Biography - Simeon L. Collinson
SIMEON L. COLLINSON is the son of Thomas and Mary (Kirby) Collinson, natives
of Yorkshire, England; Simeon was born July 7, 1806, in Yorkshire, England;
spent his youth and received his education in his native country; came to
America and settled in Pennsylvania, where he spent five years in the coal
mines; came to Illinois where he engaged in farming, accumulating a large
property, and is now the owner of 1,700 acres of beautiful farm land; has been
twice married; Nov. 5, 1834 to Mary Craver, who bore him nine children, five
boys and four girls; Nov. 21, 1874 to Mrs. Jane McClure [the Illinois Statewide
Marriage Index lists a Simeon L. Collinson marrying a Mrs. Jean McClure in Knox
County on November 22, 1874], one son being the issue. Has held the office of
School Trustee eight years; first Assessor after township organization, two
years; Road Commissioner for ten years; served seven years in the PA Light Inf.
under the State law; always led a moral life, resolving when young never to
gamble or lead others by his example into bad habits. Postoffice, Altona.
Contributed by Joan Achille, extracted from the 1878 History of Knox County,
Illinois published by Charles C. Chapman.
