John H. Collins was a well-known vocalist with various minstrel companies.
He was the husband of Julia Gould, the prima donna of Buckley’s Minstrels.
In the Spring of 1860 he was with Wood’s Minstrels, and in the Fall of that year he joined Rumsey and Newcomb’s Company, going to Cuba with them, where he died in December, 1860.
“Pickaninny” (Thomas E.) Coleman was one of the early black-face performers ante-dating minstrelsy proper.
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| JOHN HARTEMIL AMES | BILLY EMERSON (1869) | DAN. WALDRON (Of Original Big 4) | GEO. M. DE VERE—MATT McELROY 1878. |
| WILLIS P. SWEATNAM |
He played many engagements in New York in the early 40’s, with John W. Smith, with whom he made a trip to England in 1840.
He died in Newark, N. J., July 5, 1859.
John Landis was one of the old-time minstrels and general black-face performers; he was with Sam Sanford’s Minstrels in 1859, and at one time was prominently identified with his own company. He died in Philadelphia, September 19, 1863.
S. E. Clark was one of the early interlocutors, or “middle-men” of minstrelsy; he was rated an excellent bass vocalist, and was with the Bryant’s in New York in 1857.
He died in New Haven, Conn., February 3, 1860.