BESSIE CARVEN COLLINS
 

I was born on July 3, 1886. My father was Charles Carven and my mother was Julia E. Carven. I can also remember that when I was 13 my Grandmother Carven also lived with us. My father worked as a Saline City Marshall. After my schooling was finished, I lived with my sister and her husband in Washington D.C. for a while and worked as a clerk for the Government at that time.
I soon returned to my family house on Henry Street in Saline. You know where that is. Henry Street is right over there! I soon started to teach music as well as working for the Federal Census Bureau in 1910. My parents gave me a lot of attention and they were happy to give me lessons on the piano. I loved music so much that I wanted to share it with others. Plus later in my life, it was an income for me.
When I was 30 years old, I married Everett Collins. He was a farmer in Macon. We had a son, Charles, a couple years later we had a second son, Max. Ella, Everett’s mother, also lived with us. We married in 1916 and only 11 years later I became a widow. Charles was 8 and Max was 6..
Everett died of an Acute case of gangrenous appendicitis. They tried to operate, but they couldn’t save him. Another complication was Everett was overweight which contributed to heart failure. So at 41 I was a widow with two small children.
I was determined to raise our boys in a loving home as I had been raised. The farm had been rented, so I decided to go back to Saline to our Henry Street home. My father owned several homes as an investment and I rented the house at 109 W. Henry from him. I later owned several homes in that area.
I must say I was determined to better myself. I started taking classes toward a college degree. I loved learning. I was a member of Saline’s Women’s Literary Club. Fanny Friis was also a member. I played the piano and sang for many of the meetings. I guess I was one of the educated ladies and community leaders at that time I was the Baptist church clerk for many years and was one of the first to be baptized there. I loved our town of Saline and I was known as Saline’s historian.
At age 53, I was head of the household and had completed 3 years of college. I owned our house which is just right up that street and had Charles age 21 and his brother Max who was then 19 living with me. Plus my mother, Julia who was 88 that year living with us also. Even as a widow, I was able to make a good life for my family. I passed at age 86. I am proud of my accomplishments as a woman and have enjoyed my many years here in Saline.