Gaston, Joseph.  "The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912."  Vol. 3. 
Chicago, Clarke Publishing Co., 1912. p. 898.
 
COLONEL ALFRED COLLIS

     Among the men now living in Cascade Locks who fought for the Union in the
Civil war, Colonel Alfred Collis stands prominent. His birth occurred in
Virginia on the 20th of May, 1840, his parents being H. and Margaret (Taylor)
Collis, both natives and lifelong residents of Virginia. To them eleven children
were born, two of whom survive: Alfred, who is the subject of this review; and
Susan J., who is the widow of James Props of Virginia.
     After spending some time in the district schools and also assisting his
father in various ways Alfred Collis left home at the age of eighteen years to
start upon an independent career. He, was variously employed until 1864, when he
enlisted in Company E of the Coles Cavalry and served until the close of the war
when he was discharged in Baltimore, Maryland. At one time during his service he
was shot through the right foot in an engagement at Charleston, but so great was
his enthusiasm for the cause for which he was fighting that as soon as he was
physically able to do so he reentered active service. His life as a soldier made
a deep impression upon him and appealed to him so strongly that in 1879 he again
enlisted in the army, this time joining the regular army at Omaha, Nebraska, and
serving for nine years before his discharge on the 28th of June, 1888, in
Arizona. He had given his best years to military service and when he came to
Cascade Locks in 1890 he was given a position by the government as lock tender.
For several years he continued this work, and since his retirement from active
life has been residing in Cascade Locks.
     In 1868 Colonel Collis was married to Miss Mary Dietz, whose birth occurred
in Virginia and who passed away eighteen months after their marriage.
     Colonel Collis has been for many years a stanch advocate of the republican
party but he has never aspired to official honors. He is a worthy member of the
Cascade Locks Post of the Grand Army of the Republic, and at the gatherings of
his comrades he renews his associations of long years ago on the battle field
and recognizes that the greatest honor of his life was his service un- der the
stars and stripes. Colonel Collis has ever been a respected and patriotic
citizen and an energetic man who has contributed to the extent of his ability to
any undertaking which might have benefited by his support.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in July 2007 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.