Obituary

Kansan, Monday, October 20, 1930

Edgar Collins, aged 78 years, passed away suddenly at his home 401 East Second this morning, death being due to a heart attack. Mr. Collins has been ill with heart trouble for several years, bur was not confined to his home. He was better than usual this morning and was assisting his wife with the housecleaning. He was wiping of some curtain shades when he was stricken and before Mrs. Colins could get to his side he had passed on.

Mr. Collins came to Kansas in 1871 and to Newton when he was still quite a young man. When he was but nine years old his mother died and he was sent to Kansas to be reared by a family by the name of O'Brien at Wathena. Later he was apprenticed to a harness maker, which trade he learned. He was engaged for many years in the harness business here and later went to Wichita where he was numbered among the most successful of business men. He was engaged there in Wholesale notions. Selling out this business he retained a large stock in the Steffen Ice Cream company which he held at the time of his death. He also had other business interests in Wichita including real estate.

He came to Newton about 28 years ago, having retired from active business, intending to get into business here. He did not do this however spending all of his time looking after his rentals and loaning out his own capital.

He was married in Newton in 1877 to Mollie Corey and to this union three children were born, two of whom survive. They are Mrs. Nellie Harpstrite of Wichita and Mrs. Charles Botsford of Oakland, Calif.. A son, died in infancy and is buried in Greenwood cemetery. His wife died 36 years ago in Wichita and he was married on Jan. 20, 1904 to Viola Spore of this city. Two children ere born to them. They are Edgar Jr., 23 year old and Koleen, 19, both of whom are at home.

The passing of Mr. Collins takes from among Newton citizens one of the highly resected ciiizens of the town. He was admired both in Wichita and in Newton for his business acumen and his honesty and fairness in dealing with others, at the same time making conservative and level headed decisions.

Mr. Collins was taken to the Carter Funeral home from which place announcement of the funeral services will be made later, awaiting word from the daughter in California