James Collins (Wisconsin and California politician)

James Collins (1802- July 18, 1864), often called "Col. Collins", served in the legislatures of the Wisconsin Territory and in the California State Assembly.

A native of Virginia, he lived at different times in Macoupin County, Illinois, and in White Oak Springs, Wisconsin Territory.[1] In 1845, he was the Whig nominee for non-voting delegate to the Twenty-ninth Congress to represent the Wisconsin Territory;[2] he lost to Morgan Lewis Martin, with 5,787 to Martin's 6,803 and 790 for Edward D. Holton of the Liberty Party.[3]

In 1849, Collins went to California and settled in Nevada County, California, from which he was elected to the California Assembly for two terms (1862 and 1863), was commissioned a brigadier general of the state militia, and was elected county treasurer. He died there in 1864.[4]

  1. ^ "The Pioneer Legislators", Strong, Moses M., Grant County Witness June 14, 1877; p. 2, col. 4] via Newspapers.com
  2. ^ "Territorial Whig Convention", South Port American August 2, 1845; p. 1, col. 2 via Newspapers.com
  3. ^ "Vote for Delegate", Mineral Point Democrat November 25, 1845; p. 2, col. 4 via Newspapers.com
  4. ^ Reid, Harvey. "Colonel Thomas Cox" The Annals of Iowa Volume 7 Number 4 (1906). Des Moines: State Historical Society of Iowa, 1906. pp. 261-262 and passim