Highland County Historical Society celebrates 50th anniversary, Part XXVIII
By Pamela Nickell
H.C. Historical Society
Several local historians have written about the brief but heroic military career of Lt. Caspar Wever Collins, who was born in Hillsboro and died in Wyoming in battle.
Al Martelotti, Jean Wallis, Steve Roush, Elise Johnson Ayres, and Leland Pennington have kept the young hero’s exploits and memory alive. With an event planned by HCHS Trustee Katie Burwinkel, the Highland County Historical Society is continuing this tradition on the 150th anniversary of his death in battle on July 26, 1865 at 20 years of age.
An Evening with Caspar Collins will be Sunday, July 26, on the front lawn of the Scott House, 338 W. Main St., Hillsboro, from 6-7 p.m., featuring Steve Roush as Caspar Wever Collins and Bob Brown as William Oliver Collins.
Caspar was born in Hillsboro, Ohio on Sept. 30, 1844. He was the red-headed, freckle-faced (so described by Jean Wallis) oldest of three children.
Sister Mary died at the age of 8, and sister Josephine never married, but remained at home and cared for her parents. Therefore, since Caspar died so very young, just 3 months before he was 21, there are no descendants of this family.
The family home, however, at 130 Collins Avenue, remains in the excellent care of Buddy and Marilyn Pence, descendants of the Rogers family, who bought the estate after the death of Mrs. Collins. It is called “The Pillars” for the beautiful columns gracing the front. The Highland House Museum’s Southeast bedroom is designated the Caspar Collins Room with some furniture from the Collins home, portraits of Lt. Col. and William O. Collins and Lt. Caspar W. Collins painted by Norman Naylor (see Article XXI), a replica of one of the letters Caspar sent home and other period items.
“As a young child in Ohio, Caspar Wever Collins gained a passion for
nature and artistry from his mother, Catherine,” writes Colorado State University – to whom, before her death Dec. 16, 1911 – Caspar’s mother donated his hand-drawn maps of the western expedition on which he accompanied his father, Lt. Col. William O. Collins.
“In March 1862, they left Ohio for St. Louis. Along the route, Caspar recorded the new sites in drawings and letters. Caspar recorded the camps and stations they saw in excellent detail and with vivid colors on linen maps. Caspar made maps of most of the forts his father commanded and these were used officially by the war department.”
The town Casper, Wyo. and Fort Caspar, Wyo. are named for him. Museums and libraries, such as the Colorado State University Library, hold memorabilia of him.
As we celebrate our native son here in Hillsboro, a three-day Caspar Collins Days event is planned July 24-26 in Fort Caspar, Wyo.
See www.fortcasparwyoming.com.
Keep on ... recording, remembering and honoring!