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Willie Jeannette Collins was born in 1884 and died in 1914. She was called "sister" and married James Tom Holland. They resided in the McPherson community where Tom Holland owned a mercantile store. The surrounding homes were constructed for railroad workers. Sister Collins would catch the train to Atlanta where she shopped for her children's clothing.
Ida Collins is pictured as a graduate of Acworth Women's College. Aunt Ida raised the three boys.
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L-R: Laurel Benjamin, Alton, and Eugene Holland. The three boys were raised by their Aunt Ida Collins Johns.
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Laurel Benjamin Holland, son of James Tom Holland, standing in front of the McPherson House ca 1920, where a wharf rat bit his mother.
The Holland house was situated beside the railroad tracks, where "sister" caught the train to go to Atlanta to shop for her three sons. The old pictures denote that the boys wore white shirts to school and were dressed nicely. Shortly after the family moved into the newly constructed house, the sister crawled into bed and was bitten by a wharf rat! As a result, the young mother died from a fever.
 Willow Springs School, Dallas, Georgia. Front Row: 5th from Left: Gene Holland. 7th from Left (standing): Ben Holland.
Willow Springs School Baseball Team. First-row (sitting): Rad Gurley; Alton Holland (1905-1968); Edward McClendon. Middle Row: Clarence Holland, with face guard, son of Hart Holland; ? ; Ben Holland (with glove). Top Row: L-R. Remus Gurley, Gene Holland (with the bat). |
Thomas Collins, the father of Ida, Louisiana, and Willie Jeannette Collins.  Humphrey Collins, Dallas City Cemetery, Dallas, Georgia  Humphrey Collins, Dallas City Cemetery, Dallas, Georgia Humphrey Collins was the son of Felix Collins. Felix Collins was the son of Capt. John Collins of Revolutionary War Fame. |
 John Collins was born 9 Dec 1760 in Frederick County, Maryland, and died 8 Mar 1852 (aged 91)in Acworth, Cobb County, Georgia; buried in Mars Hill Cemetery. John Collins married Phoebe Sailors on 30 November 1786. Children: Felix Collins 1801-1873 and Daniel Collins 1813-1890, both born in South Carolina Captain John Collins
John Collins served in the South Carolina Militia from 10 May 1776 to 26 Oct. 1776 under Captain Robert McAfee and Colonel Neal. He was in a skirmish with the Indians on the Seneca River. He re-enlisted for a second tour under the same officers. In his third tour, Collins served as a private in the Camden District as a substitute in Captain Thomas Barron's Company, commanded by Major Francis Ross where he was in the Battle of Briar Creek. Next, he enlisted in Captain Benjamin Hardin's Company of the North Carolina Militia commanded by Colonel Charles McDowell. He served from September 1779 as Orderly Sergeant under Captain John G. Lowman and Colonel Hampton. Immediately afterward, he was a Private, Sergeant, and Sergeant-Major under Captain John G. Lowman and Colonel Archibald Lyle.
He was taken prisoner at the fall of Charleston but later paroled. After being home about two months, he was taken by a parcel of Tories and carried to where Colonel Ferguson was with the British, charged with violating his parole, found guilty, and sentenced to hang. But by a providential occurrence, he affected his escape, seeking refuge in the army, joined the battle of Guilford. He was at the defeat of Colonel Banastre Tarleton at Cowpens, and the defeat of Ferguson at Kings Mountain.
Afterward, he went to Henry County, Virginia where he substituted for William Jones for two months and served as Lieutenant Adjutant and marched to Petersburg, Virginia, but was soon driven from there by the British. He was at the Battle of Jamestown then enlisted in the South Carolina Militia and marched to the Orangeburg Court House, then Four Holes Bridger then Dorchester, and Bacons Bridge.
He went to Lincoln County, NC where he was again captured by the Tories and again sentenced to hang. He escaped and again joined the Militia. He participated in the Battles of King's Mountain, Cowpens, Guilford Courthouse, and Jamestown. He also served as Adjutant Lieutenant in the Virginia Troops and as a Captain in the South Carolina Militia and participated in the Battles of Orangeburg, Four Holes Bridge, and Bacon's Bridge. He received a pension for his service.Treatment of British Prisoners at the Battle of King's Mountain Battle of King's Mountain |