Historical and Biographical Record of the Cattle Industry
and the Cattmen of Texas and Adjacent Territory
Joseph Collins: Cattleman

With a reputation that will live for generations, a record of a half dozen fortunes made and lost, a life of activity and enterprise, Joseph Collins has at last retired from his labors and is enjoying well-earned quiet and comfort at his home in Goliad, Texas. Following the events of his life from his birth in Clark County, Kentucky, in 1837, we find that almost from his boyhood he has taken a prominent part in the development of the cattle industry of the Southwest. His father, Albert G. Collins, born in Virginia in 1803, in early life moved to Kentucky, where he married Miss Pamelia Foster of that state.

In 1838 they crossed over to Missouri and dwelt there until the year 1845, when the family cast its fortune with the State of Texas, moving to Dallas County, where the father engaged in the occupation of farming and cattle raising until the year 1880, when, having grown too old for further active duties, gave up his business and spent the balance of his days with his children, his death occurring in 1889. There were eleven children in the family and six of them are living at the present time.

When Joseph was eighteen years of age he was employed by his uncle, James M. Foster, who at that time controlled all cattle shipping via the Morgan and other steamship lines from the ports of Texas. Thus he embarked at the beginning in the cattle industry from an advantageous standpoint, and all his life has been interested in large and important cattle transactions. His initiation into the science of handling large numbers of cattle took place in the year 1857, and two years later he, with his brother, James A., took an interest in the shipping business with their uncle. At this time he had just reached his majority and was assigned to the duties of buying for the company, the transactions running at this time to between 12,000 to 15,000 head per year. They did a large and successful business until the Civil War coming on interfered and brought about a complete collapse in their business which ended in failure.

Cattle buying was suspended for the time being and Joseph joined Terry's Texas Rangers and was in the service until the final surrender. When the war was over, shipping was resumed from Texas ports and Mr. Foster again closed a contract with the steamship companies to handle cattle for the vessels sailing from Indianola, taking our subject, his brother and A. H. Pierce into partnership. The next year Pierce withdrew and James D. Reed took his place in the firm. This partnership continued until July, 1867, when it was succeeded by Messrs. Allen and Pool, of Galveston. Mr. Collins became interested in the latter firm and discharged the duties of buyer. In 1868, in connection with A. H. Pierce, he bought the Hour-Glass and Daniel Wheeler stocks of cattle and opened a ranch in Matagorda County. The following year he disposed of his part of the above herds to his partner, Mr. Pierce. Himself and Mr. Pierce then took an interest with Allen & Pool. The next year he accepted a position with the latter as a buyer at a salary of $500 per month. He could not remain on the outside long and before the year was out he was again a member of the firm and remained so until 1872, when he retired from the business and formed the Adams and Collins Cattle Company, starting out with a grand total of 60,000 head of stock cattle. They branded 10,000 calves the first year and after a lapse of three years sold out to Cud Adams. He then engaged in buying and shipping beef cattle for about a year, when he purchased the Vance brand for $12,500, and in a few months sold out for the handsome sum of $29,000.

In 1881 he established a ranch on the Double Mountain Fork of the Brazos River, but the following year disposed of it to O. J. Warren and again took up his favorite occupation of buying and shipping beef cattle from Colorado City as his headquarters. It will be noticed through the annals of Mr. Collins's life as a cattleman that his transactions have been remarkable rapid and that it has been his policy to buy and sell and turn over his money as quickly as possible. He has always followed out this principle, and in 1882 made money rapidly. In 1884 he, being bankrupt, took charge of a herd for Seth Mabry, receiving a half interest in the profits. The succeeding year he took a large herd of cattle for Albert Rachal from the Coast country and delivered them to the Capital Syndicate Company. Returning again to the Coast, he embarked in buying and shipping to Chicago, but lost about $10,000 in this venture on account of the temporary boom in the cattle market. His health became impaired about this time and he temporarily withdrew from business and went to live at Goliad. At the present time he deals in a small way in cattle, but nothing like his former large transactions.

His marriage to Miss Artie Holliday occurred at Goliad, Texas, in 1866, and they have six children, as follows: James F., R. J., both residents of Goliad; Lemie, who is the wife of W. D. Pettus, also lives at Goliad; and Custice Lee, Roberta and Helen D. live at home with their parents.

Cox, James. Historical and Biographical Record of the Cattle Industry and the Cattmen of Texas and Adjacent Territory. Woodward and Tiernan Printing Company, 1895. p. 645.