History of North Tama By Daniel Connell PETER WENTCH was born in Germany in 1822. In 1851 he emigrated to the United States and went to Southberry, Connecticut, where he remained until 1854, when he came here and entered land on section 6, Clark township. While getting it ready, in which he was delayed for want of means, he worked for Clark Brothers for two years. During the thirty years past Mr. Wentch, by industry, frugality and honesty, has succeeded in a satisfactory degree. He has raised a large, respectable family of sons and daughters, enabling them, as they have been ready, to open farms around the old homestead, non of them being out of the settlement. Feeling the need of it he has given his children the advantages of schools. The success of Mr. Wentch, who began in a new country without means during times exceptionally hard - 1954-1862 - with a growing family to feed and clothe, shows what can be done on a western farm by a poor man who was not raised on a farm. The West is full of such men. L. B. COLLINS was born in Washington county, Indiana, in 1818, where he lived working on a farm until 1850, when he removed to Cedar county, Iowa, remaining there until April, 1855. He removed to Perry, purchasing a farm on which was a grove known as Baker's Grove from the man who entered and sold to Mr. Collins. Concerning this man Baker I have never known - where from or whither he went. Mr. Collins settled down to hard work, and the improvement of the place, which was well arranged - good land, wood and water, which in those days were indispensable. He succeeded in putting the place in order and built a new, frame house, and in 1873 he sold to Mr. Scott and removed to Marion county, Iowa, remained there ten years and went to Nebraska. Mr. Collins was a quiet man, embued with strong, native judgment, took an interest in public affairs and had pronounced opinions on political questions. He was a kind neighbor and friend. The writer on a severe stormy day in the winter of 1855-6, a mile south of Otterman's, floundering in deep snow, had his horse escape him and had to walk to Baker's Grove, where he was kindly cared for and assisted home by Mr. Collins. This act of a stranger made a warm corner in the heart which has not yet cooled. On that weary tramp we were interviewed by the pickets of a drove of wolves. While waiting for dark they kept at a respectable distance, and we were glad when we discerned the trees surrounding the home of Mr. Collins. Andrew Collins, a brother of L. B. Collins, was born in Washington county, Indiana, in 1823, and came here in 1856, locating on section 31, Perry. He removed to Illinois in 1861 and returned in 1868. John Collins, another brother, was one of the first settlers. C. C. COLLINS, son of L. B. Collins, came with his father to Baker's Grove. He was born in Washington county, Indiana, in 1843, being but eleven years old when he came here. When young he assisted his father and attended the nearest school. He had keen thirst for knowledge, particularly of current history, and became an authority for facts and dates. Mr. Collins continued at home until one day at a neighbor's in August, 1862, he was asked if he was going to the war meeting at Buckingham. He went. He was interested, and without previous intention he enlisted under Capt. Staley, company F, in the 18th regiment. (Concerning his military career see appendix.) He served three years, was discharged at the end of the war and returned home. Not long after he entered the store of Mr. Connell at Buckingham for one year, at the expiration of which for several months he attended a commercial school in Chicago, On his return he engaged in the hardware business with J. L. Graham; then opened a general store for himself. He married the eldest daughter of Adin Antrim. He continued business in Buckingham until 1873, when he removed to Traer, continuing in the business until the present. Mr. Collins has established a character for uprightness and business integrity, carrying with it the respect of his townsmen. He was twice elected mayor of Traer, was a member of the council, assessor for several years, and in 1883 was his party nominee for representative in the General Assembly and nearly succeeded where heretofore his party had been without hope.