Alameda County
Biographies
DAVID
EDWARD COLLINS
The Collins family, which is represented
in California by mean of commercial strength and ability, scholarly attainments
and personal worth, had its origin in Scotland many centuries ago. D. Edward Collins, president of the
California Bank of Oakland, who has become widely known as one of the sagacious
financiers of the state, was born May 8, 1850, at Coupar
Angus, Perthshire, Scotland, a son of William and a
grandson of David Collins, both of whom were likewise natives of the same
locality. David Collins devoted his life
to the clothing trade, while his son Williams became a landscape gardener of
note. While a resident of his native
land and latter laid out gardens for many of the nobility in that section of
Scotland in which he lived.
In 1854 he came to America, bringing his
family with him, and locating in Nashville, Ill., where he continued in his
calling and engaged in general farming.
He afterward removed to Ottumwa, Iowa, where he continued his work as
landscape gardener. In 1865 he crossed
the plains with ox-teams, and after a journey of six months, arriving at The Dalles, Ore.
Continuing the journey to Salem, Ore., he remained in that city the
following winter with his wife and four children, meantime performing
considerable work in the line of his vocation.
The desire of both himself and family being to
come to California, they crossed the mountains to this state, locating in
Oakland in the fall of 1866. Shortly
afterward he became interested in Mount View cemetery, which had been
established about two years prior to his arrival. The work of development
having come practically to a standstill.
Mr. Collins at once devoting his energies to the
completion of the cemetery, carrying out his plans very successfully, and
becoming its superintendent, a position which he retained until his death in
February, 1891. In the meantime
he had become interested in the marble business in partnership with Hiram
Tubbs, the concern being known as the Amador Marble company. The works were located at the cemetery, while
a fine marble quarry was developed in Amador county. The concern also obtained granite from Rocky,
placer county, Cal. Subsequently the
company was incorporated under the laws of California as the Amador Marble
Company, and is still known by that name, a half interest being owned by D. Edward
Collins and J. S. Collins of Ventura, while the other half if owned by Mrs.
Tubbs and her family. This corporation
conducts the most extensive business of its kind in the state.
In addition to the business he established
in Oakland, William Collins became prominently identified with the financial
and ranching interests of Ventura county. In 1868 he purchased a large tract of land
near what is now Saticoy, near Montalvo, Ventura
county, which he at once set about to develop to a high state of productiveness. This property, containing about one thousand
acres is now widely known as the most prolific producer of lima beans in the
world. In 1887 Mr. Collins sold this
property, and founded the Bank of William Collins & Sons, a private
institution of Ventura.
In politics Mr. Collins was a Republican,
and was always active in the advancement of the principles he espoused. He was a regular attendant at the First
Presbyterian Church of Oakland, and contributed generously toward the support
of all worthy movements. Fraternally he
was a Master Mason. He was twice
married. His first wife, Isabella Ogilvy
Walker, a native of Perthshire, Scotland, dying in
1876, he was subsequently united in marriage with Mrs. Catherine Gieschen, a native of new York, who died in 1892. Of the first union the following children
were born: Catherine, wife of H. P.
Flint of Ventura, Cal.; J. S., cashier of the Bank of William Collins & Sons
at Ventura, and mayor or that city; and D. Edward.
Having been brought to America by his
parents at the age of four years, D. Edward Collins grew to manhood among the
scenes of his adopted country, adding to the virtues inherited from his Scotch
ancestry whose which distinguish the American citizen. His rudimentary education was acquired in the
public schools of Illinois and Iowa. In
1865 he experienced the hardships of a journey across the plains to Oregon,
whence he came to California. After the
arrival of his family in Oakland, in 1866, he became a student in McClure's
Academy. In 1870 he entered the
University of California, from which he graduated with the degree of Bachelor
of Arts in 1874. Three years later this
institution conferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts. Having decided to take up educational work as
a career, he visited Europe in 1875, taking a post-graduate course in the
University of Edinburgh, and studied I the University of London, the College de
France, of Paris, and the University of Leipsic,
making a special study of psychology under Professor Wündt
of the University of Leipsic, and of economics under
Professor Roescher of the same university. In Paris he studied economics under Professor
Levasseur and psychology under Professor Charcot.
