Rev. John Collins
Rev. John Collins was born in Gloucester County, New Jersey, November 1, 1769. When a boy, the first money he earned was a dollar, and with that he bought a new testament and committed a large portion of it to memory. In his twenty-third year he went to Charleston, South Carolina, by sea and remained a year. In November, 1793, he was married to Sarah Blackman, who survived him. In 1794, he became a Methodist, though he had been reared a Quaker. At the time he joined the Methodist Church, he was a major in the militia, but resigned soon after. Directly after this he was licensed as a local preacher in the Methodist Church and he became noted for his sermons as such. He traveled in west New Jersey, and in 1804 he came to Ohio and settled in Horse Shoe Bottoms, about twenty-five miles above Cincinnati, in Brown County. Before coming to Ohio, he visited the Northwest Territory, in 1802, and then removed his family the next year. He continued to reside on his farm in Brown County until a few months before his decease, when he removed to Maysville, Kentucky, and resided with his second son, George Collins.
In 1804, he preached the first Methodist sermon ever preached in Cincinnati, to twelve persons, in an upper room. This was in the house of Mrs. Dennison. His text was, "Go ye unto all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature, etc." His congregation were melted to tears by the pathos of his sermon and one person was converted and afterward became a local preacher. A short time after he formed a class of eight persons, of whom Mr. Gibson was the leader, and he was the only one of them whose circumstances admitted of his entertaining the minister. In 1807, Mr. Collins became a traveling minister, and was appointed to the Miami Circuit with the Rev. B. Lakin as a colleague. His wife prayed for his success during his absence at the time he had appointed for public worship at each appointment.
In 1808, Mr. Collins traveled the Scioto Circuit, and in 1809 and 1810, the Deer Creek Circuit, then the Union Circuit, embracing Dayton and Lebanon. At this time, 1811, there was no Methodist preaching in Dayton, and Mr. Collins was the first one to preach there. He organized a church there and caused an edifice for public worship to be built. This was the beginning of Methodism in Dayton. In Lebanon, he had a great revival and numbers were taken into the church. In 1812, he retired from the ministry and remained on his farm until 1819 when he was appointed Presiding Elder in the Scioto Circuit and continued in that office during 1820. It was during his eldership that Chillicothe had a great revival of religion. At one time, while preaching in Chillicothe, he preached with such impassioned eloquence that the congregation remained one hour after the benediction, and a Presbyterian, present, said the sermon was the most eloquent he had ever heard.
In 1821 and 1822, he was stationed in Cincinnati; in 1823 in Chillicothe, and in 1824, in Cincinnati. From 1825 to 1828 he was in the Miami District; from 1828 to 1831, he was in the Scioto District. In 1832 and 1833, he was in the New Richmond District. In 1834. he was stationed in Cincinniti, and in 1834 and 1835 he traveled the White Oak Circuit, and this was his last work as an active minister. In 1836, he was superannuated, but visited about and preached as his strength permitted. He died oh the twenty-first of August, 1845, in his seventy-sixth year, in the city of Maysville, Kentucky.
During the time of his activity in the ministry, the Methodist Church had not a more successful minister than Mr. Collins. He was unassuming and gentlemanly in his manners, instructive and religious in his conversation, and evinced so much interest in the spiritual welfare of his hearers that all who became acquainted with him, loved him. He was a great reader and thorough in his thinking. His biblical knowledge was complete and always available. He had an extensive knowledge of history and literature. His perceptions were quick and accurate, and his power of discrimination perfect. His mind was well balanced and his statements were deliberate and never necessary to recall or qualify. He was a most perfect judge of human nature. There was never a suspicion of affection in his nature. He was always earnest, always sympathetic, and the tones of his voice were captivating. He never preached without shedding tears and nearly always he caused weeping in his congregation. Nothing he said ever seemed premeditated. He always seemed to be full and overflowing with his subject. Above all, he was sympathetic. When he described a situation or condition, his hearers felt it, and they sympathized with the subject just as he did. He did not teach the terrors of the law, but the love of the Gospel. His social intercourse with his fellow men was such, so gentle, so kind, so full of interest for those he met, so full of spiritual sympathy that it is said he preached more out of the pulpit than in it. His friends loved him and loved to be in his presence. Moreover, when he secured the affection of anyone, he never lost it. His personal appearance always made a favorable impression. His dress was always neat, always plain and Quaker like. Solemnity and benovolence were blended in his countenance which was always pleasing and impressive. His eyes at once attracted those who met him. His voice was full of melody, so full that, often when reading the opening hymn in his expressive manner, tears would come into the eyes of his hearers.
A daughter of his was the wife of Nathaniel Massie, Jr. She is buried beside her husband at the old South Cemetery at West Union.
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