Fresno County Biographies

J. M. Collier

Submitted by Sally Kaleta, December, 2006

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 
	J. M. Collier, second son of J. N. Collier and Mrs. Patton 
Knox, nee Robinson, Collier, was born in Pickens County, Alabama, in 1855. In 
1865 his father moved to Deer Creek, Washington County, Mississippi, where he 
still resides, and it was in that State that J. M. received his education. He 
attended the Vicksburg public schools and worked to pay for his board and 
tuition, finishing his studies in 1875. After leaving school, Mr. Collier went 
to Stormville, Bolivar County, that State, and engaged in mercantile business. 
Later he went to Memphis, and was there employed as a bookkeeper. In 1884 he 
visited the World's Fair at New Orleans, and immediately thereafter started for 
California. After three months spent in visiting and travel, he settled in 
Fresno, having neither friend nor kindred in the county. His penmanship 
attracted attention and secured him a position as Deputy Recorder, under C. L. 
Wainwright, receiving the appointment in December, 1884. He was continued 
through Mr. Wainwright's term of office, and was reappointed by his successor, 
T. A. Bell, still occupying that position. Mr. Collier was married in Los 
Angeles, in July, 1887, to Miss Dora Church, daughter of Judge Firman Church, 
whose biography appears elsewhere in this work. Mrs. Collier died May 8, 1891, 
leaving two children: Dora E., born April 26, 1891, and Augusta, born in 
January, 1890. Mr. Collier is secretary of the Fresno Water Company, and is 
Ordnance Sergeant of Company C, National Guards of California. By close 
attention to his business and by careful and judicious investment of his 
earnings, Mr. Collier has accumulated considerable city property in Fresno.
 
Source: "The Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Fresno, 
Tulare, and Kern, California," Lewis Publ. Co., 1892, p. 318.