James Losey Coller

  General Notes:

The 1850 Michigan census for Macon, Lenawee County lists James, Amanda and Sarah. James was a farmer with property valued at $1600.

On August 13, 1863, James registered for the draft during the Civil War. The draft document states that he was 43 years old..

James L. Coller and family lived on a farm at Lees Lake near Ceresco, Newton Township, Calhoun County, Michigan. This is near Battle Creek. There were 95 acres running south from the eastern point of Lees Lake. 75 acres were north of J DR S and 20 were south off J DR S. According to satellite photos, there are still buildings where the original homestead was located. The location would be on Oak Grove Road just south (southwest) of the J DR S intersection.

History of South Dakota, p 1799: "son of Jesse B. Coller, who was of English lineage. He accompanied his parents on their removal to Michigan, which was then considered on the frontier, and the parents were numbered among the pioneers of the state. James L. was reared to manhood in Lenawee County and after his marriage he continued to be engaged in farming in that county for a few years, after which he removed to Calhoun county where he continued in the same vocation until his death.

James was also referred to as "Dr." James L. Coller. This may have been due to knowledge gained informally as opposed to a formal education in medicine.

Gravestone Inscription: "James L. Coller, died Sept 18, 1864, aged 42yr's 10 m's 7d's"

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Picture: Lees Lake, Newton Township, Calhoun County, Michigan. There were 95 acres running south from the eastern point of Lees Lake. According to current road names, 75 acres were north of J DR S and 20 were south off J DR S. This 1873 plat map shows that Mrs A. Collar owned the property at that time. This was after the death of James.

2. Picture: Aten-Hendershot Cemetery, Lenawee County, Michigan. This is the headstone of James Losey Coller. He is buried in Aten-Hendershot Cemetery, Lenawee County, Michigan.

James married Amanda Mulvina Richart, daughter of Robert Richart and Mary Lowery Biddle, in 1847. (Amanda Mulvina Richart was born in 1827 in Pennsylvania,¹¹ died on 15 Oct 1900 in Brookings, Brookings County, South Dakota ¹² and was buried on 16 Oct 1900 in Greenwood Cemetery, Brookings, Brookings County, South Dakota.)