Durham, N. N.  "Spokane and the Inland Empire: History of the City of Spokane
and Spokane County Washington."  Vol. 2.  S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1912.

ROBERT W. COLLINS

Engaged in the real-estate business and also handling insurance and loans,
Robert W. Collins, of the firm of this name, has built up a flourishing
commercial enterprise in Coeur d'Alene within the past seven years, meeting with
unusual success in his venture. He was born in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1848,
and was a son of John and Elizabeth P. (Johnson) Collins. The father died when
Robert Collins was only a few years old and in 1852 the mother with her eight
children removed to northeastern Missouri. In this locality Robert W. Collins
acquired his education in the common schools, beginning farming at an early age.
In 1 879 he started a grocery and hardware business in Atlanta, Missouri, in
which he continued for three years. 1882 saw his removal to Nelson county. North
Dakota, where he became a builder and contractor and conducted a livery
business, meeting with success in the seven years of his residence there. He
then set out for the west continuing his building and contracting business in
various places during the following years, in Helena, Montana, from 1889 to
1893; in Anaconda, Montana, from 1893 to 1899; and in Butte, Montana, from 1899
to 1902. During his residence in Anaconda, from 1893 to 1897 he had charge of
the building of bridges and buildings, in the construction of the Butte,
Anaconda & Pacific Railroad, between Anaconda and Butte. In 1902 Mr. Collins
came to Coeur d'Alene and here resumed his building and contracting business,
but in 19041 discontinued it and engaged in the real-estate and insurance
business exclusively, winning a large measure of success in this undertaking.
The firm Robert W. Collins, Real Estate & Loans, is one of the largest firms of
its kind in this section of the country and is conducted by ^Ir. Collins and his
partner, John Christ, the latter being the present city clerk and police judge
of Coeur d'Alene. In 1871 Mr. Collins was married to Miss Johanna Snell, of
Macon county, Missouri, who passed away a year and a half later. He was again
married in 1873, this union being with Miss Martha R. Sprinkle, a daughter of
Zeno and Elizabeth Sprinkle, of Macon county, Missouri, and by her had five
children of whom three are living: Ada Elizabeth, the wife of Milton E. Spencer;
Lola Rivers, the wife of Charles A. Reid of Spokane, Washington; and Ruby J.,
living with her parents in Coeur d'Alene.

Since his election to the office of tax collector in 1873, in Macon county,
Missouri, Mr. Collins has been actively interested in politics and has served as
public official in many varied capacities. During his residence in Nelson
county. North Dakota, he was deputy United States marshal, county sheriff, and
chairman of the county commissioners. He was mayor of Coeur d'Alene from 1901 to
1905 and has filled other offices of honor and trust. Efficient in the
administration of business affairs, Mr. Collins has a comprehensive grasp of
details and is also thoroughly competent in handling large situations involving
the solution of intricate problems. Among his business associates he is regarded
as conscientious and trustworthy, never stooping to do anything not in accord
with the highest standards of business ethics.

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Submitted to the Washington Biographies Project in June 2017 by Diane Wright.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.