Complex sentence: Collier was born circa 1846 as a slave in Mississippi, serving (as a third generation) the Hinds family on Plum Ridge Plantation, built by General Thomas Hinds, veteran of the Battle of New Orleans.
Split into simpler sentences: Collier was born circa 1846 as a slave in Mississippi. He served (as a third generation) the Hinds family on Plum Ridge Plantation, built by General Thomas Hinds, veteran of the Battle of New Orleans.