Sedgwick Chaney Collins

Sedgwick Chaney Collins (Jan 1826 - 3 Apr 1908) was born to George Collins and Mary in Lewis County, (W)VA, most likely in the part of the county that eventually became Ritchie Co. His father George lived there as early as 1820, according to the census records.

Sedgwick's friends called him by his middle name Chaney, some pronouncing it "China," and there are various spellings of his name in records to include Sedwick, Shadrack, Chana, etc., which of course makes researching him more difficult.

Chaney, in 1850, was living with his widowed mother in the Western District of Ritchie Co., (W)VA and working as a farmer, according to the census record.

In Aug 1860, Chaney was living with his young family in Harrisville, Ritchie Co., WV, according to the census record, which lists his post office of Ritchie Co. Court House.

For three years during the Civil War, Chaney served as a Private in Company C of the 11th WV Infantry from Jul 1862 - Jul 1865, according to the 1890 Veteran's Schedule. According to the same record Chaney was drawing a pension and had "disease of the head and eyes," incurred during the war.

By 1870, Chaney was living with his family and worked as a farmer in the [town of Smithville] Murphy district of Ritchie Co., WV, according to census records. According to the 1900 census, Chaney owned his Smithville farm.