Smyrna times., 1911-10-25
DEATH RECORD OF THE WEEK
George D. Collins For Many Years
a Retired Citizen of Smyrna, Dies
at Advanced Age of 80 Years

at 9 30 after lingering illness of
general debility. He had been in
failing health for about two wears
the last year of which he had hardly
been able to leave his home. For
the past two weeks he has been con-
fined most of the time to his bed.
The death of George D. Collins re-
moves one of the old landmarks of
the town and vicinity. A son of
the late Benjamin L. and Sara
(Davis) Collins, he early in life
apprenticed himself with his father
and learned the plastering and
bricklaying business and at the age
of II embarked as a contractor. in
which business he continued until
1857, when he purchased and moved
to a farm at Greenspring where he
afterwards became a successful
peach culturist and fruit grower
and acquired considerable realestate.
He was station agent and postmaster
at Greenspring from 1864 to 1880.
when he moved to Bristol, Pa. Two
years afterwards he transferred his
residence to Smyrna where he lead
retired life until his death. Dur
ing the War of the Rebellion he was
member of the Sixth Delaware
Regiment Home Guards) but never
saw active engagement. For over
70 years Mr.. Collins was conspicu-
ously identified with Asbury M. E.
Church, joining church during the
pastorate of the Rev. Mr.. Ayres
and continuing with increasing fideI-
ity until his death. When he
joined church, old Asbury was a
frame structure situated in the old
Methodist Cemetery, back of the
residence of W. M. Bell. He took
great interest in the building of
the new Asbury Church and laid the
first course of bricks for the new
edifice. All his life when his health
permitted, he was a regular attend
ant upon the services and gave
largely of his means in the support
of church Enterprises. For many
years he was a class leader and an
official member. In his death, AS
bury has lost one of it's most loyal
supporters, and his family a devoted
father and husband. Deceased was
married twice. On December 2.
1849, he wed Miss Wilhelmina Tay-
lor, daughter of the late Isaiah Tay-
lOr, of near Middletown. She died
in 1860. Three children survive this
union: William T. Collins, of At
lantic City, and Benjamin C. Collins
and Mrs. Joseph H. Primrose, of
Smyrna. Mrs. Captain Jarvis, a
daughter, died in 1885 and Mrs.
Daniel Wells, another daughter, died
in 1889. On February 25, 1862, Mr..
Collins married again, his second
wife being Mrs. Rachel A. Brown,
widow of John R. Brown and daugh-
ter of the late Peter S. Collins, of
Smyrna. She still survives. De-
ceased is survived by ten grandchild-
rem as fellows: Mrs. William
Thompson, Philadelphia; Mrs. Har-
vey W. FAIRIES, Smyrna; Mrs. CAL
vim BOggs, Philadelphia; Mrs. j.
c. Davis, Smyrna; George Collins,
Davis Collins and Miss Ida Collins,
Atlantic City; Mrs. Edward Har-
rington, Wilmington; William Jar
Wis, Philadelphia; and Captain
George L. JARVIS, of Woodbury., N.
j., believed to have been lost at sea
during the hurricane off the Carolina
coast last August. Out of family
of seven brothers and sisters, only
three survive: Frank Collins, of Ohio.
and Charles Collins and Mrs. W. Fl.
Baggs, who live in Smyrna. The
late State Senator John Ed Collins
was a brother. Funeral services
will be held at his late residence
on Mt. Vernon Street Friday after
noon at 1.30 o'clock and interment |
will be made in Odd Fellows ceme-
terry.
Oscar D. Shahan Dies in Philadelphia
Oscar D. Shahan, of Philadelphia,
aged &c. son of John Shahan, a we'll |
known farmer of near Clayton, died |
Sunday morning of blood poisoning.
His untimely death was a great
shock to his family and is deeply
lamented. He is survived by his |
widow and two children. FunaraI
services will be held at the resi-
dence of his father, John Shahan,
near Clayton, at one O'Clock, to-
morrow Thursday afternoon and in
terment will be made at Odd Fellows
cemetery, Rev. l. G. Fosnocht, pas
tor of St. Paul M. E. Church officiat-
ing.
Mrs. Myrtle Morris, Dies in Hospital
Mrs. Myrtle Morris, aged 33, wife
Of Oliver Morris, died Friday at