1850 census, Greene County, IN: “Fuel Collins”, age 17, is found living with his mother Martha (age 42, a widow) and two sisters Eliza (19) and Lachy (?) (14). There are several “Burch” families living nearby, presumably Martha’s family.

1860 census, Grand River, Wayne County, IA: Fuel (indexed as “Fred”) and his wife E.J. (that would be Eliza Jane McDaniel Collins) are there with three children - G.W. (age 8, born IN), Wm. J. (6, IN), and M.J. (2, IA). (So thus we know they moved to Iowa between 1854 and 1858.)

1870 census, Richland, Decatur, IA: Indexed as “Tuel”, he is age 36. wife Sarah J is 22. In house are two children by his first wife: William (age 16, born Indiana) and Mary J (age 11, born Iowa). Current wife’s children are Martha (9) and Rufus (8 months), both born in Iowa.

1880 census, Richland, Decatur, IA: “F Collins” is there, age 47. His father was born in Virginia, his mother in North Carolina. Wife Sarah J is age 31, her father born in PA and her mother in TN. Children are Rufus (11), Eliza E (8), Emily (6), Mani E (4), and Minnie B (2).