Nevada
County
Biographies
DANIEL S. COLLINS
A member of the board of trustees of
Grass Valley, Mr. Collins was born in the place which is yet his home, July 9,
1868. His father, Daniel Collins, Sr.,
was a native of Ireland, born in 1822.
When a youth of eleven years he crossed the briny deep to the new world,
and in 1850 came to California, where for some time he engaged in mining. Subsequently he devoted his energies to
merchandising in Nevada City, and for eleven years was the county assessor of
Nevada County. He also filled the office
of city marshal of Grass Valley for several years, and died in 1888. In 1860 he was married to Miss Hannah
Finnegan, a lady of Irish birth, who came to the west in 1852 and is now
residing in Grass Valley. In their
family were ten children, the subject of this sketch being the fifth in order
of birth.
Daniel S. Collins acquired his
education in the public schools of his native town and there spent his
childhood and youth. Up to 1899 Mr.
Collins engaged in various pursuits, but since then has occupied a responsible
position in the grocery house of Clinch & Company, one of the largest
establishments in that line in northern California.
On the 12 of May, 1894, Mr. Collins
was happily married to Miss Marietta Bennallack, a
native of Nevada County and a very estimable lady. She died March 14, 1897, leaving a son,
Donald. Socially Mr. Collins is
connected with the Native Sons, the Knight of Pythias, the Knights of Honor,
and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is also connected with the fire department
and is prominent in the public affairs of the city. For two terms he served as a deputy in the
county assessor’s office, his father then being his superior in that position. In 1892 he was elected public administrator
for a term of two years. In 1898 he was
elected a member of the city council, in which position he is now serving, and
for three years was a member of Company H, California National Guard, in which
he held the rank of corporal. He
exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the
Republican Party and is earnest in his advocacy of its principle. He withholds his support from no movement or
measure calculated to prove a public benefit and is ranked as one of the
representative and progressive men of his native town, where he has a large
circle of friends who entertain for him high regard.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern
California”, Pages 420-421. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden Nugget Library's Nevada County Biographies