Daniel Collier
Col. Daniel Collier was one of the pioneers of Adams County who came to the Northwest Territory in 1794. He was born in January, 1764, and died on his magnificent farm on Ohio Brush Creek, where he is buried, April 17, 1835. His wife was Elizabeth Prather, born December 9, 1768, and who died August 4, 1835. She bore him twelve children: James, John, Thomas, Daniel, Joseph, Richard, Isaac, Sarah, Elizabeth, Katharine, Luther and Harriet. The latter was born September 17, 1815, and married Andrew Ellison, a son of James Ellison, a native of Ireland.
Col. Collier selected the site of his future home on Ohio Brush Creek while with Nathaniel Massie and others surveying in that region. The lands, five hundred acres, were purchased from Gen. William Lytle, who held military warrants of Jonathan Tinsley, John Shaver and George Shaver. Virginia Line. Continental Establishment. The site of the homestead is on an elevated terrace some forty acres in extent formed in the geological past by a drift of conglomerate in Ohio Brush Creek. The general level of this terrace is about twenty-five feet above the bottom lands along the creek, and from it a fine view of the valley presents itself for miles up and down the stream. At the base of this drift several fine springs of most excellent water wells forth. The one across the public road opposite the Collier residence afforded the water supply for the old still-house owned by Col. Collier. There was a fine young poplar sapling near it which young Tom Collier climbed and bent over while the Colonel and his wife were temporarily absent from home. On his return Thomas received a "grubbing" for the supposed destruction of the young poplar. That sapling is now a most beautiful and stately tree.
Col. Collier was prominently identified with public affairs of Adams County in his time. He was commissioned Colonel of the Third Regiment, First Brigade, Second Division, of Militia by Governor Samuel Huntington, December 29, 1809. He served in the War of 1812 and was in the engagement at Sandusky. On May 2, 1814, Acting Governor Thomas Looker, endorsed Colonel Collier's resignation as follows: "The resignation of this commission accepted on account of long service, ad vanced age and bodily infirmities."
Among Col. Collier's old tax receipts in possession of one of his grandchildren, is one dated September 8, 1801, for one hundred and seventy-five cents, his land tax for that year. Subscribed by John Lodwick, Collector for Adams County. In 1811, the tax on the same land was nine dollars as shown by the receipt of Thomas Massie, Collector.
From History of Adams County, Ohio from its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time - by Nelson W. Evans and Emmons B. Stivers - West Union, Ohio - Published by E. B. Stivers - 1900