Francis Collins was my great-great-grandfather.  He was born in South Carolina on March 11, 1791.  Francis became a well-known traveling (circuit) Methodist Preacher.  He married Alice Brown(e) of Tennessee in about 1827.  They probably were married in Stewart County, Tennessee.  Alice died in 1829 after giving birth in Stewart County to their only child, James Monroe Collins.  Francis' name first appears on the 1840 Stewart County Census (possibly not sooner due to his travels).  Francis died in 1844 in Stewart County.  If anyone traces his parentage back in time, please send me an e-mail with the detail.  I would like to know more about him and his origins.
        My great-grandfather was James Monroe Collins.  He was born in Dover, Stewart County, on January 2, 1829 (100 years and 58 days before me).  He married Mary Jane O'Barr in Stewart County on January 8, 1850.  Mary Jane was born in Stewart County about 1829 and died about 1890.  They lived in Big Sandy, Benton County, Tennessee, and had 14 children: 1) William Francis 1851, 2) Nancy Ann 1852, 3) James W. 1854, 4) Robert S. 1856, 5) Henry R. 1857, 6) Newton M. 1858, 7) L. Margarette 1861, 8) Daniel Richard 1862, 9) J. Thomas 1865, 10) George L. 1866, 11) Mary Ann 1868, 12) Emaline M. 1870, 13) Lafayette "Tate" 1872, and 14) Anderson 1874.  James Monroe died in Benton County, Tennessee, sometime after 1887.
        My grandfather was Daniel Richard Collins.  His nickname was Dick.  Dick was born in Benton County in 1862 (exact date unknown).  He married Ellen Cuff (location and date unknown).  I have no records on my grandmother, Ellen, except I think she died in August 1930 or 1931.  They had 5 children: 1) J.P. 18??, 2) Walter Harrison 1887, 3) DeWitt ????, 4) Hedy or Fanny ????, and 5) Irene 1911.  I do not know where they lived originally, except Walter's (my Dad's) birth certificate indicates that he was born in Camden, Benton County.  Sometime later, they moved to Harris, Tennessee.  Dick died in Union City, Tennessee, when I was 16-years old.  His services were on the day the first atom bomb was dropped on Japan (8-?-1945).  Dick is buried at the Methodist Cemetery at McConnell, Tennessee.  Irene married J.C. Robey from South Fulton, Tennessee.  Irene lived in Union City when she died on March 14, 1990.  Irene's son, Robert L. Robey,  lives in Olive Branch, MS.  He retired as Principle of a high school in Memphis.  His e-mail address is: robeyrl@msn.com.
        My father was Walter Harrison Collins (sometimes known as Pat Collins).  As mentioned above, he was born in Camden, Tennessee, on October 9, 1887.  Dad worked for the I.C.R.R. as a boilermaker and later became boiler inspector.  Dad married my mother, Hattie Emma Hazotte, in Paducah, Kentucky, on December 7, 1922.  I am their only child.  Dad died in Paducah, Kentucky, on August 22, 1963.
        I was born in Paducah, McCracken County, Kentucky, on March 1, 1929.  I married Billie Ruth McElroy on November 5, 1949.  We have two daughters: 1) Rose Ann Collins Fiorita and 2) Mary Kathryn Collins Lane.  I am a retired business consultant.
        If anyone has any information that will help fill in the gaps, please let me know.  Charles Richard Collins, 140 Willow Spring Cove, Paducah, KY 42001-8662, phone (502) 554-4776, e-mail: crc1064@apex.net.