Osborn, M. C.

OSBORN, MERRILL, EVANS, HURD, REYNOLDS, HAWLEY, STRICKLAND, COVELL

Posted By: Volunteer Subscribers
Date: 4/15/2003 at 22:18:56

Source: "The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated" published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.

M. C. OSBORN, M. D.

The death of Dr. M. C. Osborn at his home in Delmar, Iowa, on April 23, 1894, removed from social and professional life one of the leading and influential citizens of this part of the state.

Dr. Osborn was a native of Concord, New Hampshire, where he was born on December 18, 1856, and he was a son of Thomas F. and Jane (Merrill) Osborn, both of whom were natives of the same New England state. Our subject was but one year old when his parents moved to Benton county, Iowa, and there Mr. Osborn purchased a farm located four miles from Walker, where, in 1874, the mother of our subject died. The father resides in Walker and has extensive farm interests in the surrounding country. Dr. Osborn was one in a family of six children born to his parents, and was the eldest of the family, the others being: John, who is settled on the homestead farm at Walker, with wife and one son; Sarah Evans, deceased; Edward, who married Florence Hurd, resides in Benton county, Iowa, and has three children; Mary, who married Harry Reynolds, resides near Waverly, Iowa, and has one child; and Dora, who married Charles Hawley, resides in Marysville, Iowa, and has four children.

As his father was a teacher by profession, Dr. Osborn received special educational training in his youth and was kept continually at school until he was sixteen years of age, his first school-house being one of logs, located in Spencer’s Grove. Later he was sent to Tobin’s Academy, at that time a noted institution, in Vinton, Iowa, and from which he graduated in 1868, immediately becoming a teacher. His assistance was given to his father on the farm when other duties did not engage his time, but until 1872 his services as an instructor were in demand through the county.

In the latter year Dr. Osborn entered the Baptist College at Wilton, Muscatine county, Iowa, at which well-known educational center he graduated with honors, in the class of 1874. The intervening years until 1879 were occupied in teaching, during which time he quietly read on the science of medicine, this being the goal toward which he was working. In 1881 he graduated from the medical department in the Iowa State University, his preliminary preparation being so thorough that his preceptors gave him an unusual advance of two years in the medical course.

On April 23, which later became a sad anniversary, it being the date of his death, Dr. Osborn located in Delmar, Iowa, and began the practice of his profession. Some physicians are undoubtedly born, not made, and to this class belonged our lamented subject. His success was immediate, although steady and advancing until the date of his death, extending over a wide range of country, and connected with every condition of life. Not only was he a public-spirited citizen, but he was one of the most charitable and benevolent of physicians, a friend to those who needed his services, irrespective of their ability to remunerate him. Not only was he mourned by his immediate family, but also by hundreds of those who had benefited by his kindness and skill.

Dr. Osborn was taken ill on the anniversary of his wedding and passed out of life on the anniversary of his location in this city. He had provided well for the welfare of his family, leaving them property, including a large farm in Kansas, a store building and several residences and an elegant home in this city, and also an insurance of ten thousand dollars. His political sympathies were ever with the Republican party, although he never would accept public office. His social connections were with the State Medical Association; the Clinton and Jackson County Association; the American Medical Association; the Modern Woodmen of America of Delmar, in all of these organizations possessing the esteem and affection of his comrades. For many years he was a steward and trustee of the Methodist church.

Dr. Osborn came of fine old Mayflower stock, and two of his uncles, both physicians, Dr. Moses and Dr. William Osborn, took loyal part in the Revolutionary war, the latter dying of yellow fever while in the service of his country.

The marriage of Dr. Osborn was on April 17, 1879, at Wilton Junction, Iowa, to Miss Hattie M. Strickland, who was born in Muscatine, Iowa, and who was a daughter of A. F. and W. J. (Covell) Strickland, both of whom were natives of Hartford, Connecticut. Mr. and Mrs. Strickland came west in February, 1846, riding on the first train that made the trip west of Davenport. They located twelve miles east of Muscatine, where Mr. Strickland bought a farm of raw prairie land, erected a log cabin, and for nine years he labored there, bringing his farm to a fine state of cultivation. Selling this farm, he then retired to Wilton, and for a period engaged in the harness business there, but prior to his death on March 31, 1874, he had lived retired from active endeavor. The mother of Mrs. Osborn is still a resident of Wilton.

Dr. and Mrs. Osborn were the parents of one daughter, Florence E., who was born on June 8, 1890, and is one of the bright pupils of the public school in this city.