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Ada Jane (Wortman) Collins
(1887-1975)

 

Ada Jane (Wortman) Collins was born in 1887 in Dunbar, Fayette County, PA, the daughter of Moses "Ross" and Hester Ann (Minerd) Wortman. The family name also has occasionally been spelled "Workman." 

In 1907, when she was age 20, Ada married 24-year-old railroader Edward Lee Collins (1883- ? ), the son of Louis R. and Nancy (Michie) Collins of Orange County, VA.

Together, they produced at least three children, Elwood L. Collins and Catherine Shoup and one who died in infancy circa 1907-1910.

Edward's longtime employer was the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. He belonged to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen union.

The federal census of 1910 shows Ada and Edward and newborn son Elwood making their home with Ada's parents on Lafayette Street in Cumberland. Edward's occupation was recorded as "engineer - steam railroad."

 

Famed church steeple landmarks in Cumberland

 

When the federal census was enumerated in 1920, the family lived in Cumberland, where Edward was employed as an engineer with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Also residing under their roof that year were Ada's widowed mother Hester, brother Erskin Wortman and fatherless nephew, Raymond Purinton

The 1930 census shows the family making its home on Humbird Street in Cumberland, and Edward continuing his longtime work as a railroad engineer.

Circa 1939, at the death of her elderly mother, Ada resided in Cumberland. She remained in Cumberland as of 1965, when she was named in the Cumberland News obituary of her sister Daisy Bell Cather. Their address in 1968 was 129 Humbird Street. The couple were members of the Calvary Evangelical United Brethren Church, a congregation which later become part of the United Methodist denomination. Edward held a membership in the South End Rod and Gun Club.

Sadly, after an illness of three years' duration, Edward died in Cumberland's Memorial Hospital at the age of 86 on April 3, 1968. His obituary was printed in the Cumberland News.

Her final years were spent at 114 Washington Street in Frostburg. She surrendered to death at the age of 88 on April 14, 1975. Rev. William G. Patterson preached the funeral sermon, with burial following in Sunset Memorial Park. An obituary was printed in the Cumberland Evening Times.

 

~ Son Elwood L. Collins ~

Son Elwood L. Collins (1910- ? ) was born in 1910.

At the age of 20, in 1930, he earned a living as a machinist's apprentice or "helper" with the railroad in Cumberland, MD.

He married Virginia C. (1920- ? ).

 

Elwood's workplace, the Amcelle plant of Celanese Corporation

 

Over the years, he also was employed in Cumberland with the Kelly-Springfield Tire Company and the Amcelle plant of Celanese Corporation. In 1935, he accepted the position of machinist in textile engineering at Celanese and eventually moved to the extrusion engineering department. Then in 1959, Celanese tapped him for training for a supervisory role.

He lived in Ridgeley [WV?] in 1975 at the time of his mother's death.

Evidence hints that he died in 1993 with interment in Cumberland's Hillcrest Burial Park.  

 

~ Daughter Catherine O. (Collins) Shoup ~

Daughter Catherine O. Collins (1912- ? ) was born in 1912.

She is believed to have wedded John Shoup.

Circa 1975, she lived at 114 Washington Street in Frostburg, sharing the residence with her aged mother.

More will be added here once learned.

 

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