Lloyd Minot Collins. While the superintendent of schools of Longton, Kansas, Lloyd Minot Collins, had but recently entered upon the duties of his office, he had already created a favorable impression upon the people of the community, and during the short period of his regime had demonstrated the possession of those qualities which make the successful educator and the abilities that combine for capable executive handling of affairs. Mr. Collins had been a teacher all through his active career, and is energetic and progressive in his methods and thoroughly grounded in the elementals that are necessary for the proper moulding of the plastic mind of youth.
Born at Bronson, Bourbon County, Kansas, January 20, 1893, Lloyd Minot Collins is a son of L. E. and Mercy (Love) Collins. He is of Irish descent, and the first American ancestor settled in New York in colonial times, and from that state the great-grandfather of Lloyd M. Collins migrated as a pioneer to Michigan. Oliver Collins was born in Michigan and grew up amid pioneer surroundings, the country being wild and undeveloped, much game abounding, and the conditions of life still in their most primitive form. Like his father, he was a sturdy, energetic and hardworking man, with the capacity for constant labor characteristic of his race, and in his career was able to accumulate a competency satisfying for his simple wants. He died at Grand Rapids, Michigan, prior to the birth of his grandson.
L. E. Collins, father of Professor Collins, was born in 1849, at Grand Rapids, Michigan, but was principally reared in Kansas, as he was only eleven years of age when he came to this state with his brother, DeLoss, the two locating at Dayton in 1860. There L. E. Collins completed his educational training and was married. Shortly after the latter event, he went to Xenia, Kansas, where he embarked in his initial venture in the mercantile business. Meeting with only a fair measure of success he decided to change his field of operation, and not long before the birth of his son removed to Bronson, Bourbon County, and there founded a business that continued to be his principal interest during the next twenty years. From small beginnings he built up an enterprise that was known as one of the leading business houses of the place. Recently, after a long and successful career, he retired from active pursuits, and at this time is living quietly in his comfortable home at Iola, Kansas. Mr. Collins is a republican, but takes only a good citizen’s part in public affairs. He is an active member of the Baptist Church, in which he had held the office of deacon. His fraternal connection is with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. His reputation in business and fraternal circles is an excellent one, the honorable manner in which he had always conducted his affairs having served to give him the confidence and esteem of those with whom he had come into contact. Mr. Collins married Miss Mercy Love, who was born in Ohio, and they became the parents of five children, as follows: Bertha May, who married Ronald Anderson, a hardware merchant of Bronson, Kansas; Orville Bruce, who is employed in the brokerage business of T. H. Griffith and resided at Wichita, Kansas; Madge Myrtle, who is the wife of W. H. Noble, engaged in the grain business at Bronson; Lloyd Minot, of this notice; and Marguerite Lois, who is the wife of J. C. Musser, an electrician of Blue Mound, Kansas.
Lloyd M. Collins was educated in the public schools of Bronson, Kansas, and was graduated from the high school there in 1912. At that time he secured his teacher’s certificate and entered upon his career as a teacher in the district school near Mapleton, where he secured his first experience and remained for one year. Following this he was a teacher in the Chanute public schools for two years, and then, realizing the need for further education, entered the Manual Training Normal School at Pittsburg, Kansas, from which institution he was duly graduated with the class of 1916, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Science. In September of the year of his graduation Mr. Collins accepted an offer tendered him to become superintendent of schools of Longton, and since that time had occupied the office, in which he had supervision over seven teachers and 180 scholars. His superintendency had so far been eminently satisfactory to the people of Longton, who believe he is the right man for the place. He had a number of innovations in view which, when adopted, will further elevate the standard of school service at this point, and had been working energetically to improve the system.
Mr. Collins belongs to the Kansas State Teachers’ Association and the Southeastern Kansas Teachers’ Association. He is a democrat in his political views and a faithful member of the Baptist Church.