Robert Collins was born in Milton, Wisconsin on the 6th of September, 1885 (5, 8, 10, 11). By 1900, the family had moved to Edgerton, Wisconsin 9 miles away (1). On the 27th of October, 1906, Robert married his first wife, Viola Manley, in Winnebago County, Illinois (3). By 1910 Robert and Viola have likely divorced as he is living with his parents who had moved to Rockford, Illinois as listed in the 1910 Census (2). On the 21st of March, 1914 he married May Allen in Lake County, Indiana, just across the Illinois/Indiana Border up by Chicago (4). In 1917, he is drafted in World War I. His draft card records the couple as living at 1006 Kelburn in Rockford, and Robert’s occupation as a stove mounter at the Eclipse Stove Comapny (5, 7). Around that time they have their first child, Roberta Collins (6).
By 1920, they are living at 714 Chestnut in Rockford and Robert is still working at the same job (6, 7). By 1924, they have moved to 1019 Peach, Rockford (7). A gap in records I have been able to find so far exists, but by 1935 he has married Minnie M. Brown from Missouri, and now lives at 1116 2nd Avenue. They live at this address for at least a decade (7). In 1942, he is registered in World War II in the Fourth Registration, also called the “Old Man’s Draft,” because it registered men who were 45 to 64 years old (from Fold3.com). His card records his employer as Mansfried Carlin at 306 7th St., Rockford. His hair has since gone gray according to the card (10).
In October 1976 Robert Collins dies in Rockford, Illinois. The only record I can find for his death is his Social Security Death Index entry (11) which gives his date of death only as specific as the month.
References
1. 1900 US Federal Census. United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. NARA microfilm publication T623, 1854 rolls. Year: 1900; Census Place: Edgerton, Rock, Wisconsin; Page: 20; Enumeration District: 0169; FHL microfilm: 1241814
2. 1910 US Federal Census. United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1910. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1910. NARA microfilm publication T624, 1,178 rolls. Year: 1910; Census Place: Rockford Ward 3, Winnebago, Illinois; Roll: T624_336; Page: 21A; Enumeration District: 0155; FHL microfilm: 1374349
3. Illinois Marriage Index, 1800-1940. [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016. Original data: Marriage Records. Illinois Marriages. Various Illinois County collections.
4. Indiana, Marriage Index, 1800-1941 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Original data: Lake County, Indiana; Index to Marriage Record 1850 - 1920 Inclusive Vol, W. P. A. Original Record Located: County Clerk’s O; Book: W; Page: 129
5. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Original data: United States, Selective Service System. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. M1509, 4,582 rolls. Imaged from Family History Library microfilm. Registration State: Illinois; Registration County: Winnebago; Roll: 1614545; Draft Board: 1
6. 1920 US Federal Census. United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1920. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1920. NARA microfilm publication T625, 2076 rolls. Year: 1920; Census Place: Rockford Ward 3, Winnebago, Illinois; Roll: T625_417; Page: 10A; Enumeration District: 190
7. Rockford City Directories in U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
- 1918 - McCoy’s Rockford City Directory
- 1920 - McCoy’s Rockford City Directory
- 1921 - McCoy’s Rockford City Directory
- 1924 - McCoy’s Rockford City Directory
- 1925 - McCoy’s Rockford City Directory
- 1926 - McCoy’s Rockford City Directory
- 1935 - McCoy's Rockford City Directory
- 1937 - McCoy's Rockford City Directory
8. 1940 Federal Census. United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1940. NARA microfilm publication T627, 4,643 rolls. Year: 1940; Census Place: Rockford, Winnebago, Illinois; Roll: m-t0627-00912; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 101-23
9. Rockford City Directories in U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
- 1941 - Polk’s Rockford City Directory
- 1944 - Polk’s Rockford City Directory
10. US World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942. [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. The National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; World War II Draft Cards (Fourth Registration), for The State of Illinois; Record Group Title: Records of the Selective Service System, 1926-1975; Record Group Number: 147; Series Number: M2097
11. U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2014. Original data: Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index, Master File. Social Security Administration.
Basic Info
Born: September 6, 1885 (5, 8, 10, 11)
Birthplace: Milton, Rock County, Wisconsin (5, 8, 10, 11)
Mother: Paulina Juhnke (1, 2, 3)
Father: Frank Collins (1, 2, 3)
Married: March 21, 1914 (4)
Marriage Place: Lake County, Indiana (4)
Direct Descendant: Roberta Collins (8)
Death: October 1978 (11)
Death Place: Rockford, Winnebago, Illinois (11)
Burial Place: unknown (?)
