Mr. Collier is a native of Coxsackie, Green, Co., N. Y., where he was born on the 21st of November, 1820.  His ancestors came from Holland, and settled at an early time in that part of Greene county.  His grandfather, Major Collier, married a Miss Bronk, whose father was a wealthy landholder in that neighborhood.  Philip Collier, his father, was born on the estate in 1795, and married Christina Hallenbeck, by whom he had a family of nine children, seven daughters and two sons, of whom Casper was the oldest.  He was educated at the academies of Coxsackie and Kinderhook and at Union College; and entered upon the study of law in the office of John Gaul, Jr. Esq., at Hudson, N. Y., in the fall of 1840.  He completed his law studies in the office of Messrs. Bushnell & Bliss, in the city of New York, and was admitted to the bar as an attorney and counselor at law and solicitor in chancery in January, 1845.  The same year he opened a law office in the city of Hudson, and three years thereafter entered into co-partnership with Hon. Henry Hogeboom, late justice of the Supreme Court, continuing in practice with him till 1854.  He then established his office where he is now located, in the city of Hudson, and afterwards admitted as partner with him his only brother, Isaac N. Collier, the present surrogate of Columbia county, under the firm-name of C. P. & I. N. Collier, and has continued in practice here ever since.

     Mr. Collier is well read in his profession, and has had a large experience in practice, which may be regarded as more than ordinarily successful.  The business of the firm is excellent, embracing the patronage of some of the leading monetary institutions of the city and a large and respectable general clientage.  He is a director in the National Hudson River Bank, and in several other important corporations, and has been for several years past a trustee of the Hudson Orphan Asylum.  He was nominated on the Democratic ticket for member of Congress in 1872, but was defeated by Mr. Ketchum, the present member, the Republican majority being large in the district.

     Mr. Collier was united in marriage to Miss Mary DuBois, only daughter of Coert DuBois, Esq., of Columbia county, in 1848, and has three children, two having died in infancy.  Mr. and Mrs. Collier are members of the First Presbyterian church of Hudson, and eminently worthy the social respect and confidence universally accorded them.

     In 1875, Mr, Collier was brought forward as one of the prominent candidates for appointment by Gov. Tilden to fill the vacancy in the bench of the Supreme Court, caused by the election of Judge Miller to the court of appeals.  The Albany Evening Post said, "The prominent candidates for the position are still Casper P. Collier, of Hudson, R. W. Peckham, of Albany, and Counselor Holmes, of Schoharie county; all good men, all men of character, experience, and ability, fit for this or any other office.  But, as we have said before, location, and not individual preference, [p. 219] should dispose of this whole question.   Hudson is fairly entitled to a Supreme Court judge.  Hudson presents the name of Casper P. Collier.  He is indorsed by all the leading lawyers in that city, and two-thirds of the leading lawyers in that city, and two-thirds of the leading lawyers of Columbia, Rensselaer, Greene, and Ulster counties.  He is the second choice of all the leading lawyers of Albany and Schoharie counties.  He would be their first choice were it not for the fact, that Albany and Schoharie have candidates of their own."  The Troy Daily Times spoke also in terms equally commendatory of Mr. Collier's appointment, but other considerations prevailed in the counsels of the governor.