Henry Collings
the son of the Hon. George Collings and Harriet Conner, his wife, was born on his father's farm in Monroe Township, March 15, 1853. He attended school in Manchester and the Ohio Weslevan University at Delaware in 1869, 1870 and 1871, when he gave up his course. Had be remained, he would have graduated in the class of 1873. He took up the study of law in the fall of 1872, with Col. Oscar F. Moore, of Portsmouth, and was admitted in April, 1874. He began the practice of law in Manchester, where he has since continued to reside. He was elected prosecuting attorney of Adams County, and served one term. In the fall of 1891, he was a candidate for common pleas judge in the first subdivision of the fifth common pleas district, composed of Adams, Brown and Clermont counties, and while there was a nominal majority of 1500 against him, he was elected by a majority of about 500. He had 800 majority in Adams County. In his career as a judge in his first term he made such a reputation for judicial ability that his friends determined his service should not be lost to the public. In order that he might be retained, his county, was by the Legislature, taken from the first subdivision of the fifth district and placed in the second subdivision of the seventh district, and in the latter he was nominated and elected common pleas judge in 1896, and is now occupying that position. Judge Collings. has always been a Republican in his political faith and practice, and is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
He was married September 20, 1882, to Miss Alice Gibson, daughter of Rev. — Gibson. There are two children of this marriage, Henry Davis and Mary King. Judge Collings had a reputation as an able lawyer before he went on the bench and has more than sustained it. He is well trained as a lawyer, has a clear judicial mind and in his investigations groups all the essential points of a case and when he has determined it, the opposing party is satisfied that he has determined it im partially and according to his conception of the law.
In addition to his excellent qualities as a judge he has a fine sense of humor, which is continually asserting itself and makes his intercourse with the lawyers and his best friends have a spice which is most entertaining and delightful, but as he inherited this most entertaining quality from his distinguished father, we do not propose to hold him responsible for it. Enjoying the confidence and respect of all the people whom he serves, we hope he may not be gathered to his fathers till he has enjoyed the good things of this world as long as his venerable neighbor and friend, David Dunbar.
From History of Adams County, Ohio from its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time - by Nelson W. Evans and Emmons B. Stivers - West Union, Ohio - Published by E. B. Stivers - 1900