Joseph Collins was born 17 November 1807 at Stone Mills, Jefferson County, New York, a son of John B. Collins, who preceeded him as a keeper at Rock Island Lighthouse, from 1849 to 1853. These men are the only parent-child couple to serve in an official capacity at the station.
        Joseph married Mary Eddy, born 6 July 1807, daughter of Ebenezer Eddy and Huldah Cobb. Mary was baptized in the St. Lawrence River around 1860 by Rev E. M. Ward, and joined the LaFargeville Baptist Church.

Joseph Collins and wife Mary Eddy.

 
        Joseph and Mary lived in or near Stone Mills until sometime between 1831 and 1834 when they removed to what is now Collins Landing—named after Joseph's family, and site of the current Thousand Islands International Bridge. The property was all virgin forest when they bought it from an absentee landowner. It had previously been surveyed by Joseph's father. They lived in a log house until about 1880, when a frame house was built.
        During their lifetime, Collins Landing came into its own as a community: more houses went up along the river, two sawmills and at least one cheese factory were erected, and a post office named "The Narrows" was established. There was a ferry between Collins Landing and Wells Island, powered by hand with oars. Since the water was very deep in the vicinity, a refueling station was operated at Collins Landing for those ships that burned wood for propulsion. The ships tied up to big metal rings in the rock.

        Joseph and Mary had eight children: Harriet Amelia Collins, born 4 March 1830, died 19 February 1885, buried in Grove Cemetery, LaFargeville, married first George Cook, married second Stillman Rood; Cornelia Collins, born 4 August 1831; Cordelia Collins, born 28 July 1834; Sanford Collins, born 10 April 1837; Joseph Collins, Jr., born 28 March 1839, married Elizabeth Connant, a sister-in-law to future Rock Island lighthouse keeper Willard L. Cook; Mary Collins, born 9 July 1844, died 1 September 1863, buried in Stone Mills Cemetery; Clarissa Collins, born 4 April 1848,died 12 January 1932, buried Kepler Cemetery, Town of Alexandria, married about 1856, Lewis Kepler, who died 29 November 1930, son of Peter Kepler; and Elbridge Collins, born 25 September 1851.

        Joseph Collins was appointed keeper of Rock Island Lighthouse on 3 March 1865, and was removed on 3 February 1870. No keepers' logs survive from his period of service. Autobiographical notes written by successor Willard L. Cook tell that when he took over the lighthouse it was Mrs. Collins who traveled with him to Rock Island to show him how the light worked and how to care for the station.

        Joseph died 28 September 1878 at Collins Landing, and Mary followed him on 28 August 1889. They are both buried in Stone Mills Cemetery. Today they are honored by a memorial plaque at the nearby Agricultural Museum at Stone Mills.

Monument marking graves of Joseph & Mary Collins at Stone Mills.