Benjamin Columbus Collier had given the land for and founded the city of Blakely, now the county seat of Early County, Georgia. Ben was born between 1785 and 1790 in Charlotte County Virginia and died on ? November 14, 1845 in Blakely (some sources say January 17, 1846). He was buried in what is now Wesley Chapel Cemetery on North Church Street in Blakely. On May 16, 1975, at Founders Day ceremonies, a bronze and marble marker bearing his name was placed in front of the City Hall on the courthouse square. Several sources say he was the son of Benjamin Collier and Sallie Gaines Collier (daughter of John Collier and Hannah Cary). I have some questions as to the accuracy of this decent but have no proof to the contrary. Ben was first married about 1804 in Virginia to Margaret Lane who was born in Virginia and died on February 7, 1830 in Blakely. They were the parents of nine known children. After the death of Margaret Lane, Benjamin was married a second time, to Mrs. Mary (Barr) Grandberry. This is the name that is cited in several sources although the marriage records for either of his marriages have been located. Ben and his second wife were the parents of four more children. Noting the time span between births (1807 to 1812 and 1833 to 1837) it is possible that there were additional children who perhaps died young or who are unknown to this writer. From: Yellowed Pages: Volume XVIII, No. 4, 1988 Collier Family of Southeast Texas by Barbara Yancey Dore.