Member,  by John D. Clinton.
    Fayette is a college town, in Iowa, you may know. Half the town is on the church books of a cruciform Gothic (M.E.) church, built high on a hill. In 1930 the church (congregation) was 80 years old and the membership accepted us a goal for that January Sunday anniversary Sunday anniversary, an attempt to get a class of 80 members for joining.  And when the day came, there had registered 81, and the one was of negro race, back for a number of years after 33 years of service in Methodist missions in Africa.  Meet Susan Collins.  She came to Fayette in 1864 with with her Civil War soldier father.  Her education included 4 terms at UIU but her presence in out town was one largely of service in our homes and hotel (as a domestic).  Not the least of her service was her ministry in her own home, especially through the sickness and death of her mother. 
    It was in 1882 she left for the Dakotas to set up a claim (at Huron, Beadle.Co.SD), running a modest laundry on the side.  To her came a bundle of clothes wrapped in paper destined to play quite a part.  For it told of the news that there was to be a Chicago Training School established where the bible might be studied, preparatory to enlistment of youth in further service.  Susan wanted to Go.  A further wrapping seemed to make it more possible in that the courses might be followed by correspondence.  Meanwhile, her father who had come to live o the claim, died, leaving Miss Collins more independent.  She decided for the training school, and in Nov 1886, left SD for Chicago.  Before a year of training had passed, Bishop had found her, and she was on her way to Africa.  At the training school, they said of her that she was not an extensive student, but hat she was good at bible study. 
    From our college at Fayette, Upper Iowa University, and largely through the church here as an instrument, there has gone out to the world in such a fashion as Susan.  In that they carried this same book which has so well served as a Lamp, I judge it is appropriate that ours be called--Flaming Youth.  Some there are who fear lest youth be given too many bible verses to learn these days. I feel that our distinction at Fayette--granting of course all the balanced contributions of the culture of our college--has been the contribution service to the world, by Susan Collins and her two dozen world associates.
    This year on April 19, 1937, Bishop G. Bromley Oxnam drove in.  The offering taken at the time of his evening's address, was to be sent to Mrs. E. Stanley Jones, one of that 25 of ours.  In that her husband had made the suggestion that each church have a negro member, as an introduction to racial friendship; and as we already had ors, I suggested a chief-pastoral call upon Susan Collins.  We journeyed a mile out of town to surprise here (at this time Susan was quite ill and was being tended to at the home of Mris Harriett Lewis, and by Mrs. Julia Stepp, north of Fayette).  She is in her 86th year, and 1937 is the 50th anniversary of her departure for Africa.  As I entered the living room, there was Susan, Bible in hand.  "Could I take her picture with the bishop?"  Oh, certainly, but wait until she had taken off her apron and put down her bible?....Nothing of the kind.  In her white laundered apron, and with her well-thumbed bible...Meet our Susan Collins of Fayette, Iowa.

1940 June 13, Fayette Leader; Obit, PASSED AWAY FRIDAY June 7, 1940, Susan ColIlns Spent 33yrs of Her Useful Life In Missionary Service In the Field in African.Susan Collins was born July 3. 1851, In Madison county, IL. Her father was a slave In Virginia, but In his early days his master took him to Illinois, where Illinois laws later made him a free man. When a small child her family moved to Wisconsin. At the beginning of the Civil War her father enlisted in a colored troop and served until the close of the war. In November, 1865, the family came to Fayette county, Iowa. Here she had more advantages for attending the public schools. During the early seventies, her mother, two sisters and a brother died of tuberculosis, leaving besides herself her father and two brothers. After this she was able to attend Upper Iowa University several terms. In 1882 Miss Collins went to Huron, South Dakota, where she took up a claim and opened up a laundry. Later, she was joined by her father, who made his home with her until his death.

