OSBORN, J. W. - 1914

OSBORN, SMITH, MOSS, FOVER, WEAVER, COLE, BOOKMAN

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 7/8/2009 at 14:39:12

HISTORY OF
Cherokee County
IOWA
VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY
1914
by Thomas McCulla

J. W. OSBORN.

In a history of the agricultural development of Cherokee county it is imperative that mention be made of J. W. Osborn, who since 1880 has been closely connected with farming interests here. He owns today two hundred and eighty acres of excellent land on sections 10 and 11, Spring township, and occupies a high position in agricultural circles in the locality. He was born in Freeport,. Illinois, March 14, 1854, and is a son of Thomas and Edith (Smith) Osborn, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Virginia. Both were early settlers in Illinois, where their marriage occurred and where afterward the father purchased land, engaging in farming near Freeport until 1856. In that year he came to Iowa, settling in Howard county, near Cresco, whence he moved to Mitchell county, where he passed away in June, 1868. His wife survived him many years, dying in 1885. The father is buried on the bank of Rock creek, in Mitchell county, and the mother was interred in Afton cemetery, Cherokee county. To their union were born five children: Samuel L., who resides in Thomas, South Dakota; Julia, the wife of Henry Moss, of Freeport, Illinois; J. W., of this review; Ella, the widow of Moses Fover, of Freeport; and Charley, who has passed away and is buried in Cherokee county.

J. W. Osborn was reared in Illinois and acquired his education in the public schools of that state. He remained at home until he was fifteen years of age and then took charge of his uncles farm near Freeport. This he operated until 1880, when he came to Iowa, settling in Cherokee county and turning his attention to farming. At first he took charge of forty acres belonging to his mother, but he soon afterward bought one hundred and sixty acres of his own, to which he later added a quarter section of railroad land. From time to time he has purchased other property and he now owns two hundred and eighty acres located seven miles southwest of Peterson, on sections 10 and 11, Spring township. This land is all in a high state of cultivation and reflects the many years of care and labor which the owner has expended upon it.

In Freeport, Illinois, on the 8th of July, 1878, Mr. Osborn married Miss Ida Alice Moss, who was born April 15, 1860, a daugher of John and Mary (Weaver) Moss. The parents were born in Pennsylvania and from that state. moved to Illinois, settling near Freeport, where the father engaged in farming until his death. He was laid to rest in Youngs cemetery near the city. He and his wife became the parents of ten children: Kate, who has passed away; Henry, who resides in Freeport; Sarah, the widow of Ben Cole, of Galena, Illinois; Mary, who married Henry Bookman, of Freeport; Lewis, of Wisconsin; Hattie, the widow of George Fover, of Monte Vista, Colorado; Albert, of Da ikota, Illinois; Ida Alice, the wife of the subject of this review; Edward, of Preeport; and a child who died in infancy.

Mr. Osborn gives his political allegiance to the republican party but is not active as an office seeker, preferring to concentrate his attention upon his business affairs. A residence of thirtythree years in Cherokee county has made him well known in this locality, where he bears an enviable reputation as a prosperous farmer and a progressive citizen.