Eliza C, Collins.

Mrs Eliza C. Collins was born in Lexington, Kentuckey, on the 4th day of August, 1836; died December 29, 1901. In 1852 she was married to John C. Collins, who died February 10, 1899. The family came to Kansas in 1860, settling in Monticello township where they both lived until their death. Mrs. Collins was the mother of nine children, seven of which are now living, Mrs. Sallie Spaulding of Olathe, Mrs. Hettie Baird of Kansas City, Mrs. Lillie Dish man of Olathe, Mrs. Minnie Harper of West Plains, Mo., Willard Collins of West Plains, Mo., George Collins of near Olathe, and Mrs. Nellie Corliss of Cedar Junction, where Mrs. Collins died. Those dead were Willie Collins, died in 1881, and Ambrose, who died in 1900. There are eighteen grand children.

 

By a sad, strange coincidence two sisters passed away Mrs. Margaret Messick, sister to Mrs. Collins, died at her home in West Plains, Mo., December 28, 1901, aged seventy-nine years, being the oldest of the family while Mrs. Collins was the youngest, she being sixty-five years of age. 

 

Mrs. Collins will - be greatly missed in tne neighborhood where she lived, for so many years. Her untiring aim was to do good, and her entire life was devoted to the welfare and happiness of others. Her last words were, "It is so nice that all the cvhildren are here."

 

Liife is a strange mixture of sorrow and joy, shadow, and sunshine, of meeting and parting. Today, our friends are with us, tomorrow they are gone. And doubly sad when death comes so near the joyous festivities of Christmas! Christmas comes to many not a joyous occasion but a milestone of sad reminiscenses. They say, "Oh a year ago he was with us, last Christmas she was here."

 

But there is a land where there are no funeral processions, no partings, but a never ending eternity of companionship with loved ones. Then "Heaven's long years of bliss will pay for all God's children suffer here." 

 

Olathe Mirror

January 9, 1902

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