Entered Missionary Field
From a piece of paper which was around some laundry, she learned that Mrs. Lucy Rider Meyers was opening a Bible Training School in Chicago. As soon as possible, she sold her business and went to the Training School. In 1887 Bishop William Taylor took her with other missionaries to Africa under the Board of Foreign Missions of the Methodist Church. It was a self-supporting station, and for eighteen years she worked without salary, receiving for her food and clothing only those things the natives gave her.  Those contributions were very meager, and had it not been for the several boxes of clothing and other supplies sent her by her many friends in the Fayette area she would have suffered greatly. As was her privations were many. The climate in Africa agreed with her better than with the other missionaries sent to that section. Many of them died from the fever prevalent there, and it was Miss Collins who cared for them, prepared them for burial, and sometimes when the men of the mission were ill she superintended the making of the casket and read the burial service, Returned to the United States; Miss Collins came back to the United States on a furlough after eighteen years of service. After being here a few months Bishop Hartsell told her that on account of her age and the fact that she was not a college graduate the Methodist Board had decided not to return her to the mission field. She was keenly disappointed. But the Pacific Branch of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society, realizing that her knowledge of the language and her ability to withstand the extreme climate overbalanced her lack of college work, and decided to return her to Quessau, where she had started a school. This time she had a salary and her living conditions were better, and for fifteen years she worked there in the Girls' School. Her work was varied, teaching and mothering the native children who were placed under her care, superintending the building of a large structure which served as home and schoolhouse, and establishing one of the most efficient mission stations in all Africa. Her last years spent In Fayette, Iowa. Out of her salary she was able to purchase the little house on the east part of Fayette where she lived among us for so many years. About six years ago her falling health made it advisable for her to no longer live alone. Since that time she has lived in the home of Mrs. Harriet Lewis north of town, where she has been tenderly cured for by Mrs. Lewis and Mrs. Julia Stepp, and often, especially during the last few months when weakness this made her more dependent, she has said repeatedly, "They are so good to me," Although it has been twenty years since she returned from Africa, her heart and thoughts were continually with the people with whom she had worked for thirty-three years, and often, even up to the last she sang and talked to her friends In the Kimbundu languuge. During the winter her failing health was more noticeable. Early in April she became decidedly weaker and has been confined to her bed for several weeks. Early in the morning of June 7 her long wished for call came and her sufferings were over. The last service for her was held Saturday at the Fox funeral home in Fayette, conducted by Rev. Mitchell of West Union. Burial was in the Lima cemetery.

1940, Jun 27 Fayette Leader;  Transfer of Fayette lots from Susan Collins to the M.E. Women's Missionary Society.
Susan Collins to The Pacific Branch of The Women's Foreign Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church WD $1 Lots 1, 2 and 3, Bk 11, S. H. Robertson's Add Fayette (NE corner of Alexander and State St, Fayette, IA).

1940 Nov 07  Fayette Leader Sale of Susan Collins home in Fayette Iowa.  The Susan Collins property has been sold to John Bahl.

1941 Jan 16  Fayette Leader;   NOTICE 01' THE TIME AND PLACE FOR APPRAISEMENT FOR INHERITANCE TAX PURPOSES.
In the District Court of the State of Iowa in and for Fayette County. In the Matter of the Estate of Susan Collins, Deceased. Probate No. 4643. Notice of the Time and Place of Appraisement. To the State Tax Commission of the State of Iowa, and to Quessau Girls School, Missao (?) Evangelica, Milange, Angola, West Africa, which is the "Girls' School at Quessaw, Africa" mentioned in decedent's will as school she helped to found. Pacific Branch, Woman's Foreign Missionary Society, Methodist Episcopal Church Mrs. E. A. Warner, Treas. at 2237 S. Harvard Blvd Los Angeles, California), Harriet Lewis, Fayette, Iowa, Margaret E. Paine, Fayette, Iowa, Margaret E. Paine, as trustee, Fayette, Iowa, You and each of you are hereby notified that the undersigned, the duly appointed and qualified appraisers for said county of property charged or sought to be charged with the payment of an Inheritance Tax, will at 2 o'clock P. M., on the 8th day of February, 1941, at office of Woodard & Woodard, West Union, in the County of Fayette, State of Iowa, proceed to appraise the real and personal property of the E s t a t e of the said decedent subject to an Inheritance Tax in the form and manner provided by law. You are further notified that you may appear at said time and place and be heard a s to the appraisement of said property or any portion thereof. Therefore, take notice of this proceeding and govern yourselves accordingly. Dated this 24th day of December, 1940. R. O. WOODARD HENRY GEORGE GEORGE B. WOODARD 15-2 Inheritance Tax Appraisers.

