Los Angeles
County
Biographies
Harrie R. Collins is successfully engaged in the general
practice of law in Los Angeles, with offices at 411 West Seventh Street. He was born in Keokuk, Iowa, September 30,
1878, his parents being Williamson B. C. and Caroline Elliott (Copelin) Collins, natives of Indiana and Missouri,
respectively. W. B. C. Collins was a
prominent lawyer of Keokuk, Iowa, from 1864 until 1923, a period covering
nearly six decades, and at one time served as city attorney. In 1923 he came to California, living retired
on the Pacific coast until the time of his death, which occurred July 5, 1932,
when he had attained the advanced age of ninety-one years. He served in the Civil War, as a major of the
Union Army, in the Seventh Missouri Infantry.
To him and his wife, who resides in Los Angeles, were born seven
children, four of whom survive.
Harrie R. Collins attended the grade and high schools of
his native city in the acquirement of an education and received his
professional training at Drake University of Des Moines, Iowa, from which
institution he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1899. He was admitted to the Iowa bar on the 4th
of October, 1899, and subsequently attended the University of Chicago for seven
months. On the 5th of
October, 1899, he began the work of his chosen profession in Keokuk, Iowa, in
association with his father and thus continued in law practice until September
20, 1917, when he entered the service of his country. For two years thereafter he was engaged at
Camp Logan, at Ellington Field and in shipyard work, being honorably discharged
in September, 1919. He was next engaged
in title work with the Louisiana Abstract & Title Guaranty Company of New
Orleans at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, until coming to Los Angeles in the spring of
1920 and here was associated with the California Title Guaranty Company, later
known as the California Title Insurance Company, until July 1, 1925. Throughout the intervening period of eight
years he has engaged in law practice independently, having been admitted to the
California bar in March, 1923. An
excellent presence, an earnest, dignified manner, marked strength of character,
a thorough grasp of the law and the ability accurately to apply its principles
are factors in his effectiveness as an advocate. On the 6th of April, 1904, Mr. Collins was united
in marriage to Miss Elsie Parsons, a native of Burlington, Iowa, and to them has
been born five children, as follows: Harrie R. (II), a graduate of the University of Redlands,
Redlands, California; Mrs. Grace McCulloch; Milton Parsons; Copp
Parsons; and Elsie Agnes. Mr. Collins
gives his political allegiance to the Republican Party and fraternally is
affiliated with the Masonic bodies, being a worthy exemplar of the teachings
and purposes of the craft.
Transcribed
by V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: California of the South
Vol. IV, by John Steven McGroarty, Pages 605-606,
Clarke Publ., Chicago, Los Angeles, Indianapolis. 1933.
© 2012 V.
Gerald Iaquinta.
GOLDEN NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES
BIOGRAPHIES