Elhanan Collins
1899 - 1924 (24 years)-
Name Elhanan Collins Birth 25 May 1899 Harlan Co., KY 
[1, 2, 3] Gender Male Death 15 Mar 1924 Philips Fork, Leslie Co., KY [4, 5] Cause: gunshot, killed instantly (homicide) Burial Honey Branch Cemetery, Helton, Leslie Co., KY [6] Person ID I50807 Meadow Bluff Meanderings Last Modified 28 Jan 2025
Father John W. Collins, b. Jan 1870, Lee Co., VA d. 9 Mar 1941, Millerton, McCurtain Co., OK (Age 71 years) Mother Martha Ellen Caldwell, b. Sep 1877, KY d. Abt 1900 (Age 22 years) Marriage 1896 [7] Family ID F17822 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family Lucy Saylor, b. 15 Mar 1901, Leslie Co., KY d. 2 Apr 1923, Harlan Co., KY (Age 22 years) Children 1. Ella Collins, b. 12 Dec 1919, Bell Co., KY d. Yes, date unknown2. Jim Collins, b. 16 May 1921, Leslie Co., KY d. Yes, date unknown3. Lucy Collins, b. 2 Apr 1923, Harlan Co., KY d. Jul 1923, Leslie Co., KY (Age 0 years)Family ID F17823 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 28 Jan 2025
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Notes - The Harlan Enterprise, Harlan, KY, Friday, 21 Mar 1924, p. 1, col. 6
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-harlan-daily-enterprise-killing-in-l/164126425/
KILLING IN LESLIE COUNTY
Pistols and moonshine liquor added another name to its long list of tragedies over the mountain in Leslie county last Sunday, when Elhanan Collins was shot and killed on Philips Fork of Red Bird.
Details are hard to procure this far removed from the scene but from best information the killing occurred in the following manner:
Collins and another man, it is alleged, went to the home of John Saylor to get liquor; Saylor was not at home and Collins and the other man stayed around all day waiting for him to return. Saylor is a widower and there was no one at his home except his children, so Collins got a gallon of moonshine and told the children he would settle for it when he saw Saylor. Saylor evidently did not approve of this for he and his son Gib Saylor armed themselves and went to the home of Sam Caldwell about three o'clock in the morning where Collins was. It is alleged that John Saylor walked up to Collins and grabbed him by the coat collar and began shooting him in the back. Collins drew his pistol and shot Saylor three times and started to leave the room when he was shot in the back by Gib Saylor, the ball breaking Collins' back.
Collins died immediately but at last reports John Saylor was in a dangerous condition and Gib Saylor was arrested and taken to Hyden and lodged in jail without bond.
This ought to end the story of the tragedy, but it does not. There are the orphaned children of Collins, whose wife is also dead, and the children of Saylor whose wife has been dead for some time. Their story will not go to press, for it will be a story of hardship, lonliness [sic], want and hatred; the sequel to the story illicit distilling.
The Lexington Leader, Lexington, KY, Tuesday, 29 Apr 1924, p. 12, col. 1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/683120003/
SAYLOR TRIAL MAY 3
HYDEN - John Saylor and his nephew, Giles Saylor, charged with the killing of Elhanon Collins, will be tried here May 3. The latter, who was shot in the fight, has been receiving treatment in the local jail and is expected to recover.
The Lexington Leader, Lexington, KY, Wednesday, 14 May 1924, p. 6, col. 3
https://www.newspapers.com/image/683080822/
TWO HELD IN KILLING
HYDEN - John and Giles Saylor were held without bond on a charge of murder of Elhannon Collins, and the latter was transferred to the Perry county jail, as the Leslie county jail was considered unsafe by Judge F. G. Roberts. John Saylor is at the local jail recovering from wounds said to have been received in the encounter.
The Lexington Leader, Lexington, KY, Thursday, 19 Jun 1924, p. 6, col. 1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/682904955/
ALLEGED SLAYER RETAKEN
HYDEN - Giles Saylor, charged with the murder of Elhanan Collins, broke out of jail, but was recaptured in the southern part of the county.
State Journal, Frankfort, KY, Wednesday, 10 Sep 1924, p. 6, col. 3
https://www.newspapers.com/image/1013383900/
ARRIVALS AT PRISON
Now that the fall courts are in session the number of new prisoners is increasing at the Reformatory. Leslie county sent in the following delegation yesterday: Lawrence Pennington, to serve one year for malicious shooting; Giles Saylor, ten years for manslaughter; Mat Wells five years for manslaughter.
- The Harlan Enterprise, Harlan, KY, Friday, 21 Mar 1924, p. 1, col. 6
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Sources - [S2341] Kentucky, Harlan County, FCR: Harlan Co., KY 1900, (http://www.ancestry.com: National Archives and Records Administration, 2009), T623, roll 525, Forestin Creek, enumeration district (ED) 55, sheet 1, p. 95, dwelling 4, family 4, Elhanen Collins, accessed 27 Jan 2025 (Reliability: 3).
- [S1355] Kentucky State Board of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics, Kentucky Death Certificate, (http://www.ancestry.com :2007.), death certificate 6162 (1924), Elhanan Collins, accessed 27 Jan 2025. (Reliability: 3).
lists date of birth as Dec 1899. - [S1590] WWI Draft Registration Cards, (Ancestry.com. http://www.ancestry.com : 2005.), (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 27 Jan 2025), card for Elhana Collins, serial no. 1285; Local Board 16-3-27 Harlan "C". (Reliability: 3).
- [S1355] Kentucky State Board of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics, Kentucky Death Certificate, (http://www.ancestry.com :2007.), death certificate 6162 (1924), Elhanan Collins, accessed 27 Jan 2025. (Reliability: 3).
- [S2342] Kentucky. Harlan., Harlan Enterprise (Harlan, KY), "KILLING IN LESLIE COUNTY," 21 Mar 1924, p. 1, col. 6; digital images, Newspapers.com (http://www.newspapers.com : accessed 28 Jan 2025). (Reliability: 3).
- [S1241] Find A Grave, Find A Grave, ((http://www.findagrave.com/)), accessed 28 Jan 2025), memorial page for Elahanon Collins (Dec 1899–15 Mar 1924), Find a Grave Memorial ID 175076995; citing Honey Branch Cemetery, Helton, Leslie County, Kentucky, USA; Maintained by Sue Ann Hornung White Morrow Davis (contributor 47567877). (Reliability: 3).
- [S2341] Kentucky, Harlan County, FCR: Harlan Co., KY 1900, (http://www.ancestry.com: National Archives and Records Administration, 2009), T623, roll 525, Forestin Creek, enumeration district (ED) 55, sheet 1, p. 95, dwelling 4, family 4, Ellen Collins, accessed 27 Jan 2025 (Reliability: 3).
- [S2341] Kentucky, Harlan County, FCR: Harlan Co., KY 1900, (http://www.ancestry.com: National Archives and Records Administration, 2009), T623, roll 525, Forestin Creek, enumeration district (ED) 55, sheet 1, p. 95, dwelling 4, family 4, Elhanen Collins, accessed 27 Jan 2025 (Reliability: 3).