Biography
Robert Collins was born in Milton, Wisconsin on the 6th of September, 1885 (5, 8, 10, 11). By 1900, the family had moved to Edgerton, Wisconsin 9 miles away (1). On the 27th of October, 1906, Robert married his first wife, Viola Manley, in Winnebago County, Illinois (3). By 1910 Robert and Viola have likely divorced as he is living with his parents who had moved to Rockford, Illinois as listed in the 1910 Census (2). On the 21st of March, 1914 he married May Allen in Lake County, Indiana, just across the Illinois/Indiana Border up by Chicago (4). In 1917, he is drafted in World War I. His draft card records the couple as living at 1006 Kelburn in Rockford, and Robert’s occupation as a stove mounter at the Eclipse Stove Comapny (5, 7). Around that time they have their first child, Roberta Collins (6).
By 1920, they are living at 714 Chestnut in Rockford and Robert is still working at the same job (6, 7). By 1924, they have moved to 1019 Peach, Rockford (7). A gap in records I have been able to find so far exists, but by 1935 he has married Minnie M. Brown from Missouri, and now lives at 1116 2nd Avenue. They live at this address for at least a decade (7). In 1942, he is registered in World War II in the Fourth Registration, also called the “Old Man’s Draft,” because it registered men who were 45 to 64 years old (from Fold3.com). His card records his employer as Mansfried Carlin at 306 7th St., Rockford. His hair has since gone gray according to the card (10).
In October 1976 Robert Collins dies in Rockford, Illinois. The only record I can find for his death is his Social Security Death Index entry (11) which gives his date of death only as specific as the month.
References
1. 1900 US Federal Census. United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. NARA microfilm publication T623, 1854 rolls. Year: 1900; Census Place: Edgerton, Rock, Wisconsin; Page: 20; Enumeration District: 0169; FHL microfilm: 1241814
2. 1910 US Federal Census. United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1910. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1910. NARA microfilm publication T624, 1,178 rolls. Year: 1910; Census Place: Rockford Ward 3, Winnebago, Illinois; Roll: T624_336; Page: 21A; Enumeration District: 0155; FHL microfilm: 1374349
3. Illinois Marriage Index, 1800-1940. [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016. Original data: Marriage Records. Illinois Marriages. Various Illinois County collections.
4. Indiana, Marriage Index, 1800-1941 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Original data: Lake County, Indiana; Index to Marriage Record 1850 - 1920 Inclusive Vol, W. P. A. Original Record Located: County Clerk’s O; Book: W; Page: 129
5. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Original data: United States, Selective Service System. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. M1509, 4,582 rolls. Imaged from Family History Library microfilm. Registration State: Illinois; Registration County: Winnebago; Roll: 1614545; Draft Board: 1
6. 1920 US Federal Census. United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1920. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1920. NARA microfilm publication T625, 2076 rolls. Year: 1920; Census Place: Rockford Ward 3, Winnebago, Illinois; Roll: T625_417; Page: 10A; Enumeration District: 190
7. Rockford City Directories in U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
- 1918 - McCoy’s Rockford City Directory
- 1920 - McCoy’s Rockford City Directory
- 1921 - McCoy’s Rockford City Directory
- 1924 - McCoy’s Rockford City Directory
- 1925 - McCoy’s Rockford City Directory
- 1926 - McCoy’s Rockford City Directory
- 1935 - McCoy's Rockford City Directory
- 1937 - McCoy's Rockford City Directory
8. 1940 Federal Census. United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1940. NARA microfilm publication T627, 4,643 rolls. Year: 1940; Census Place: Rockford, Winnebago, Illinois; Roll: m-t0627-00912; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 101-23
9. Rockford City Directories in U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
- 1941 - Polk’s Rockford City Directory
- 1944 - Polk’s Rockford City Directory
10. US World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942. [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. The National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; World War II Draft Cards (Fourth Registration), for The State of Illinois; Record Group Title: Records of the Selective Service System, 1926-1975; Record Group Number: 147; Series Number: M2097
11. U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2014. Original data: Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index, Master File. Social Security Administration.