THOMAS P.
COLLINS |
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Thomas P. Collins |
Emma (Bishop) Collins -
2nd wife to Thomas P. |
Mary (Collins) Douglas |
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Collins
home showing wife, on porch,
daughter & slave in yard |
Park Hill house - home of the
Thomas P. Collins family
- 1935 when it was the Colonel Fain home - |
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Current View of the
Park Hill House - now known as Cedar Hill |
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Click on
pictures of the home to view a larger photograph. |
General Thomas
P. Collins was the oldest of three brothers who, about
1830, left their native Ireland and sailed for America, settling
in Crockett as his final destination. He was probably the
first merchant to begin business in Crockett, and built a large
log store on the northeast corner of the public square where the
Crockett Hotel later stood.
Mr. Collins was born in Cookstown, Tyrone Co., Ireland on
January 12, 1800 and died in Houston County July 6, 1869; buried
in the Glenwood Cemetery, Crockett, Houston Co., TX. He
was married first to Adaline Bishop
who was born July 3, 1809 and died July 24, 1861; buried in the
Glenwood Cemetery, Crockett, Houston Co., TX. He then
married Emma Bishop, sister to his
first wife. Emma Bishop Collins was born 1814; died April
11, 1899 and is buried in the Glenwood Cemetery, Houston Co.,
TX.
Thomas P. Collins had one daughter by his first wife,
Mary Collins born July 7, 1842;
died May 13, 1925; buried in the Glenwood Cemetery, Crockett,
Houston Co., TX. Mary Collins first married
Billy Moore and after his death,
she married Zacheus Wilson.
Later she married the 3rd time to Charles
Douglas. Charles E. Douglas who born April 4, 1848;
and was accidently killed March 1883. He is also
buried in the Glenwood Cemetery, Crockett, Houston Co., TX.
After the death of Thomas P. Collins, Mary Collins Douglas and
her stepmother (Emma) carried on the business of her father,
first under the firm name of Collins & Wilson, later under the
name of Collins & Douglas.
Thomas P. Collins had his first home in Crockett in what was
later referred to as the Maud McConnell house. His
daughter, Mary, was born there on November 7, 1842. Later
he built one of the most notable residences of the Crockett
area. It was about one mile west of the town on the Old
Navarro Road and was know as "Park Hill", later to be owned by
Colonel Fain. Later it was known as the R.R. Foley Home and
today it is the Larry Christopher home and is called "Cedar Hill".
Mary Collins Douglas lived out her lifetime in the big
plantation home on the hill know as "Park Hill". |
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