The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1895-03-01

COLLINS.-Dieda at his home in Ebens-
burg On Saturday, February %, 1895, Mr..
Philip Collins, aged "A years.
Philip Collins was born in Munster, this
county, in 1870, his father being Peter Col
lins, native of Ireland. who at an early
day emigrated to this country. located in
Munster and continued his residence there
until the subject of this notice had grown
TO manhood, when their home and great
er part of their possessions were destroyed
by fire. Soon after the father and Philip.
the eldest son, purchased a tract of land on
the Clearfield creek in Clearfield township,
now the site of Dysart. where a primitive
water saw mill had been erected by James
Ross, long since deceased, who claimed
large bodies of land in that vicinity from
whom they purchased and the Collins fam
lily started TO clear out a farm and home,
and while clearing the land convert the
timber into lumber. After several
years hard work and the usual
privatiOns attendant upon the early
settlement of this county, the land
troubles that veXed the people of Nor theTn
Cambria for a generation appeared, in
which the title TO large bodies of land in
that portion of the county were in dispute,
claimed under what was known as the
Fishers and Ross titles. After several
years of litigation in our county cOui is
and in the supreme court, the Fisher title
was declared To be the perfect one and all
who had purchased from Ross found them
selves homeless. During the progress of
the suits the purchasers from Ross had as
a matter OF self preservation been COM
PEELED to assist in raising means for the
defense of their titles and they not only
lost their homes but had spent their all in
their defense.
AbOut this time the era of railroads be-
gan and the Portage railroad being then
building, the Collins family removed to
the Summit where they began their career
as contractors. The firm of Z. Il T. Col
lins-Philip and Thomas, the second SON
has since that time built railroads all over
the state and in several other states in the
Union-portionS of the Pennsylvania, all
of the Beech Greek, the Bellefonte Cen
trial, the Lewisburg and Tyrone, the Eb-
enSburg * CreSSOn branch, the Indiana
branch, u large amount of the Lehigh
Valley and many miles of other roads.
They were also about twenty years ago
engaged in building railroad in Brazil
but on account of financial difficulties the
fOdu was abandoned, enIalIlnS d idfSe lOSS
to the contractors.
Mr.. Collins about thirty years ago took
up his residence in Ebensburg and with
the exception of a few short intervals has
ever since made this place his home. He
was twice married, his first wife who died
about nine years ago being Miss Margaret,
daughter of the late j udge Noon; his second
wife, whom he married about six years ago,
was Mrs. Maud Scanlan, the widow of the
late John f. Scanlan, Esq, who survives
him. He is also survived by two brothers
Thomas, of Bellefonte, and Peter, of
Philadelphia; and three Sisters-Mrs. Ell
len, wife of Edward Shoemkaker, and
Misses Eliza and Sallie, all of Bellefonte.
Mr.. Collins never had any children.
He was public spirited citizen with a
kind, generous disposition, and his hand
and heart went together In the charitable
relief of any person i'll need. He was
man of sterling integrity and in al his bus
iness transactions he was scrupulouSly
honest. He started at the bottom and by
force of chaI acter and ability carved out
his own fortunes, and at the time of his
death was known, hOnored and respected
throughout the entire state.
He was member of the Catholic church
in this place, and OIL Tuesday morning af-
ter Solemn High Mass of Requium, his
remains We're laid to rest la the Catholic
cemetery. May he rest in peace.