Garl G. Gray

Notes:

in the 1880 Grand Travers County, Michigan Census, Collins is listed as C.C. Shilling and is a farmer. He and his wife, Mary, and their three children reside in Long Lake Twp.

Collins is not listed in his sister, Lucinda's, obituary in June 1932.


C. C. Shilling threshed his last job yesterday for this season. Without a doubt his machine does the cleanest work that we have ever had done.

6 September 1888

CEDAR RUN

"C. C. Shilling is around with his new steam thresher."

"School meeting Monday evening elected C. C. Shilling moderator for the coming term of office, and voted to have but four months' school in the next year."

13 June 1889

CEDAR RUN

"Pathmaster C. C. Shilling has called out his men, and is making some great improvements along our highway."


The following entry is found on line at Grand Traverse County, Michigan's rootsweb site in the "Pioneer Families of Grand Traverse County, Michigan Long Lake "S" Families":

SHILLING

Collins C Shilling was born in 1844/1845 in Ohio, son of C. H. Shilling (f=PA, m=OH). Shilling was married prior to 1867 to Mary M George. Mary was born in 1839/1840 in Ohio (parents=PA).

Colin Shilling owned 67 acres in Long Lake township in 1879[127]. In 1880, the Shillings lived on a farm in Long Lake twp[128]. Collins was appointed constable of Long Lake twp in 1881 and 1882. In March 1882 he began to build a 16 ft by 28 ft addition to his house. In October of 1882 he purchased a team for $315[129]. Colin was well known as a well digger. He put in a well for Elijah Cox in August 1885 and was "prepared to do such work at any time"[130].

Colin's brother visited in March 1884 and announced that he intended to move to Long Lake. Meanwhile Colin finished his house building. In October 1884, Colin ran Mr. Algier's threshing machine and threshed 724 bushels in 32 minutes. Later that year: C. C. Shilling informed your localist that he had for sale one pair of lumber sleighs for the small sum of $23. Colin's brother Silas Shilling returned to southern Michigan in February 1885. In September, Silas purchased a new threshing machine and reported that it was giving entire satisfaction. The greater amount of threshing is done. We secured the services of C. C. Shillings in threshing our grain, and we desire to say that we never had better work done since coming to this section. His terms are also very reasonable. His charges are four cents for threshing peas, 3 1/2 cents for wheat, and two cents for oats[131].

The Shillings hosted a party in April 1886. Colin received a back pension in April 1887 for Civil War service. He finished his last threshing job of the year in early October. In 1888 he built a new barn and purchased an engine for his threshing machine. He also lost a cow and calf by eating "paris green" (apparently a poisenous plant). Colin was elected a moderator for the school meetings in September 1888. In December, Colin and his son were cutting wood with a wood machine. He was elected constable in 1889 and was also the pathmaster, making sure the roads were kept up[132].

Collins became a member of the Long Lake Friends Church in 1883 and Mary and daughter Ella in 1884. Collins condemned himself for using profane language in 1885. Collins, Mary, and daughter Cora resigned from the church in 1890[133]. In July 1792, C. F. Powell and Joshua Simmonds built a house for the Shillings[134]. Collins died on 13 November 1898 from septicemia in Traverse City[135].

Mary died on 11 August 1911 in Holland, MI. An obituary appeared in the Record Eagle on the following day (page 3):

OLD RESIDENT GONE

Mrs. Collins Shillings Died at Holland Last Night

Mrs. Collins Shillings, for forty years a resident of Traverse City, passed away at the home of her daughter in Holland last night, and the former residents of the city and burial this evening (sic). Mr. and Mrs. Shillngs were among the best known of the former residents of the city and during their

Collins married Mary M. George. Mary was born in 1839/1840 in Ohio, United States; died on 11 Aug 1911 in Holland, Ottawa, Michigan, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Mary's maiden name is identified on her daughter, Hattie Gray's, death certificate.

Notes:

_STATMARRIED