Osborn, Frederick

OSBORN, FALLOWS, BIDDLE

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 10/18/2009 at 09:50:40

HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY
Vol. II; Pages 363-364 (1911)

FREDERICK OSBORN

Frederick Osborn, engaged in agricultural pursuits on a good farm in Malcom township, is one of Poweshiek county's foreign born residents, his birth having occurred in Worcestershire, England, about twelve miles north of the city of Worcester, on the 26th of January, 1848, his parents being Samuel and Elizabeth (Fallows) Osborn. The father, who was a lifelong farmer, passed away in England, and the mother later came to America, her death occurring at the home of her son, Samuel. In their family were three children, of whom our subject was the eldest. The others were: Amy, who died in 1878, in Poweshiek county; and Samuel, a retired farmer of Grinnell.

Frederick Osborn spent his early life in the land of his nativity and in the English schools acquired his education. He was the first member of the family to seek a home in the new world, arriving in Poweshiek county in 1871, since which time he has continued to reside within its borders. For about a year after his arrival he was employed as a farm hand, and later he rented a farm, but his industry and economy soon made it possible for him to purchase a place of his own and thus engage independently in agricultural pursuits. He became the owner of one hundred and sixty acres on sections 29 and 30, Malcom township, which is still his home, and here he carries on general farming and stock-raising, his efforts in both directions bringing to him a goodly measure of success.

In October, 1900, Mr. Osborn was married to Miss Mildred Jane Biddle, also a native of Worcestershire, England. She was born on the 13th of October, 1872, and in 1900 came alone to the United States. By her marriage she became the mother of three children: Noel, Neal and Gordon.

Mr. and Mrs. Osborn attend the Episcopal church at Grinnell, in which they hold membership, and are highly esteemed throughout the community in which they reside. Mr. Osborn has always led the quiet but industrious life of the farm, concentrating his entire attention upon the conduct of his private affairs, and to his close application and wise management is due in large measure the degree of prosperity which he today enjoys.