ok here goes! I took three not so perfect monument stones for those in my family and those researching Colliers. This is great grandpa Caleb Marion Collier, the other is one of his sons' Thomas W. and his wife Alice Geneva Cheek Collier, and sadly the broken one is a baby that died. This is one of the things that infurates me so much about the lack of concern by the city as well as the carelessness of individuals who "take care" ie: perpetutal care, and the "visitors"
who wander and or play in the garden of rest .
I find Caleb fascinating and he is a very real presence in my tree . He was a volunteer in the confederacy- 55th Alabama volunteers, company B, in which he was a private.. from Cherokee county ..He was wounded seriously at Shiloh, but never filed a claim.- his wife Mary Ann Vandiver- dec 11, 1866 died presumably either in childbirth or thereafter. Her last living child was Nancy and she was born in 1865. They had the following children: George Caleb, Thomas W, James N, John Davis, Nancy Florence and a questionable William Edward. James died in Alabama and I have never found a word about where they died , where they are buried , or anything other than bible dates.
He came to Texas with his children. I was told by another researcher once that his mother in law came with him to take care of the children and later remarried herself . This has not been documented by myself and the woman who stated it has never reconnected with me. He later remarried January 8, 1885 Mrs. A.S. Alexander (my mysterious woman, since I cannot find out anything about her) and if my research is correct maybe twice! Caleb was a devoted father and son and an avid Christian. One of the greatest brick walls for me is locating Colliers Chapel. There does not seem to be any record of location, land donation, registry - even at the local museum. I do know it exsisted because I have found mention of it in the Waxahachie enterprise on microfilm., and is posted on the genweb also I believe..yes, here it is..http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txellis/ghost-towns/collier.htm.
I know his first love was Mary Ann Vandiver because she is listed in his bible which is utterly falling apart. Now Mrs. AS Alexander , Annie, and Audrey Pact are all listed in the bible, but I cannot connect them . Mrs. AS Alexander is on the side of his monument but no dates are listed and none have been found yet, her daughter Annie is across the road from them.
Collier's Chapel
Christmas has come and gone and many hearts made happy thereby, but our entire community was saddened by the death of Mr. C. M. Collier. He was a patient sufferer for over two months. He bore it with a christian fortitude, only now and then a murmur. "Thy will be done." He has been feeble for the last two years and at his death the severy-fourth milepost of his life was almost reached. He was a devoted husband, loving father and a true devout christian. The sad intelligence was received with deep and unfeigned sorrow by numerous friends, as well as by those who knew an loved him through the state and elsewhere. The final sad and tender tribute was paid at Collier's Chapel at noon, Dec. 18, by Bro. C.W. Perry whose words were touching and impressive. Upon the conclusion of the services teh remains were borne to the hearse and then accompanied by a large concourse of relatives and friends, it was escorted to the home of the dead and given back to mother earth.
Caleb Collier is listed in the Cherokee county Alabama census and later in the Ellis county TX census. His son George is listed as one of the eight pioneer families in the town of Lone Cedar area, which I guess is now indeed a ghost town. George C. passed away fairly young I guess and his wife remarried and had a larger family. Thomas W- I am told is Woodard or Woolard. They had a nice farm but apparently lost it as many did during the depression times. As you can see their monument has been vandalized and someday I hope that I will be able to afford to replace it as well. So if anyone is connected to this family and researching it also please contact me!
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