From "History of Wheeling City and Ohio County, West Virginia and 
Representative Citizens," by Hon. Gibson Lamb Cranmer, 1902. 

Typed by Linda Fluharty.

Pages 353-354.

JOHN G. COLLINS.  Though practically retired from the cares incident to a
strenuous business life, John G. Collins retains the influence gained by
reason of fine personal characteristics and unquestioned commercial integrity.
As a representative of one of the oldest and most honored of the families of
Wheeling, he has been an interested spectator of the city's all around develop-
ment, and has in no small degree contributed toward the solidity of the municip-
ality.  A native of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, he was born October 30, 1834, and
is a son of William and Martha Collins, the former of whom died in Bellaire, at
the age of seventy-five years, and the latter passed away in 1900, at the age
of eighty-six years.  William Collins was extensively engaged in the wholesale
queensware business, and occupied a prominent place in the mercantile world of
Wheeling.  With his wife he was a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal
church, and the exalted views of life and work reflected in their home sur-
roundings inspired their children to the improvement of their best faculties.
The family came to Wheeling in the latter "thirties," and of the four sons and
three daughters  but three survive.  William H. Collins, a brother of John G.,
lived for many years in South America and followed his trade of civil engineer.
For several years, also, he was in the Brazilian navy, under Dom Pedro.
     The education of John G. Collins was acquired principally in the public
shcools, although one of his most trustworthy sources of knowledge has been a
keen power of observation, capable of correctly estimating men and events.
From boyhood up he has been familiar with the manufacture of glass, and when
old enough to evince business discretion engaged with his father in that line
of work.  The elder Collins eventually started a brass foundry, of which his
son became manager, while he himself aurned his attention exclusively to the
management of the queensware business, in which he was engaged until his
retirement.
     The first marriage of John G. Collins occurred in 1857, when he was
wedded to Delia Davis, a native of Virginia, and a daughter of Paul Davis,
who was a river engineer.  Mrs. Collins, who died in 1871, at the age of
thirty-four years, was the mother of six children, of whom four grew to
maturity, viz: Elvin W., who died June 29, 1901, at the age of forty-four
years, and who left a wife, Mrs. Alice Virginia (McAdams) Collins, and a
son, James McAdams Collins, whose sketch appears on another page of this
work; William, who is in the rolling mill in Wheeling, and has five
children, - Elvin, William, John, Lizzie, and an infant girl; Charles, who
is engaged in painting in Wheeling; and Myra, who is living in New York
and devoting her life to the stage. Mrs. Delia (Davis) Collins was a member
of the Christian church.  The second alliance of Mr. Collins occurred in
1877, with Mary E. Windle, a native of Sardis, Ohio, and of this union
there is one child, Homer.  Mr. and Mrs. Collins are members of the Methodist
Episcopal church, and contribute generously toward its charities and the
maintenance of the denomination.  Mr. Collins is a member of the I.O.O.F.
Although a staunch Republican, he has devoted little time to political
affairs.  His standing in the community is an enviable one, and he represents
a high type of American citizenship.