"An Illustrated History of Whitman County, state of Washington." San Francisco:
W. H. Lever, 1901.  p. 440.
 
ORVILLE M. COLLINS

     It is now our pleasant task to make brief mention of some of the salient
points in the life of one who by energy and good management has achieved
excellent success in agricultural pursuits in this part of the country, becoming
one of the largest land owners in eastern Washington, with the exception of
certain cattle and sheep men whose land is of comparatively slight value. As
one's accumulations are usually an index to his activity and industrial success,
this fact alone establishes the right of our subject to be considered one of the
most forceful men in the county, and it is certain that in advancing his own
interests he has also contributed immeasurably to the general progress. It is
therefore but consistent that a brief review of his career be given in this
portion of our volume.
     Mr. Collins was born in Iowa on September 18, 1858, his parents being John
T. and Florida B. (Parke) Collins. He continued to reside in his native state
until about twenty years of age, his educational advantages being such as the
common schools afforded. In 1879 he came thence to Idaho, making the entire trip
across the plains by horse and mule teams, and two years later he made his way
to Whitman county, where he took a pre-emption and timber culture, consisting of
one hundred and twenty acres.  This proved the nucleus for further acquisition,
and he is now the owner of one thousand acres in the county and of eighteen
hundred acres in Nez Perces county, Idaho. Upon these princely domains he has
been raising wheat principally, though he also keeps some cattle, his herd at
the present time numbering one hundred and fifty. Upon his home place, five
miles southeast of Uniontown, he has a fine two-story house, large commodious
barns and other substantial outbuildings, and all machinery and equipment
essential to the operation of a well-regulated farm.
     But notwithstanding the urgent demands of his large farms, Mr. Collins has
always found time to take an active interest in local affairs, especially school
matters. He is not, however, an office seeker, and has never manifested any
special ambition for political preferment of any kind, though always taking the
interest that becomes a good citizen in all county, state and national affairs.
    On June 7, 1883, in Lewiston, Idaho, our subject married Miss Tennie,
daughter of Henry and Barbara McKinlay, and to their union nine children were
born, the names of whom are as follows: Oscar; Alda; Monroe; Blanch; Flora;
Euphamy; Harry, deceased; Jennie; Sampson.

 
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Submitted to the Washington Biographies Project in July 2010 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.