Andrew Collins arrived in the Sheyenne Valley in the fall of 1877, located and filed for homestead on the river bottom approximately ten miles south of Valley City. (Worthington at that time).

Mr. Collins was a native of Sweden, having immigrated to this country shortly after the Civil War. In Sweden the name was Anders Kolin, Collins is the Americanized version. Andrew had first settled in Minnesota in Kandiyohi County, where he had farmed for some time; when the Dakota territory was opened for homesteading, they decided that would be a better move so they gathered up their belongings and their livestock and started west by covered wagon drawn by a yoke of oxen. There were milch cows and a few sheep to be herded along. Upon arrival they dug in and constructed a Hogan, just above the river bank, on the west side of the river; that dugout can be clearly seen, even to this day, from the river bridge with a tall elm overhang. Fortunately the following winter was fairly open and free from heavy snows, and only one sheep fell prey to the wolves.

Mr. Collins was considered a well educated man for his day and times. He had attended a seminary where he had studied for the ministry. Unfortunately he was not in the best of health. Shortly after the family was settled in their new home, Father Collins died, suddenly and unexpectedly. Things were in such a primitive state at that time that a burial casket was not available in Valley City so one was shipped from Fargo. The total cost was $12.00.

He was buried on the farmstead on a knoll in the field a few rods east of the Valley highway. That farmstead is now owned and occupied by Elmer Stevens.

Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 49