http://www.iowaz.info/fayette/methodistch.htm

1850-1851  The first Methodist sermon preached in the vicinity of what would be Fayette, Iowa, was by Rev. John Hindman, on Jan 9, 1850, in James Robertson's home, in the old Wilcox cabin, 1 1/2 miles south of Fayette.  At the first service a class was organized , with James and Jane Robertson, Elizabeth and Hannah and Desire Alexander, as members.  James Robertson was appointed Leader, which position he still holds!
    The class met regularly each Sabbath in the Wilcox cabin each Sabbath thereafter.  The preacher arranged an appointment of once a month on Fridays.  At the second service Phebe Messenger joined on probation.  James Robertson having moved into what would be the Fayette valley, in April 1850, the preaching was continued in his house from April 1850 to 1852. 
    In the Fall of 1850, Rev. Wm. Greenup was appointed preacher in charge of Otter Creek Mission of the M.E. Church, of which Fayette formed a part.  In the Fall of 1851, the name was changed to Turkey River Circuit.  That fall of 1851, Samuel and Sabra Robertson, Cyrus and Rhoda Price, joined the class.  In the Spring of 1853, the preaching place was removed to the District school house, near by (in the woods off the SW corner of Clary & Mechanic St's, bz/2010).
    In 1853 Rev John Cameron was appointed preacher in charge.  On June 14, 1853, N.N. and Diana Sykes, and F.M. Robertson joined the class, thus increasing the number of members to 13.  In 1853, the name of the circuit was changed to West Union, and Rev. Isaac Newton put in charge.  The Fall of 1853, there was a class organized in Lima. 
    In 1854, a new district of the Iowa Conference of the M.E. Church was formed called the Upper Iowa District, with Rev. H.S. Brunson as presiding elder, and L.S. Ashbaugh as pastor of Fayette. 
    At the close of 1855, the class numbered 37 members.  Rev. J. M. Rankin was made preacher in charge at this Conference.  About this time the names of Cortez & wife Silva Paine & son Jason Lee Paine, and Dr. Charles C. and wife Sarah Parker, as among those uniting with the class by letter.
    At the close of 1856, there were 78 members.  At the Conference of 1857, the name was changed to Fayette Circuit and was supplied by David Poor, S.H. Halbert, and others.

1941 Oct 16  Fayette Leader  New Baptismal Font Honors Susan Collins
An Interesting part of the morning worship service at the Methodist Church last Sunday was the presentation of a lovely baptismal font in memory of Susan Collins, missionary who spent 33 years in Africa. The font, in finely grained quarter sawed oak finished to match the chancel pieces, was purchased by Misses Amy and Margaret Paine from the residue of Miss Collins' estate, and given to the Church as a fitting symbol of her life and work. Born in 1851 in Madison county, ILL., Susan Collins came to Iowa with her parents in 1865. After attending school here, including several terms at Upper Iowa, she went to Huron, S. D., where she opened a laundry, which she sold in a few years in order to enter the Lucy Rider Meyers Training School In Chicago. In 1887 Bishop William Taylor took her to Africa, where she worked without salary for 18 years, being aided materially during this time by Interested friends in Fayette and elsewhere. She came home on furlough after 18 years, returning to Africa again under the auspices of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society. After 15 more years of service, during which time she established a line girls' school in Quessau, she returned to Fayette and the little home she had purchased. Her last years were spent in the care of Mrs. Harriett Lewis and Mrs. Julia Stepp, north of town. On June 7, 1940, she was called home by her Master to a richly deserved reward for humble service faithfully rendered. In making the presentation of the Susan Collins Memorial baptismal font, Reverend Kindred said: "Human life, touched by the loving hand of God, led and motivated by the principles of Christ, and dedicated to the service of humanity under divine guidance, achieves worth and significance out of all proportion to that which other (actors might Indicate. No matter how inauspicious a beginning, no matter how humble a heritage, no matter how lacking in the accumulation of material possessions along its way, SUCH A LIFE gathers about it a solid halo of things which then, with Its chance and change, neither dulls nor dissipates, and casts into the shadows of life a light of hope, inspiration and joy which is a source of blessing to those whom it touches. Such a life was that of Susan Collins; beginning in 1851, when many slaves, including her father, were being freed from the restraints of slavery to the much more perplexing task of carving for themselves a place in the world as freemen. Fayette may be glad that the fortunes of life brought the Collins family here when Susan was fifteen, and thereby had a part in not only her education but the leading of her life into the fruitful paths which it chose to follow. One does not sell a business to gain a specialized training to go to a far continent to serve the Lord without a bright light leading the way. From Fayette, through Chicago, to Africa the light that shines from the face of the Lord Jesus Christ led Susan Collins. For a third of a century she told the story of her Master, more through her life than by any vocal eloquence, and gradually built up one of the most effective mission stations on the Dark Continent. Her closing years, spent in Fayette carried into this community again something of the earnest, humble spirit which had gone out years before to do what she could for her Savior. Therefore, It is most appropriate that in this Church there should shine in her honor a star that typifies the light she shed abroad through the world; and that there should be presented In her memory this day a baptismal font, u symbol of the forgiving grace and cleansing power of God's love which is the bond that ties all Christians in one great brotherhood throughout the whole wide earth. This font, purchased from the residue of Susan Collins' estate which produced also a substantial gift to the Missionary Brunch under which she served, and a gift to the Upper Iowa library for books—will stand in this chancel us long as this Church stands on the hill as a testimony to the life of Susan Collins, and beyond that to the power of God which so persuasively touches human life as to raise It out of Itself and raise In it an everlasting tribute to Him. At this font may there stand those who shall catch that same spirit and in like manner dedicate their lives to the service of God." Those baptized at the font following the presentation were James Wayne, infant son of Dr. and Mrs. Willis Walker, and Miss Zoe Smith.

