James A. "Jim" Collins b. 22 Jan 1868 Lee Co., VA d. 4 Jul 1923 Balkan, Bell Co., KY: Meadow Bluff Meanderings

1868 - 1923 (55 years)

Personal Information | Notes | Sources | All

Name	James A. "Jim" Collins
Nickname	Jim
Birth	22 Jan 1868	Lee Co., VA [1, 2]
Gender	Male
Death	4 Jul 1923	Balkan, Bell Co., KY [3]
Death	Cause: gunshot wound of chest, instant death
Burial	7 Jul 1923	Colson Cemetery, Middlesboro, Bell Co., KY [3, 4]
Person ID	I30502	Meadow Bluff Meanderings
Last Modified	10 Feb 2026

Father	Cephus A. Collins, b. 1848, Pulaski Co., VA d. Feb 1885, Lee Co., VA (Age 37 years)
Mother	Minerva J. Smith, b. 1846, Washington Co., VA d. Yes, date unknown
Marriage	20 Dec 1866	Lee Co., VA [5]
Family ID	F11407	Group Sheet \| Family Chart

Family Mollie C. Garrett, b. Apr 1869, Lee Co., VA d. 28 May 1938, Middlesboro, Bell Co., KY (Age 69 years)

Marriage 25 Sep 1886 Lee Co., VA [6]

Children

	1. William Oland Collins, b. 10 Jul 1888, Jonesville, Lee Co., VA d. 3 Oct 1911, Gibson Station, Lee Co., VA (Age 23 years)
	2. Samuel "Sam" Collins, b. Dec 1890, Lee Co., VA d. 3 Oct 1911, Gibson Station, Lee Co., VA (Age 20 years)
	3. Russell Charles Collins, b. 19 Sep 1891, Ocoonita, Lee Co., VA d. 22 Jan 1967, Albany, Dougherty Co., GA (Age 75 years)
	4. Hattie Mabel Collins, b. 13 Nov 1899, Lee Co., VA d. 10 Apr 1982, Zanesville, Muskingum Co., OH (Age 82 years)
	5. Mary Nell Collins, b. 25 Apr 1902, Middlesboro, Bell Co., KY d. 7 May 2001, Lexington, Fayette Co., KY (Age 99 years)
	6. Mary Sue "Sudie" Collins, b. 12 Jul 1905, Nicholson, Claiborne Co., TN d. 14 Jan 2000, Middlesboro, Bell Co., KY (Age 94 years)
	7. Bertha Alice Collins, b. 25 Jun 1906, Claiborne Co., TN d. 12 Feb 1987, New Port Richey, Pasco Co., FL (Age 80 years)

Family ID F17776 Group Sheet | Family Chart

Last Modified 18 Jan 2025

Notes

Daily News, Middlesboro, KY, 5 Jul 1923, p. 1, col. 1

DEPUTY SLAIN YESTERDAY IN BALKAN AFFRAY

Jim Collins, Formerly of Here Killed in Attempt To Arrest Offenders - Shot Before He Drew Gun, Allegation

WAS AT I.O.O.F. JULY 4 PICNIC AT TOM'S CREEK

Jim Collins, deputy sheriff of this county, familiarly known as "Dad" Collins, was shot and instantly killed by George and McKinley Adams at Balkan about 3:30 yesterday afternoon following an attempt to arrest the latter. The two men were arrested by Sheriff Martin Green's officers and are now in the Pineville jail.

Deputy Collins was on the picnic grounds where the Oddfellows of Tom's Creek were celebrating the Fourth of July. Hearing three or four shots in the distance he went to investigate. As he stepped from a car in which he had been driven to the scene of the shooting by Mr. Gross, George Adams and McKinley Adams each fired one shot, both of which struck the officer in the region of the heart, killing him instantly. Witnesses say that he did not draw his gun.

County officers being immediately notified hurried to the scene and made the arrests. McKinley Adams lives at Wallins and is a single man. George Adams lives at Boretree Hollow and has a wife and seven children.

Jim Collins who was about fifty-five years of age has been a deputy sheriff since Martin Green has been sheriff. He was also a deputy under Ben Van Beber. He had the reputation of being an efficient, fearless officer. He had been doing guard duty at the Tejay mines. He was well known in Middlesboro, this having been his home until recently. He is survived by a wife who lives here and by several children.

Mr. Collins was over in Virginia several years ago to serve as a witness when two of his sons were killed.

Daily News, Middlesboro, KY, 6 Jul 1923, p. 1, col. 7

FUNERAL SERVICES FOR JIM COLLINS AT 10 IN MORNING

Funeral services for Jim Collins, deputy who was killed at Balkan Wednesday, will be held at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning at the Binghamtown church by the Rev. Browning. The Junior Order and the Red Men of which the deceased was a member will take part in the services. Interment will be at the Colson cemetery. He is survived by a wife and five children.

Officer Down Memorial Page, https://www.odmp.org/officer/20939-deputy-sheriff-jim-collins

Deputy Sheriff Jim Collins
Bell County Sheriff's Department, Kentucky
End of Watch: Wednesday, July 4, 1923

Deputy Sheriff Jim Collins was shot and killed while investigating the sounds of gunfire.

He was on duty at a local picnic area during Fourth of July celebrations when he heard the gunfire in the distance. He wad driven to the location and as he exited his vehicle two men immediately shot him before he could even draw his gun.

One of the subjects was sentenced to only two years in prison.

Sources

[S1355] Kentucky State Board of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics, Kentucky Death Certificate, (http://www.ancestry.com :2007.), death certificate 17472 (1923), Jim Collins, accessed 2 Jan 2025. (Reliability: 3).
lists date of birth as 22 Jan 1870, son of Sephus and Manerva (Dean) Collins.
[S2276] Virginia, Lee County, FCR: Lee Co., VA 1870, (http://www.ancestry.com: National Archives and Records Administration, 2009), M593, roll 1658, Jonesville, p. 268A, dwelling 333, family 338, James A. Collins, accessed 3 Jan 2025 (Reliability: 3).
[S1355] Kentucky State Board of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics, Kentucky Death Certificate, (http://www.ancestry.com :2007.), death certificate 17472 (1923), Jim Collins, accessed 2 Jan 2025. (Reliability: 3).
[S2279] Kentucky. Middlesboro., Daily News, Middlesboro, KY, "FUNERAL SERVICES FOR JIM COLLINS AT 10 IN MORNING," 6 Jul 1923, p. 1, col. 7; digital images, Newspapers.com (http://www.newspapers.com : accessed 3 Jan 2025). (Reliability: 3).
[S1700] Virginia, Select Marriages, 1785-1940, ((http://www.ancestry.com : 2013)), accessed 3 Jan 2025), Collins-Smith, 1866, Lee County; FHL Film No. 32441. (Reliability: 3).
[S1700] Virginia, Select Marriages, 1785-1940, ((http://www.ancestry.com : 2013)), accessed 18 Jan 2025), Collins-Garrett, 1886, Lee County; FHL film no. 32441. (Reliability: 3).