Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-03-30
A PIONEER DEAD.
One of the First White Settlers Of
Comanche County Gathered
TO the Hereafter.
A Review Of the Life Works Of Capt.
Frank NJ. 0ollier-Tbe Services
Rendered to his State,

Frank NJ. Collier, the deceased, was
the youngest son Of David and Mary
Collier, and was born In 0verton
county, Tenn. on the Tth day Of No
vember, 1926 In 1880 his parents
moved to Northwest Arkansas and
settled In Carol county, where young
Collier grew to manic d. In the year
1S48 he returned to his native state
aud remained there until the latter
part of lS49. While in Tennessee he
filled many offices Of trust and Inn
portance, and In the spring OF lSi0 he
was clerk of the lower house of the
state legislature. He then re.
turned to Arkansas and settled at
Huntsville, Maids n county. In July,
1850, he met Mics Julia A. Holmsl.y
~ her fathers residence In Richland
Valley, ARK This lady became his
wife ON the 9th day of January, 1851
Capt. Collier remained In ArkaDsas
until the 25th day Of September, 1888,
when he = Id his home and removed
to Georgetown, Williamson county.
Tex. On the 10th day of August, 1854,
accompanied by Burrell j Hslm-lty,
Jesse Mercer and DR.. II. Tuggle, be
on the night of December 20,
AOOft JhO DHlilCb 1OONO h1bhCh
formed the hfst white settlement
within the present territory Of Co
msnche county. During the months
NJ January and February 1856, Capt
Col Ter built the first cabin or house
err cted in Comahche county. This
cabin was built on tract OF land,
owned Mt present by Mrs. Caroline
Montgomery, situated about six miles
south of the town of Comanche At
this place on the both day of May
1856, his first child, Thomas Anderson
Collier, was born, being the first
white child born in Comanche county.
BY All act of the legislature Co
manche county was crea ed In 1856,
and at the first cleo ion held Capt. Col
ller WAS elected county clerk, receiv-
ing the unanimous vote of the county.
The county g. ut Of Comanche count,
was then situated at the place now
called Old Cora, and In this town
Capt. Collier erected the fourth house
built In the place. Here he lived until
the division of Comanche county
caueed the removal of the county seat
to the present town of Comanohe.
In December, 1861, the legislature
passed an act authorizing the raising
and equipment Of mounted regiment
NJ rangers for frontier protection. Gov
f. Il Lubbock appointed f. M. Col
lier TO raise Company ID Of this regI.
ment. The counties of Lamphsas,
| Coryell, Hamilton, Comancho and
| Brown W, re- Embraced In Mr.. Collier Is
district, and each county was required
TO furnish twenty-five men
Company d was organized in Feb.
ruary, 1862 and Mr.. Collier was elect, d
captain OF the company over two oppO-
nents.
Capt, Collier at once reported on the
frontier for duty, and, with his com.
pany, assisted In keeping back bands
Of marauding Indians. The Indians
&C this time made frequent raids on
the border counties, stealing live
stock. numbering families and greatly
annoying the early settlers. During
his frontier service Capt. Collier locs-
ted two camp--one on Clear creek,
seventeen miles west of Browpw wood.
This camp was named Camp Collier,
In honor Of the company's leader. The
second camp was located ON the
Jim Ned, y tributary of the Pecan
bayou, In the lower edge of Callahan
county. Capt, Collier remained with
his company at this last camp until
1868, when by reason ola severe strain
or Injury In the small of his back, he
was compelled to resign his commits
zion and return home. The injury
mentioned caused him much trouble
in late years, and was undoubtedly al
indirect cause OF his death. After hi
resignation aud return 10 Comanch,
Capt.. Collier engaged In raising cattle
On February q. 1864, his second SOL
| mt Nhi a lumaa Marian (tOlliar M al
born.
Al the beginning of the civil war
Capt. Collier had voted for secession
and united his destinies with tn
= uthern cause, aud at the conclusion
OF the war, fearing that his propert,
would be contisc tied by the Unite,
States government, he sold his ca,tl
aud received payment for them II
Confederate money The failure o
? the Southern cause made his n Ont,
? worthless, and after ten years hard !
, Vice in Offending and developing tn
frontier he sold his place and move,
, TO Clifton, Bosque county, Tex, A
this place he followed his favorite oC
I cupation. that of farming, until TIA
D latter part If 1874
In the fall OF 1874, at the request o
} many citizens, Capt. Caller was sp
p. pointed deputy sneritf OF B1sqn
7 county by John A. Billie, then sheriff
!. The collection of taxes then pertains
J to the sheritf's office, and Capt, Co
!, lier was placed in exclusive charge c
the tax department His sy stem {
|, collection and quarterly reports hav
7 served ne models for the entire sat,
!. and the efficiency and system of hi
j work have been of greH
= service to the state. Hi
Y service in tax collecting introduce
q him favorably to the people of Bosqu
: county, and In 1876 he was electe
9 county clerk, which office he held tw
7 terms In this office. his perfect sy
e tenn OF work may be seen and admire
: to-day, AT the expiration OF his secon
; term he retired from public life an
e lived In quiet at his ONE in Meridian
Capt. Collier was a true man {
: sterling integrity aud upright moral
3 Many friends now living. will reca
G innumerable acts of kindness rel
! dered by him 10 his fellow man. II
J condemned deceit In all its forms, an
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