Raymond William COLLINS

   Research Notes:

1900 U.S. Federal Census:

Age given: 17 years
Birthplace given: Wisconsin
Dwelling Place: Mineral Point, Iowa, Wisconsin, USA
Occupation: at school

--------------------------------------

1920 U.S. Federal Census:

Age given: 36 years
Birthplace given: Wisconsin
Dwelling Place: Ward 16, Detroit City, Wayne, Michigan, USA
Occupation: Factory Engineer

--------------------------------------

1930 U.S. Federal Census:

Age given: 47 years
Birthplace given: Wisconsin
Dwelling Place: Ward 17, Detroit City, Wayne, Michigan, USA
Occupation: Electrical Engineer in an Automobile Factory

--------------------------------------

"Iowa County Democrat-Tribune, Thurs., May 15, 1947 (p. 9/cs. 6-7):

RAYMOND W. COLLINS—Raymond W. Collins was born in Mineral Point township on April 5, 1885, the first son of Charity Terill and William R. Collins. In 1904 the family moved to Beloit, Wis., and[where] he began his training in the designing of tools and dies in the Fairbanks Morse Co. The next year, he worked as an apprentice in the tool room of Besly Machine Works. He met and married Margaret Jane Deppe of Shullsburg. They went to Kansas City, then to Muskegon, finally settling in Detroit where he headed the tool room at Diamond Manufacturing Co. ... Mrs. Collins became a designer of tools and dies and was admitted to full membership in the Detroit Engineering Society.
During the years of the first World War, the plant was converted into a shop engaged in many manufacture of ammunition. A small nucleus of men including Mr. Collins, were responsible for the designing of shells.
Mr. Collins' wife, Margaret, died in 1926, leaving one daughter, Beatrice. After a two year stay in California, Mr. Collins returned to Detroit and Motor Products Corporation, staying there until 1937 when he had completed 28 years of service in the development of the automobile industry.
In Sept. 1941, Mr. Collins went to Chicago as a civilian inspector of materials for the U.S. Navy at the Danly Machine Specialties line.
In June, 1942 Raymond Collins and Mrs. Claretta Clayton were united in marriage.
The Navy offered awards for suggestions of unusual merits which would contribute to the war effort in this second International conflict. Mr. Collins was awarded two individual awards of $250 each for suggestions which increased efficiency in war production. Then, in 1945 after much study and work, he made suggestions for improvement on the manufacture of the 40mm gun. The use of suggestion decreased the cost of production in one plant alone by one quarter million dollars. Multiplied by the decrease in the many plants in which the gun was built. It amounted to a tremendous saving for the government. For this improvement in manufacture of the 40mm gun, Mr. Collins was awarded by the Navy Ordinance Office at Washington, D.C., $1250 in cash and a citation for outstanding accomplishment.
At this time, the Chicago Tribune was making a monthly presentation of a diamond pin to the war worker of the month who had made the most outstanding contribution to the war effort. Raymond Collins was awarded that pin. It was presented to him by Mayor Kelly in a broadcast over WGN in which Mr. Collins participated.
In November 1945, Mr. Collins was transferred to I.N.M. office in the Board of Trade building in Chicago. He remained there till June 30,1946, when he and his wife, Claretta, daughter Patricia retired to their home town of Mineral Point, Wis., where he bought and rebuilt a home at 904 Wisconsin Street.
On May 1, Mr. and Mrs. Collins met Beatrice and Kenneth Kane at their farm near Mt. Horeb for a picnic lunch and an afternoon's fishing. His wife had returned to the house a few minutes before. He had returned to the houseyard gate, placed his fishing poles beside the car and sat down to undo his boots when death overtook him.
Requiem High Mass was said by Father Coyne in St. Patrick's church, Monday, May 5, 1947. Burial was in Shullsburg., Wis.
Mr. Collins is survived by his wife, Claretta Collins, his daughter, Beatrice Kane, Madison, Wis., three step children, Eal Wearne F. Clayton in Navy Air Corps, Manilla, Mrs. Bert V. Horn, Fort Niagra, N.Y. and Patricia at home. He had 3 grandchildren, Margaret Kane, Madison, Ronnie and Bruce Horn, N.Y. He is survived by his mother, Mrs. Charity A. Collins, Detroit, two brothers, Gilmore and Harry, Detroit, and Milton, Akron, Ohio..." ²

   Marriage Information:

Raymond married Margaret DEPPE, daughter of William DEPPE and Jane ELLIOT. (Margaret DEPPE was born on 22 Mar 1883 in Shullsburg, Lafayette, WI, USA ³, died on 26 Jul 1926 in Detroit, Wayne, MI, USA and was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Shullsburg, Lafayette, WI, USA ³.)

   Marriage Information:

Raymond also married Lessie A. COPELAND, daughter of Joseph COPELAND and Jane RICHARDS. (Lessie A. COPELAND was born on 27 Jul 1888 in Shullsburg, Lafayette, WI, USA ⁴, died on 3 Nov 1933 in Detroit, Wayne, MI, USA ⁴ and was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Shullsburg, Lafayette, WI, USA ⁴.)

   Marriage Information:

Raymond also married Claretta Agnes COLLINS, daughter of Francis Frismore COLLINS and Edith D. GOLDTHORPE, in Jun 1942 in Wisconsin, USA. (Claretta Agnes COLLINS was born on 2 Jul 1899 in Mineral Point, Iowa, WI, USA ⁵, died on 9 Jul 1949 in Dodgeville, Iowa, WI, USA ⁵ and was buried in Graceland Cemetery, Mineral Point, Iowa, WI, USA ⁵.)