Born: Washington County, Pennsylvania, 1820.
Died: Taylorville, Illinois, 1895.
Grew up on a farm in Miami County, Ohio, and received his early education there. Taught school and studied medicine, but did not graduate. First united with the Baptist Church, but, hearing Alexander Campbell in a public debate, he took the Bible alone as the rule of his faith and practice. Was licensed to preach in 1844 as a man of recognized ability.
He came to Morgan County about 1850. In that section he was associated with D. P. Henderson, W. W. Happy and others in evangelistic work. He became the pastor of the Taylorville Church in 1856, but in 1858 moved to a farm in Locust Creek Township. There, in a settlement of Ohioans, he formed a Christian congregation that gave P. D. Vermillion to the ministry. This band never built a chapel.
In 1863, Mr. McCollum returned to Taylorville, where he resided till the close of his life. He rendered the church there most valuable help. From that place he preached in all the surrounding region for miles and years. He led Mrs. Henry Davis to the Lord--she was the mother of Mrs. Hoover and Mrs. Detterding, both of honored memory. Mrs. Davis and her husband built the present house of worship in Taylorville
Mr. McCollum lived in a time when liquor was in most homes, but he never knew its taste. In his ministry he was intrepid and aggressive.
On one occasion he entered a denominational assembly in the country. The regular minister did not come; so the leaders, after a private consultation, asked the unorthodox McCollum to "make a few remarks." He opened up with such unction that there were tears in many eyes and not a few fervent "Amens." He came to the great commission, and the tears gave place to disappointment and the "Amens" to vexation. Next he stood on Mt. Zion under the throne of the King and amid the fiery tongues of Pentecost. The preacher's words did not affect the people like those of Peter. There were hurried nods and whisperings among the leaders, and a concerted move among them toward the door. The people followed-- so did the preacher, proclaiming insistently the word of the Lord. It was an irregular panic, and looked like a flight from fire or an invasion of Indians. Away went the people down the main road with the preacher a close second, still making himself heard and understood. He told them about Philip in Samaria. At another sign from the leaders the people took to the woods in squads and singly. The peerless defender of the faith poured the truth into the squads as he came upon them. An elderly man, out of breath, heard the whole story of the eunuch's conversion; a woman with a babe in arms heard for the first time about the salvation of Lydia. Had it not been for the saplings and pawpaw bushes, the whole history of conversions would have been declared.