Our Collier family has origins in New York. Mother, Eliza, was born in 1798. I do not know her husband's name. There are four known children, born in the 1820's in New York: James Hampton, David H., Alexander C. and Lavina Ann Collier.

     The family moved to Fort Madison, Lee County, Iowa sometime before 1850. I believe at least two brothers went to California.

     My great-great grandmother is Lavina Ann Collier. In 1851 she married Jessie James Cooper and had six children. About 1880 the family moved to Paradise, Wise County, Texas. where she died in 1893.

     My grandmother, Jimmie Gibson, told me about her grandmother. Lavinia smoked a corn cob. Many times she would make Jimmie light it for her. If she didn't do it to her satisfaction, Lavinia would backhand Jimmie.