"in 1890 collins and family moved to chicago, where he continued his career." "among the outstanding achievements of this period was a crayon portrait, eight feet long, of john plankinton, owner and operator of the plankinton hotel, milwaukee, wisconsin. for this piece of work he was said to have received the highest price ever paid in this country for a crayon portrait. later, the plankinton hotel was destroyed by fire and the picture with it."