WILLIAM COLLIER is a son of Lockey COLLIER, who was born in Virginia about 1770 and died about 1840. The father came to Tennessee about 1789. Our subject was his only child and resided with his father until twenty-one years of age, and afterward followed the occupation of farming. He is a self-made man and is worth between $8,000 and $10,000, which he has made by his own exertions.
He was married, in 1820, to Mary B. GARRETT, who bore him twelve children, six of whom are dead. Those living are Martha (Mrs. W. W. PENNINGTON), Nancy J. (Mrs. L. MADISON), Don, Eliza F., Mary A. (widow of Morgan DRYDAW) and Richard R. Our subject’s son, Don, was born August 21, 1832, and was married March 28, 1854, to Martha BILLINGTON, who bore him one child that died in infancy. In 1854 he moved to Arkansas, where he lived until 1881, when he returned to the old homestead to provide for his father until his death. Both father and son are influential citizens and Republicans. Don and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
Transcribed by Kathryn Hopkins
Goodspeed Publishing Co. History of Tennessee from the Earliest Time to the Present: Together with an Historical and a Biographical Sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford & Marshall Counties, Besides a Valuable Fund of Notes, Reminescences [Sic], Observations, Etc., Etc. Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1988.