Husband William F. Collner 1 2
Born: 21 Nov 1844 - Richland Twp, Clarion Co, PA 2
Christened:
Died: 21 Mar 1909 3
Buried:
Father: Lewis Collner (1811-1894) 4 5 6
Mother: Sarah Fry (1819-1895) 4 7
Marriage: 14 Nov 1866 - Clarington, Forest Co, PA 8
• Additional Image: William F. Collner.
Wife Celia F. Brandon 9
AKA: Cecelia Brannon 10
Born:
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Died: Oct 1908 3
Buried:
Father: John G. Brandon ( - ) 9
Mother:
Children
1 M Arthur Brandon Collner 11
Born: 21 Apr 1868 - Farmington Twp, Clarion Co, PA 11
Christened:
Died:
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Spouse: Minnie K. Wilson ( - ) 11 12
Marr: 6 Apr 1894 11
2 F Myrtle B. Collner 13
Born: 1 Apr 1870 - Salem, Clarion Co, PA 13
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Dr. John T. C. Rimer, M.D. (1855- ) 14 15 16
Marr: 24 Jun 1896 17
3 M Ira E. Collner 9
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
4 M Lewis Collner 9
Born:
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Died:
Buried:
General Notes: Husband - William F. Collner
He received only limited school privileges. His father not being a man of much means, young Collner was kept in the store and given a practical business education, which, however, was for a time interrupted by his service of three years in the war of the Rebellion. He enlisted July 24, 1862, when but sixteen years of age, as a private in Company G, 155th P. V. I., his command forming a part of the 5th Corps, Army of the Potomac. He was in all of the many engagements in which the regiment participated, and left a record which his posterity may well review with just pride. During his period of service he was subjected to many hardships incident to army life. He was slightly wounded at the battle of the Wilderness May 5, 1864, and at Peebles Farm, near Petersburg, VA, September 30, 1864. Proving himself a gallant soldier, he was rewarded by a promotion to a second lieutenancy, later becoming a first lieutenant, and was in command of the company at the surrender at Appomattox. A highly prized souvenir now in his possession is a sabre which he captured from a Confederate major at the Battle of Five Forks, VA, April 1, 1865. At the close of the war he returned to Clarion county, and again entered his father's store, where he assisted him in business for a year, then went to Forest county, where he engaged in the lumber business for two years. At the expiration of this time he returned to Clarion county and became engaged in mercantile business in Salem. He continued in business for seventeen years, until 1879, when he was elected sheriff of Clarion county. This necessitated his removal to the county seat, where he remained during his term of office, returning to Salem in three years, and again was occupied as formerly. In 1884 he was elected prothonotary, and in 1887 he was re-elected to the same office, serving six years in all. On his retirement from office in 1891, he became engaged in the insurance business at Clarion.
His early life was spent in the public schools of his native township, and at eleven years of age, along with his school duties he kept the books in his father's store. He remained his father's book-keeper until July, 1862, when he enlisted as a private soldier in Captain Charles Klotz's Company (G), One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers. After entering active service he was appointed fifth sergeant of his company, and was promoted successively to orderly sergeant, second lieutenant and first lieutenant. The last named grade he held when he was discharged June 2, 1865.
Mr. Collner commanded his company in several engagements, and participated with his regiment in the following pitched battles: Antietam, Fredericksburg, in which his brigade lost 1,760 out of 4,000; Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, where his division wrested Little Round Top from the enemy after a desperate struggle; Rappahannock Station, Mine Run, the Wilderness, on the fifth day of which battle he was wounded; Spottsylvania, Jericho Ford, Tolopotomy, Cold Harbor, Petersburg. In a single charge on the enemy's works the regiment lost, in the space of ten minutes, eighty-three men in killed and wounded. The regiment was engaged in numerous severe actions during the siege of Richmond and Petersburg, as Reams Station, Peeble's Farm, Hatcher's Run, Dabney's Mills, Deep Bottom, the Quaker Road, Gravelly Run, Five Forks, Sailor's Creek, and Appomattox Court-House, in the last of which the regiment was in the skirmish line, and was hotly engaged when the word was brought that Lee had surrendered, and all fighting ceased. The subject of our sketch passed through all these battles, receiving two wounds, which attest his gallant service for his country.
He was discharged at the close of the war after serving within one month of three years, and on returning home he worked on his father's farm, and assisted in the store until the autumn of the same year, when he went to Forest County to engage in the lumbering business.
In April, 1868, he went to Salem, Clarion County, and there engaged in the mercantile business in which he continued with success until January, 1880, when he removed to Clarion to assume the duties of sheriff of Clarion County, to which office he had been elected the preceding November. He held the office three years, and at the expiration of the term he returned to Salem and resumed business in his old store.
In 1884 he was elected prothonotary of the county. When he returned to Clarion to assume the duties of his new office, he erected a handsome residence on Wood street, and expected to make his home at the county seat for some time.
He was always been a Democrat in politics, and was an influential member of his party in the county. [HCC 1887, 658]