Sampson, Osborn (1852-1921)

SAMPSON

Posted By: Anne Hermann (email)
Date: 3/3/2008 at 21:20:53

Jackson Sentinel
January 1, 1921

Andrew and Community Pays Homage to the Late Osborn Sampson
(By our Andrew Correspondent.)

Like a thunderbolt from a clear sky came the sad words Thursday morning: “Mr. Sampson is dead,” and as sad tidings they conveyed both sorrow and grief into every home in Andrew and community. It is indeed difficult to express the deep grief and profound sorrow caused by his death. It was so sad that words of sympathy seem out of place. The grief being too sacred to intimate. He richly deserves praise, his death a painful separation. A frail little wife is left alone in her once happy home, an invalid nephew, home is made desolate, and yet we can only say “His Will, not ours be done,”

Osborn Sampson, the distinguished and kind-hearted man so much beloved as a citizen of Andrew, claimed the beautiful state of Massachusetts as his birthplace. In the city of West Brookfield, March 8, 1852, he came into this world. He was graduated at Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass., in the year 1870. Soon after his graduation he was compelled to discontinue his studies by the death of his father. He came to Chicago then and adopted that city as his home, going into the business of manufacturing railroad supplies, at which he was permitted to see success crown his every transaction, and had his health not been impaired the city of Andrew may never be what it is today. This is an instance of how even a city may be molded or influenced by circumstances which in themselves seem to be of little moment.

In this city in November in the year 1880 he was untied in marriage to Alice Bradley. A boyhood chum, Dr. Chamberlain of New York, performed the ceremony. Dr. Chamberlain has said that Mr. Sampson was the nearest perfect of any man he had ever known. How many young men can today claim such a eulogy? Mr. and Mrs. Sampson made their home in Chicago until 1890 when Mr. Sampson contracted influenza which so impaired his health, that he was for a time compelled to give up his work and seek a milder climate and refreshing sea air. After spending several years at these famous resorts with his wife, they were happy to return once more to their Chicago home and business. But the cure was not permanent, and it soon became evident that the work again must be discontinued and the advice from his physician this time was to go abroad. Mr. and Mrs. Sampson then left for Europe, planning to stay indefinitely. But after a year spent there they were called to Andrew by the serious illness of Mrs. Sampson’s mother, Mrs. Lucy Bradley, who died Oct. 21, 1906. They arrived here in the early summer when the Bradley spacious home and lawn were beautiful with flowers. The outdoor attractions appealed to Mr. Sampson and seemed to be the balm for his ill health, they had so long sought for. After the death of Mrs. Bradley they continued to reside in Andrew, Mr. and Mrs. Sampson assuming the care of Mrs. Sampson’s invalid sister, the late Miss Fanny Bradley.
For “City Beautiful,”

After regaining his health, he voluntarily took up the pleasant employment of service for his fellow citizens in up building works of civic improvement and public benefaction. In the embellishment of the “City Beautiful” to which he devoted his energies and his generosity through these last years of his useful life. For two years he was mayor. This position he filled with distinguished ability until his term of service had been sufficiently long to justify him in so doing, he asked and was granted to leave to resign. As a notary public, the same conspicuous and essential qualities earned for him the respect and admiration of all. Mr. Sampson was found a true and silent, sympathetic friend. In the year 1914 with his brother-in-law, the late P. B. Bradley, they promoted the Andrew Savings bank which today stands as the lasting and edifying monument to their name.

Mr. Sampson was again compelled on account of ill health four years ago to give up active service in the bank, but the institution is efficiently conducted by Mr. Day and Miss. Fowler, who were associated with him in his great work. Mr. Sampson never discontinued his work as Notary Public or Insurance agent for the Home Insurance Co. in which he and Mr. Day were partners which work will now be continued by Mr. Day.

On Thursday evening, Dec. 23, Mr. Sampson was stricken with his last illness. Everything that love, money and skill could do was done with the best of physicians and skilled nurses at his side. God had called and he went at 10:30, Wednesday night. His soul left his tired body, leaving in his once happy home the devoted wife the will of Him who wields the destiny of our lives. Lives like Mr. Sampson’s never die, the Gospel tells us, that it is the beginning of a new life, the spiritual life in heaven. Heaven is God’s home and the home of his children as your home is your home and the home of your children. Mr. Sampson believed in his faith. He practiced his belief.

He was a member of the Presbyterian church since childhood. His death removed from Andrew the mainstay of the church, but the grave can never hide Mr. Sampson’s praise-worthy works, they will live on forever and be a consolation to the sorrowing wife in her sad and lonely hours, two sisters who mourn his departure reside in Springfield, Mass, and New York.

The funeral service was conducted Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Presbyterian church, Rev. Bredow of the Lutheran church preached an eloquent and appropriate sermon and paid a glowing tribute to the memory of Mr. Sampson. The floral tributes were the most elaborate ever seen here and the pretty little church which he loved, was converted by loving hands into a miniature heaven were reposed the moral remains during the final service. Mr. Geo. Kimball, J. H. Mohlenhoff, John Irwin, J. D. Pearson, Frank March, Frank Henrick, Fred Daudel and J. L. Kinley acted as casket bearers. Interment was made in the Andrew cemetery.