, 1878-05-15


&c years old; was born in the north of
Ireland in June, 1912. Among his first
recollections was seeing English veteran
soldiers just after the battle OF Waterloo
returning home with u leg or arm off. He
came to New York in April, 1910. In
the August following he enlisted IN New
York City and was assigned to Company
H, lst ARTILLERY. The headquarters OF
the regiment was in Maine. Was sta
toned until he was discharged 10 April,
lS45, a few months before the expiration
Vt his period of service. This was the
period when war was expected in regard
to the Maine boundary. Gen. Joe Hoo
ker was then Adjutant Of the regiment;
Gen. Mcdowell was Lieutenant in G
company, and the Rebel General Magru-
der was Lieutenant in B Company; Nc
Dowell was then an excellent officer in
drilling field artillery, e!so an excellent
draughstuian in drawing all kinds of
plans or designs. In the garrison theatr
conducted under :he general supervision
Of tbeae two officers, Mcdowell painted
al of the scenery, while Magruder was
the manager. He was perhaps for years
the greatest sportsman Of tue army, and
was great favorite with the English of.
ficers, with whom were had frequent
sleighing and other sports. They pre-
sen.ed him with an extra large ostrich
feather more than twice the size of any
thing Of the kind worn by the other
officers; being large, finely formed man
with this over his hat he made stunn.
ing appearance ON parade. Nh. Collins
was civilian alter his discharge tor
about two years working at his trade,
tailoring, in Maryland and Pennsylvania
until in IS47. He enlisted in Company
A, l1th Infantry, Capt. Campbell, tor the
Mexican war. He was in Tampico, Vera
Cruz and City OF Mexico; returning, he
was discharged at Fort Hamilton in
New York harbor in 184s. The fall Of
the same year he enlisted for the general
service at Baltimore; was sent to New
York anc assigned to Company NJ of his
old regiment, the ist ARTILLERY, in which
he came TO Steiacoom. "a soldiers and
4 officers comprised the company. In
April, 1868 the old company was broken
up, and Collins was transferred to G
OF the 4th Infantry, Lieutenant Jones in
command, from which he was discharged
in September of the same year. A short
time previous to his discharge he began
the erection Of his present house. Capt.
Balch had previously brought u house,
built in sections, in Maine and aent
around the Horn, and put it up, the first
house ever built in Steilacoom. 1t was
brought from San Francisco in his vessel
the Emery. Mr.. Collins heuse was the
first one wholly built al home. Mr..
Hughes, Light and Others followed soon
after. The mill at Port Gamble was put
up about the same time. 1t then was
small affair, cutting some $4,000 o day
When Mr.. Light erected the large house
he still lives in no. planed lumber was
obtainabie, and ruff lumber was then
over $50 per 1000 feet. Col. Wallace
has promised to procure full particulars
in reference to the early history OF the
Puget Sound Land Company, and for
ward them for publication, but the
above uccount OF the first possession
taken OF the Sound country, together
with sketch Of the personal career of
an old and faithful soldier, who shows
with honest pride his Mexican war med.
al, made out of the bronze obtained by
melting down Mexican captured cannon
is worthy of remembrance; especially is
it so when this same soldier is also one
who has lived there longer than any one
else now resident of that place. Many
are apt to complain that the Sound
country developes so slowlyS yet what a
change has taken place in se years, when
all the houses from Port Townsend to
Olympia could be almost counted on the
fingers.