OSBORN, Christopher

GRIFFITH, OSBORN, MCCARTNEY

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/19/2014 at 04:40:28

Biography ~ Christopher Osborn

"Biographical and Historical Record of
Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa"
(Lewis Publishing Company (1887)), pp. 508-09:

CHRISTOPHER OSBORN, one of the old and well-known pioneers of Decatur County, is a native of Bedford County, Pennsylvania, born October 30, 1819, a son of CHRISTOPHER and MARY (GRIFFITH) OSBORN, who were natives of Maryland and Bedford County, Pennsylvania, respectively. They were married in Bedford County, and to them were born twelve children – THOMAS, BENJAMIN, CATHERINE, CHRISTOPHER, JOHN, JACOB, ABEL, PETER, DAVID, WESLEY, JANE, and ANN MARIA. CHRISTOPHER was the fourth child of his father’s family. He passed his youth in assisting with the farm work, receiving such education as the subscription schools of that early day afforded. He left his native county at the age of nineteen years, removing to Indiana County, Pennsylvania, and subsequently located in Lawrence County, Ohio. He was married to Miss. EMERINE MCCARTNEY, a daughter of WILLIAM and ELIZABETH MCCARTNEY, and of the ten children born to this union only three survive – ELZA, a teacher, has taught school for several terms; JOHN, living on a farm adjoining his father’s, and RUTH. Those deceased are - MARY, AMY, ELIZABETH, ANN, LICOLN, BENJAMIN, and ADELINE. In 1857 Mr. OSBORN came to Iowa with his wife and six children, making the journey by team, and after being on the road four weeks, they arrived in Decatur County, October 20, 1857. He at once settled on his present farm which at that time was a wild, uncultivated tract of land. He first built a log cabin, 16 x 18 feet, and began making improvement. August 15, 1862, he enlisted in Company I, Thirty-fourth Iowa Infantry, and participated in the battles of Chickasaw Bluff and Arkansas Post. He was honorably discharged at St. Louis, Missouri, in April, 1863, when he returned to his home in Decatur County, where he has since followed agricultural pursuits. He has now a well-improved farm containing 124 acres of highly-cultivated land, and the log cabin of former years has given place to his present substantial and more-imposing residence. He has a commodious barn and out-buildings for the convenience of his stock, a good orchard well supplied with fruits. Mr. OSBORN is a consistent member of the United Brethren in Christ, which he has served as class-leader and steward, and in which he has been licensed to exhort and to preach. He is an active and public spirited citizen of Decatur County, taking an interest in the various enterprises which have been of benefit to his township or county, and in pioneer days assisted in building the roads, bridges, churches and school-houses of Decatur County. He has served as township trustee, and for six years was a member of the Board of Supervisors, serving with credit to himself and to the best interests of Decatur County.

Transcribed by Sara LeFleur, Decatur County Historial Society Musuem, January of 2014