Returning to the United States in 1880,
Mr. Collins became interested temporarily, as he supposed, in the business
conducted by his father, assuming the duties of secretary of the Mount View
Cemetery Association, and those of secretary and treasurer of the Amador Marble
company. So
engrossed did he become in the technicalities of a business life, that he soon
abandoned his original intention of devoting his life to the cause of
education. Seven years after entering
upon a business career in Oakland, he became interested in the bank which his
father had founded in Ventura. After the
death of his father in 1891 he assumed the duties of superintendent of Mount
View cemetery, at the same time retaining his position in the Amador Marble
Company. At the same time he succeeded
his father as president of the Bank of William Collins & Sons. Three years later he resigned the superintendency of the cemetery and went east to spend the
summer, returning in the fall. The
following year he and his brother purchased the controlling interest in the
California Bank, of Oakland, and January 1, 1896, he assumed the office of president , a post which he has since occupied. In 104 he established a branch bank on Twenty-third avenue, East Oakland, since which time the
capital of the bank has been increased from one hundred thousand to two hundred
thousand dollars. In addition to the
interests mentioned, Mr. Collins is owner of a ranch in Ventura county, and one in Glenn county.
April 10,, 1888, in Oakland, Mr. Collins
was united in marriage with Emma M. Gieschen, a
native of that city, who father, John Gieschen, came
to California from Germany in the pioneer days of this state. She is a graduate of Harmon Seminary, of
Washington Corners, Alameda county, Cal. They are the parents of four children, named
as follows: Vida C., Irene I., Bernice
E., Elizabeth G.
Mr. Collins is prominent in Masonic
circles in California. He was made a
Mason in Oakland Lodge, No. 188, F.& A.M., and now
is a member of Alameda Chapter, No. 36, R.A.M., and Oakland Commandery, No. 11,
K.T. He is past eminent commander of the
latter organization in which he has also served as treasurer for several
years. During his term as eminent
commander in 1895, he had the honor of taking the commandery
to the conclave at Boston, the commandery acting as escort
to the grand officers of the state of California. He is a life member of the Athenian club, a
member of the Union League club, the University club, and the Commonwealth
club, all of San Francisco, and is president of the Outlook club, of
Oakland. He takes a most active part in
the affairs of the Young Men's Christian association of Oakland, having served
as president since 1889, during which year the present building was
erected. A $150,000 structure for the use
of the association, located on the northeast corner of Fourteenth and Jefferson
streets, will be erected in the fall of 1904.
He has also acted as chairman of the state executive committee of the
Y.M.C.A. since 1896, and in 1899 served as vice-president of the International
convention of the Y.M.C.A. held qt Grand Rapids, Mich., where he was one of a
committee appointed to determine the relationship which should exist between
the international committee, the state committee and the local
associations. He is a trustee and elder
of the First Presbyterian church at Oakland, and is active in Sunday school
work. For many years he has been a
director in the Associated Charities of Oakland. He is also treasurer of St. Andrew's society,
in which he has officiated as president.
Since engaging in the banding business he has identified himself with
the American Bankers' association and the California State Bankers'
association. In politics he is an
unswerving Republican, having been actively identified with the work of that
party for several years. In 1898 and
1899 he served as representative from California to the convention of the
National League of Republican Clubs at Omaha, acting as a member of the
executive committee. He also fills the
office of vice-president of the Oakland Board of Trade. Mr. Collins enjoys the confidence and esteem
of all who have been favored with a more or less intimate acquaintance with
him, and occupies a conspicuous position among the representative citizens of
California.
Transcribed 6-6-15 Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 612-613. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2015 Marilyn R. Pankey.
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