James Collier

JAMES COLLIER _________________ JAMES COLLIER, was born in Litchfield, Conn., in May, 1789, removing to Ithaca, N.Y., and coming to Steubenville in 1820, studying law and being admitted to the bar here. He was an active member of the Whig party, and was at one time an aspirant for the nomination for governor of the state, but was defeated by Thomas Corwin, who was afterwards elected. He served a term as county prosecuting attorney, and was a delegate to the Taylor convention of 1848. In the following spring he was appointed collector of the port of San Francisco, being the first to that office. He traveled overland to reach his destination, going via Santa Fe through a country almost unknown and was escorted across the plains by a detachment of U.S. cavalry. On the expiration of his term he engaged in the banking business, but the Citizens' Bank, of which he was President, failed in 1859. Colonel Collier was adjutant of Bloom's regiment of New york in the war of 1812. He served on the frontier and was present at the battle of Queenstown heights. He was the first man to volunteer from Jefferson County on the outbreak of the rebellion, and accompanied the troops as far as Harrisburg, but on account of his age was persuaded to return. He commanded a local detachment for a few days during the Morgan raid in 1863, and died on Sunday, February 2, 1873, at the age of 84 years. His wife whose maiden name was Miss Eunice Ingersoll, survived him a few years. Return to Family Tales Return to Home Page