San Francisco County
Biographies
CHARLES J.
COLLINS
Now holding the important position of registrar of voters in San Francisco, and well known as the founder of the Mission Enterprise, one of the most influential publications of the city, Charles J. Collins is rated as one of the able citizens of the bay region. He was born January 16, 1871, in County Cork, Ireland, and in his native country he first attended the public schools, having gained admission to the intermediate schools when he was fifteen years old. In the year 1888, he came to the United States, and first settled in Boston, Massachusetts, where he completed his education in the Jesuit College. Then, in 1890, he entered the employ of the Collins Printing Company, as an apprentice compositor. After learning the printing trade, he secured employment upon the Boston Herald for one year.
Mr. Collins’ next step was to come to San Francisco and here he has made his residence since. He first opened a printing office for himself in 1898, and met with success from the start. Year by year his patronage has grown, and his plant is now considered one of the most profitable in the city and in the Mission district. In 1910, he established the Mission Enterprise, a weekly publication devoted to the interests of the Mission section of the city. The paper has a large local circulation, and holds a strong prestige and influence within its territory. Mr. Collins was appointed registrar of voters July 1, 1929, and has fulfilled the responsible duties of this position with satisfaction to the administration and credit to himself. He has consistently been an interested participant in public affairs. He was appointed election commissioner by Mayor James Rolph, Jr., in January, 1914, and elected president of that body in 1916.
On July 28, 1904, Mr. Collins was united in marriage to Miss Winifred Higgins, a daughter of John Higgins, who was a prominent pioneer citizen of San Francisco. Mr. and Mrs. Collins have become the parents of five children, of whom four are now living.
In fraternal and organization circles, Mr. Collins has been a figure of consequence. He was elected secretary of the United Irish Societies of San Francisco in 1905, and in 1908 he was chosen as president of the same body. He is a leading member of a number of fraternal organizations of San Francisco, and has been an active factor in all movements to further the progress of the city. Pages of his paper, the Mission Enterprise, have been frequently donated to assist various commercial bodies and similar groups in their efforts to advance and improve the Mission district.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Source: Byington, Lewis Francis, “History of
San Francisco 3 Vols”, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.,
Chicago, 1931. Vol. 2 Pages 364-367.
© 2007 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
GOLDEN NUGGET'S SAN
FRANCISCO BIOGRAPIES