California Biographies

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

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

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


WILLIAM W. COLLINS. The sheriff of Tulare county is a member of an eastern family 
and a son of Albert O. Collins, a veteran of the Civil war, who for more than thirty years has 
been identified with the citizenship of California. Born in Ohio, he was a young man when the 
war began between north and south, and, fired with enthusiasm in behalf of the Union, he 
offered his services to his country. During April of 1862 he became a soldier in the Eighty- 
fifth Illinois Infantry, and for three years remained in the service, holding rank as captain 
of Company C. On the expiration of the war he returned to Coshocton, Ohio, where he had 
previously established his family and where for a time he taught school. In the spring of 1866 
he removed to Missouri and settled on a farm in Putnam county, where also he engaged in 
teaching school. Coming to California in May of 1873, he first settled at Bakersfield, Kern 
county, where he followed the butcher's trade and later conducted a large ranch. From there 
in 1887 he went to Inyo county, where he still follows the stock business, occupying a large 
ranch near Bishop. In young manhood he married Sarah J. Cochoran, a native of Ohio. They 
are the parents of three sons and two daughters, namely, Charles A., sheriff of Inyo county, to 
which office he was elected on the Democratic ticket ; William W., who was elected sheriff of 
Tulare county on the Republican ticket; John L., who has stock interests with his father on the 
ranch in Inyo county; Minnie, wife of W. L. Blythe, of Chico, Butte county ; and Leora, who 
married Bertrand Rhine and lives at Bishop, this state. 

On the home farm near Coshocton, Ohio, William W. Collins was born June 2^, 1865. On 
completing the studies of the common schools he became a pupil of the Visalia normal school, 
where he remained during the terms of 1882-83, and then entered the California state normal 
school at Los Angeles. His education completed, he turned his attention to the active duties 
of life. For a time he assisted his father in the cattle business. Leaving home in 1889 he came 
to Tulare county and embarked in wheat raising, in addition to which he conducted a livery 
business. During 1895 he engaged in buying wheat in Tulare and Kern counties for the 
Farmers' Union Milling Company of Stockton, and in 1896 accepted a position with J. Goldman 
& Co., of Tulare, as foreman of their lands, orchards and stock. 

Ever since attaining the age of twenty-one years Mr. Collins has been an active factor in 
local politics, and has been a frequent participant in the workings of the county central committees 
of the Republican party. In view of his activity in the party, as well as by reason of the posses- 
sion of characteristics qualifying him, for the office, he was selected by his party in the county 
convention of 1902 as their candidate for the position of sheriff, and was duly elected for a term 
of four years. Not only has his service thus far been satisfactory to the party electing him, but 
also the general public has recognized in him an official determined to preserve law and order; 
impartial, fearless and just, one whom the law-abiding element could look to with the fullest 
faith in the painstaking discharge of his duties. Fraternally he is connected with the Woodmen 
of the World, Fraternal Aid, Ancient Order of United Workmen, and Lodge and Encampment 
of Odd Fellows, in which he has been an office-holder. Sharing with him in the esteem of the 
people of Visalia is his wife, formerly Louise Clarke, who was born and reared in Inyo county, and 
by whom he has three daughters, Flazel, Vera and Blanche.