...1950Jan26, West.Union.IA paper:  Fayette news;  During Bible Month at the First Methodist Church, among the bibles displaced the Paine family bible over 150yrs old belonging to Misses Amy and Margaret Paine, and a bible used by during her many years as missionary in Africa, now belonging to Mrs. Lucie Wilson.

1957 June  Oelwein Paper;  Fayette Methodist Circles hole meeting, plant for projects.  The Susan Collins circle met with Mrs. Russell Swartz, Mrs. Lucie Wilson led the devotions using the Bible of Susan Collins, who was a missionary in Africa for many years.  This was the first meeting since the circles had reorganized.  Mrs. Jakie Yearous told of the life of Miss Collins and her work as a missionary.

1972 Oct  Oelwein Paper;  Marking the grave of Susan Collins 1851-1940, in Lima.IA, is a tombstone marked thusly:  "She served 33 years as a missonary in Angola Africa." 

1975, Mar 20   UIU Press
...Susan Collins could play an African piano and one of the reason the M.E. Church at Fayette, Iowa, put a SUSAN STAR in the church ceiling to shine down on 'Susan Sunday.' Oct 18, 1936, and to keep on shining on call. 
...Susan went o Angola, Africa in 1887.
...She came to Fayette, Iowa in 1864 (likely last summer/fall1865, as Issac was mustered out Jun1865 at Camp.Randall.WI, bz/2017) with her Civil War soldier father.
...Her education included 4 terms (likely in the Prepratory.Dept, H.S. equivalent, plus a Normal Institute term, prep/qualification for teaching in a common/country school, bz/2017) at Upper Iowa University, but her presence in this college town was one largely of service in homes and the hotel (with sister Maranda, worked as a domestic for various families and at the Fayette House Hotel). Not the least was her ministry in her own home, especially through the sickness and death of her mother.
...It was in 1882 she left for the Dakotas to set up on a claim, running a modest laundry on the side.
...To her came a bundle of clothes, wrapped in a paper destined to play quite a part. For it told of the news that there was to be a Chicago Training School established where the Bible might be studied, preparatory to enlistment of youth in further service. Susan wanted to go.
...A further wrapping seemed to make it more possible in that the courses might be followed by correspondence.
...Meanwhile, her father, who had come to live on the claim, died, leaving Miss Collins the more independent.
...She decided for the training school, and in November, 1886, left for Chicago.
...Before a year of training had passed, Bishop Wm. Taylor had found her and she was on her way to Africa.
...At the training school, they said of her that she was not an extensive student but that she was good at Bible study.
...During the years, from this Iowa school (UIU) at Fayette, there has gone out a group of 25 youths, largely in the fashion with which Susan Collins went to serve.
...Hearing of " Susan Sunday" in 1936, Methodist Bishop G. Bromley Oxnam had opportunity to come Fayette way in 1937.
...Knowing that the church at Fayette had a black member, as a chief pastor in all respects, he desired to make a pastoral call.
...Susan at 86, had gone to reside at the Hattie Lewis farm where Hattie, it happened was excellent with bees. Bishop Oxnam made his way up that country lane. I entered the living room. There sat Susan, Bible in hand. "Could I take her picture with the bishop?" Oh certainly, but wait until she had taken off her apron and put down her bible?...Nothing of the kind. In her white laundered apron, and with her well thumbed Bible... many had been the great audiences of and with Bishop Oxnam, but this one rated STAR in every respect. And up that lane came their delegations, mainly a scout troop from the church of Susan's membership. Mission: Pan-cake hike with HONEY on flap-jacks sweetening furnished by Aunt Hattie. Now in the role of the scouts own Aunt Jemina. Only now it was with musical accompaniment, Susan Collins on her piano, playing an old favorite, "Jesus Loves Me". First it was English, and then to scouts delight,  "Jesusungesola". Well the pan-cake snapshot never left town, but the Boston Zion's Herald, a Methodist Journal, secured a print of The Bishop and Susan and that went as far as Angola. Now listen for the reading of a girl in Susan Collins acquaintance, Florinda Bessa, who succeeded her teacher, Susan Collins. " I showed the picture to one of her old school girls and she wept for joy just to see her in a picture even. It has been so long since any of us have heard from her that we thought she was already with our Lord." And Florinda, to me, included a letter in the hand-writing of Bishop William Taylor "dated Oct.31, 1887, "I have been praying earnestly and believingly that Banana Creek will open". And it did.

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 Isaac Collins family burials
  All burials are in the Lima Cemetery, Westfield.Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa.

Isaac Collins family burials, Lima Cemetery

Colored rows = info/data updated; white rows = not updated, needing data. 

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