Collins Family

Michael and Bridget Shehe Collins were natives of County Limerick, Ireland. Both the Collins and Shehe families were members of the Catholic Church. Bridget's parents were Roger and Bridget Shehe of County Limerick. Michael's parents were Patrick and Mary Collins. Patrick died in Ireland. Soon after his death, the children in America sent for their mother. She came and died at the home of her daughter in Parkersburg, West Virginia.

Michael Collins, along with his sister, Mrs. John Welsh, and her husband came to Canada after fifty days crossing the Ocean. From there Michael came to the United States. After his marriage to Bridget Shehe, he came to Crawford County, Ohio. For some time he lived at Leesville and worked as a laborer for the Pittsburgh Railroad. Five children were born there and three died in infancy.

While their children, John and Mary, were young, the family came with one team and their possessions to Henry County. They located in section 13 of Marion Township, and were one of the first families locating in that section. Bridget's sister and husband, James and Nora Joyce, had previously located in that same township.

The fifty-two acres that Michael bought as a homestead, was low and swampy. When he planted corn he would ridge up the ground around the hills so as to drain the water off. There was plenty of wood and timber, but all had to be dried before the logs could be burned. Logs were stacked so only the lower row were in water. The first log cabin home served the Collins family for seventeen years. Micheal Collins paid $2.50 per acre for his homestead land. In 1875 the new home was built. Michael lived in the frame home until his death on September 12, 1889, at the age of sixty- four years. His widow died in 1907. Michael was born in 1823, Bridget on Feb. 1, 1827.

Children born to Michael and Bridget Collins were: John R.; Mary married James Cavanaugh; Bridget married Frank Collins, of Tiffin; Stephen; Frank; Ella married Thomas Kelly; Margaret married W.J. Long; Michael; and David A. Collins.

Michael and Bridget were married at Wooster in Wayne County, Ohio. Bridget had come to Wooster as young girl. Both died on the old farm in Marion Township. The Collins family were arnon* the first members of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. They later transferred their membership to St. Paul's Catholic Church at Hamler, Ohio.

Stephen Collins married Tersia Stewart of Putnam County, Ohio. Michael Collins married Frances Long, daughter of George Long. David Collins married Theresa Deters of Putnam County.