Ela Collins

Ela Collins was born on February 14, 1786, in Meriden, Connecticut. His father was General Oliver Collins, a militia veteran of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, and his mother was Lois (née Cowles) Collins. Collins pursued education at Clinton Academy and subsequently studied law. After being admitted to the bar, he began practicing law in Lowville, New York, in 1807.

In 1808, Collins became an original Trustee of The Lowville Franklin Society, an organization established to create and operate Lowville's first public library. In the same year, he sold land on which the Lowville Academy was built and served as an original Trustee of the school. On July 11, 1811, Collins married Maria Clinton, the daughter of Reverend Isaac Clinton. Their marriage resulted in eleven children, including William Collins, who became a U.S. Congressman; Isaac Clinton Collins, a state legislator; and Harriet Anne Collins Herron, the mother of Helen Herron Taft, who served as First Lady of the United States.

Ela Collins served as Lowville's Town Supervisor from 1811 to 1813. He was a member of the New York State Assembly during 1814 and 1815. From 1815 to 1818, he held the position of District Attorney for the Eighth District, which included Lewis, Jefferson, and St. Lawrence Counties. After 1818, he served as the District Attorney of Lewis County until 1840. Collins was a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention in 1821.

He was elected to the United States Congress as a Crawford Democratic-Republican, representing New York in the 18th Congress from March 4, 1823, to March 3, 1825. During this Congress, the most significant issue was the election of the President of the United States. Following the 1824 presidential election, no candidate received a majority of electoral votes, and the decision was made by the House of Representatives. Collins favored William H. Crawford, but the New York delegation voted largely for John Quincy Adams. Ultimately, Adams was chosen as President.

After serving in Congress, Collins continued practicing law. He later affiliated with the Anti-Masonic Party. He served again as Town Supervisor from 1827 to 1828 and from 1829 to 1831. In 1830, he served as Chairman of the Lewis County Board of Supervisors. Collins was actively involved in local organizations, including the Lewis County Agricultural Society, and participated in business ventures such as the Lewis County Mutual Insurance Company.

Ela Collins died on November 23, 1848, in Lowville, New York. He was buried at the Jackson Street Cemetery in Lowville.