Searching for Parents of Isaac Milton Collins
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Isaac Milton COLLINS is my paternal great-grandfather; he used Milton as his given name. His parentage has been a mystery for quite a few years. Family lore was he was orphaned at 2-3 weeks of age & was taken in by an old couple who he called Grandpa & Grandma. The year of birth is uncertain.
| Known/Verified | Known/Unverified |
|---|---|
| Milton COLLINS begat Eliza COLLINS who begat “Vina” SANFORD who begat Stanley COFFMAN, my father.[1] | |
| Orphaned at 14 days, raised by grandparents, Joseph Henry & Elizabeh (JACKSON) ROOKS.[2] | Name of father or ANYTHING about the father. |
| Died July 15, 1929 in Laredo, Grundy Co., MO[2] | Given name of mother. She was a daughter of Joseph Henry ROOKS. |
| Funeral & burial on Wednesday, July 17th, 1929 at 2:30 pm. [3] | How did parents die? Was it an accident or disease? |
| Buried in Rural Dale Cemetery, Grundy Co., MO. Burial notice. [3] | Where are the parents buried? |
| Served in two different Missouri (Union) regiments in the Civil War. [3] | What year was Isaac Milton born? Would be the same year his parents died. |
| 1910 census shows family living in Vigo, Indiana. | Newspaper article for I.M. Collins “from Indiana” finding gas & oil. See here. Is this my I. M. COLLINS? |
- Many sources that can be verified can be found on Ancestry.com.
- Obituary published Trenton Republican Times, Tuesday, July 16, 1929, pg 1. See here. The obit gives no birth date.
- Burial notice published Thursday, July 18th 1929 in Trenton Republican Times. See here.
Joseph Henry Rooks ~ potential info that may help w/research for I.M.COLLINS.
- Joseph Rooks & Ishmael operate grist mill. 1851
- Final settlement notice of Joseph Rooks estate.
- Mrs. Frank Rooks dies. Frank was Milton Collins’ mother’s brother.
- W. H. Rooks hit by train. More detail here. Wife sues.
- Joseph Rooks — chaplain of a society. Notice from society after death. Believe this was a son of Joseph Henry Rooks, ergo another brother to Milton’s mother. UPDATE: 4/15/2020 7:05 pm. Was Joseph W ROOKS, died 17-Jan-1875. His wife, Parthena (Howell) loses her home via Sheriff’s sale less than two years later. J.W. was brother.
- **NEW** 4/14/2020 9:11 pm – MyHeritage shows Sybil as the name of Joseph Henry & Elizabeth ROOKS with married name of COLLINS. Different tree on MyHeritage had her name as Martha Sybil. Birth date of 1825 in Randolph County, Indiana; she would only be 15 or 16 when Milton was born.
- **NEW** 4/14/2020 11:06 pm – FindaGrave has Joab Holloway Cemetery in Grundy County listed for several of the ROOKS family. Could Milton’s parents be buried there? The cemetery is in poor condition; there aren’t even photos of Joseph & Elizabeth. The earliest recorded burial is 1858, in fact there are more than expected deaths in 1858. See full list of burials.
Other info not associated w/J.H.ROOKS of possible help.
- More info — obit of one of his children Mrs Nathan Easter. List brothers. See http://grundycounty.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?k=collins&i=f&d=01011900-12311929&m=between&ord=k1&fn=trenton_republican_times_usa_missouri_trenton_19290805_english_1&df=61&dt=70
- Could Wm Ellsworth COLLINS be related? Maybe 1st cousin. b. 1837. See here.
- http://grundycounty.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?k=collins&i=f&d=01011900-12311929&m=between&ord=k1&fn=trenton_republican_times_usa_missouri_trenton_19271229_english_6&df=81&dt=90
- http://grundycounty.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?k=collins&i=f&d=01011900-12311929&m=between&ord=k1&fn=trenton_republican_tribune_usa_missouri_trenton_19140803_english_1&df=91&dt=100
- Old Settlers Picnic – people listed... http://grundycounty.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?k=rooks&i=f&d=01011830-12311899&m=between&ord=k1&fn=trenton_weekly_republican_usa_missouri_trenton_18990928_english_1&df=41&dt=50
- List of military pensioners 1884 – http://grundycounty.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?k=rooks&i=f&d=01011830-12311899&m=between&ord=k1&fn=daily_evening_republican_usa_missouri_trenton_18840225_english_4&df=41&dt=50
What has been researched with no results that assist with finding parents
- Fold3.com($) ~ Did not find Joseph Henry ROOKS & ROUKS or anything even close to that name in Pennsylvania, Missouri or Indiana, the states I knew he had lived.
- Rooks not found in archive.org A history of the pioneer families of Missouri, with numerous sketches, anecdotes, adventures, etc., relating to early days in Missouri : also the lives of Daniel Boone and the celebrated Indian chief Black Hawk, with numerous biographies and histories of primitive institutions by Wm. S. Bryan and Robert Rose“
- Collins or Collens does not appear in any of the Grundy County newspapers http://grundycounty.advantage-preservation.com
- Collins or Collens not found on any Missouri newspapers 1830-1855.
Isaac’s wife Mary Ann Kelley was variously from Ohio and Indiana, depending on the record you’re looking at. I can’t access the newspaper you have linked there. What’s the context for IM Collins having said to have been “from Indiana”? I have some speculation that his parents may have been from that direction, but it’s only speculation.