Charles W. Collins

Charles M. Collins, senior member of the firm of Collins & Amspoker, manufacturers and dealers in furniture and undertakers' wares, at Reed City, was born July 1, 1844, in Brant Co., Ont. At the age of 23 years Mr. Collins took leave of the farm where he had been brought up, and went to Stratford, Ont., where he obtained a situation in the agricultural house of Sharman Brothers as traveling salesman, in which capacity he passed a year; he then spent two years in the acquistion of the trade of a cabinet-maker at St. Mary's Ont. He then went to Atchison, Kan., and operated in that line a few months. He remove next to a farm in Brantford, Washington Co. Kan., operating as a farmer and builder until the date of his coming to Reed City, in the fall of 1876. He bought the site of his present business stand, and erected a building and commenced the sale of furniture. In 1879 he erected a brick building in the rear of the store, fitted it up with machinery and began the manufacture of the wares in which he deals. He formed a partnership with T.J. Amspoker, Oct. 1, 1881, and they have a stock which represents a cash value of about $10,000 and tranact annually an extensive business. The warehouse of the firm fronts on Higbe Street. Mr. Collins was married at Norwichville, Dec. 25, 1866, to Mary Ann Clemmens. she was born in Bronte, Ont., June 1, 1845, and is the daughter of Thomas Clemmens. They have five children: Lillie was born Feb. 25, 1868, in Stratford, Ont., Leland was born April 17, 1871, in Brantford, Kansas, where Gertrude was born Oct. 20, 1874; Frankie was born June 18, 1879; and Georgie, May 23, 1880. The last two named were born at Reed City.

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