Transcription contributed by Martie Callihan 27 March 2005

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834

JAMES C. COLLETT (deceased) was born in England June 12, 1823; was a son of Thomas and Susan (Carpenter) Collett, natives of England, who emigrated to America and located in New Jersey in 1833; thence, in 1837, they came to Warren County and located in Waynesville, where he died Aug. 23, 1851, aged 62 years. Mr. Collett was possessed of a good education and followed teaching as a profession; was an earnest Methodist and a local preacher in that church for many years. He was the father of eleven children; eight grew to maturity; five now survive — Thomas; Emma (now Mrs. Philip Hawke), Amelia (now Mrs. Hammel), Joseph B. and John W. James C. was but a child when they arrived in America, and was raised in New Jersey and Warren Co., Ohio, and grew to manhood, receiving a good common-school education; was married, Feb. 22, 1860, to Ruth Ellen, a daughter of Jonathan and Ruth (Elmore) Clark, natives of South Carolina, who emigrated to Warren County with their parents respectively in 1805 and 1804; they located on the same tract of land where Mr. Collett lived and died, being among the early settlers of this township; they opened out their farms right from the woods. Mr. Clark was married, in 1810, and here they lived till their death; he died Jan. 18, 1848, aged 64 years; his wife died Oct. 5, 1866, aged 76 years. They had eleven children; four now survive—Sarah, Rebecca (now Mrs. Stiles), Mary and Ruth Ellen. Mr. Collett and wife had two children—Mary E., born April 7, 1861, John C., born June 21, 1864. Mr. Collett, when 21 years of age, was elected Justice of the Peace and served fifteen consecutive years while residing in Waynesville. In the fall of 1863, he removed to the farm, where he resided till his death. After locating on his farm, he resigned his office of Justice of the Peace and would not serve longer. He died Aug. 17, 1874, aged 51 years; his wife and children still reside upon the home place, where they have a fine farm and good improvements, constituting a pleasant home and residence.