He is now listed as a merchant, trading in his overalls at some point since 1880. It is now just him and his wife Elizabeth, though his daughter Mary is also living in the household with her daughter, James’ granddaughter, Mable. This census also lists the same birth information as the last two, showing Indiana and the birthplace of his parents as Maryland and Delaware.

It also lists his marriage as 40 years, which matches up with the Missouri marriage record from 1860.

He is still working as a farmer. He now has 5 children living with him and his wife Elizabeth, including my wife’s great-grandfather, Albert. This census also lists his birth place as Indiana and lists the birthplace of his parents as Maryland and Delware.

He is listed as a farmer, owning $2000 worth of land. He now has 4 children with his wife Elizabeth. This census also lists his birth place as Indiana.

He looked to join somewhat late in the war around the end of September 1864, while the 6th Regiment had organized back in 1861 and had already fought many battles. According to a history on the 6th Regiment, I can only guess that he may have been drafted to help replace killed or deserted men after a few rough battles.

In December [1864], John Kellogg is promoted Colonel and returns to the regiment with four hundred and fifty drafted men to fill the ranks. Winter Quarters are established for the fourth time. During the month of January, the regiment performs picket, camp and fatigue duty, builds roads and drills continually to bring the new men up to speed.

He looks to have been active in a few more battles, including Gravelly Run (general location on the map tab), before the end of the war in 1865 and, fortunately, he made it back alive.

It says they were married on November 4th, 1860 in Scotland County, Missouri.

The source image is very hard to read, but on the top record at the left you can see what looks like Jas Collins and Elisabeth Enyart.

He is living in 1860 in Miller, Scotland County, Missouri. This is in the same county that he married Elisabeth Enyart, which helps the case. Not only that, in the census record he is living with Elisabeth (age 15) and her family, helping her father as a farm hand. Her parents were Nelson and Margaret (Kearns) Enyart (though it looks like “Inard” in the record.)

The previous record I had on file was one from Iowa where there was a James A Collins of the exact same age and birthplace, but James can’t be in two places at once. This new record from Missouri lines up much better. But now I do not know anything about James’ parents.

My wife is connected to Mr. Collins through her paternal grandmother, Barbara Collins. Previously, I had his parents marked down, but recent research indicates that I may have been following the wrong path, so I disconnected that line for now until I can get a clearer picture, which I hope this site will do for me.

I remember looking and looking, but not finding anything. Then, when I was there around Memorial Day, I spied a small, white headstone with a Civil War veteran sign in the ground near it. I took a closer look at the old, worn headstone and noticed it said what looked like “Co. K” on it. I brushed it off and looked closer and saw that it read, “JHO. LAST – CO. K – 50TH WIS INF.” There it is. Johann’s final resting place.

A side note, I still have yet to find his wife, Charlotte’s, burial location. The Historical Society says that she should be right near him, but there is nothing. Though, there is a small gap in the area where she may be buried, but there is no stone. She died in 1900.

His cause of death is listed as “Inflammation” on other records. Inflammation can be caused by things such as frostbite or even wounds. Two things he could have easily received during his tenure in the Dakota Territory during the Civil War.