WI BIO - Lafayette Co - OSBORN, Sylvester W. & Charles Francis

1st Biography of Sylvester W. OSBORN
[father of Charles Francis OSBORN]

Commemorative Biographical Record of Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and 
Lafayette, Wisconsin, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and 
Representative Citizens, and of Many of the Early Settled Families. Chicago: 
Beers, 1901, pp 152-153

For half a century Captain S. W. OSBORN has been a resident of the city of 
Darlington, Lafayette County [Wisconsin], which now delights to honor him as 
one of her distinguished citizens. He [S. W. OSBORN] was born at Franklin, 
Delaware County, New York, 01 July 1811, a son of Samuel and Polly (WEBSTER) 
OSBORN, both of whom were natives of Connecticut. The maternal grandfather, 
Michael WEBSTER, who was a soldier in the Revolution, died in Ashtabula 
County, Ohio, at the age of 102 years, retaining his faculties until the 
close of his long life. The paternal grandfather, Samuel OSBORN, was also a 
soldier in the Revolution; he spent his last days in his native State, 
Connecticut.

In 1813, when our subject was but two and a half years old, his parents 
migrated from the State of New York to Ashtabula County, Ohio, and the father 
[Samuel OSBORN] died near Sandusky [Sandusky County or Sandusky in Erie 
County, Ohio?] in 1820, the mother [Polly (WEBSTER) OSBORN, assuming she was 
never remarried] passing away in Ashtabula County in December 1877, at the 
age of nearly ninety-four years. Captain [S. W.] OSBORN is one of a family 
of four sons and two daughters, three members surviving at the present 
[1901]: (1) S. S., who resides in Chicago [Cook County, Illinois], born 21 
October 1804; (2) our subject [S. W.]; and (3) Mrs. S. E. BARRETT, born in 
Franklin [means Franklin County, New York? or Franklin, Delaware County, New 
York?], New York, in July 1813, who is a resident of Darlington [Lafayette 
County], Wisconsin, and has one daughter, Mrs. R. S. WOODWORTH, a resident of 
Pennsylvania. Those who have passed away were (4) S. A., (5) Mrs. S. M. 
SANFORD, and (6) S. C.

Having the misfortune to so early lose their father, our subject and other 
members of the family were given homes with relatives until able to provide 
for themselves. In common with many pioneer families, the mother's means 
were limited, while there were many mouths to feed, but our subject took it 
upon himself as many responsibilities as one of his age could bear, and was 
not long dependent upon anyone. His boyhood and early manhood were spent in 
Ashtabula County [Ohio], where he early engaged in farming, later becoming a 
miller, attending to his business steadily and pursuing it with success. In 
April 1850, Captain [S. W.] OSBORN came to Lafayette County [Wisconsin], and 
thus became acquainted with the proprietor of the plat of Darlington. Soon 
after he returned to Ohio, the same year, he was solicited to return West and 
assist in the erection of a large mill at Darlington [Lafayette County, WI]. 
Accepting the terms of this offer, he returned to Darlington in 1851, 
assisted in the building of the mill, and operated it for fourteen years. At 
the time of his location in the city [Darlington] the population was sparse, 
and his is the only family now residing here that was located permanently, 
except that of Charles BLAKELY.

When the Civil War broke out, in 1861, Captain OSBORN was not long in making 
up his mind to offer his services to his country. From youth he had been 
opposed to slavery, in 1844 had voted for James G. BIRNEY, and was a 
pronounced Abolitionist in his views. His age caused him to be refused a 
place in the ranks at the opening of the war, but a little later, when rules 
became somewhat relaxed, from necessity, he was admitted, his service 
beginning in the fall of 1861, as captain of Company I, 16th Wisconsin 
Volunteer Infantry, which left Camp Randall on 14 March 1862. His baptism of 
fire was on the bloody field of Shiloh, where his regiment lost heavily, his 
own company's ranks being decimated, his first lieutenant being killed, while 
the second was wounded. Soon after this battle, Captain OSBORN was taken 
ill, and came home on a sick furlough, but rejoined his regiment before he 
had sufficiently recovered, taking part in the battle of Corinth, 
Mississippi; however, his health was so precarious that he could no longer be 
of use to the government, and he returned home in December 1862.

For several years after his return, Captain OSBORN was unable to engage in 
any work continuously, but, thanks to a good constitution and a well-ordered 
life, he has recovered enough to pursue his ordinary vocations, although he 
will probably never fully recover his former vigor. As soon as able he again 
resumed work at the mill, where he remained for four years, since which time 
he has been variously engaged. For four more years he was the efficient 
superintendent of the Lafayette Poor Farm, then traveled through the South 
for a season, in the interests of the King Bridge Company, of Ohio. Always 
an ardent Republican, for a number of years he was postmaster at Darlington 
[Lafayette County, Wisconsin], and in 1865 was a member of [p 153] the 
Assembly branch of the Legislature. Captain OSBORN was a delegate to the 
first Republican convention held in Wisconsin, in 1856, this being the only 
Republican organization of the party in the State. Until 1844 he voted with 
the Whigs, in 1840 voting for HARRISON, in 1848 for VAN BUREN, the Free Soil 
candidate, and since the formation of the Republican party he has cast his 
vote with it at every election.

The marriage of Captain [S. W.] OSBORN took place on 01 March 1835, to Miss 
Julia M. GARDNER, a native of Massachusetts. She [Julia M. (GARDNER) OSBORN] 
passed away 18 April 1897, after a married life of sixty-two years. Four 
children were born to this marriage, three of whom survive: (1) Mrs. S. M. 
ORTON, wife of Hon. P. A. ORTON, of Darlington [Lafayette County, Wisconsin]; 
(2) H. W., a physician of Cleveland [Cuyahoga County], Ohio; and (3) C. F. 
[Charles F., whose biography follows], an attorney of ability, who is judge 
of the probate court of Lafayette County [Wisconsin]; the other, (4) Mrs. 
Julia H. HODGE, died many years ago.

Captain OSBORN is one of Lafayette's most esteemed and respected citizens, 
and is honored also as one who has assisted materially in the growth of the 
city [Darlington, Lafayette County] to which he came in its infancy, and 
whose development he has watched with so much interest and pride.

2nd Biography of Sylvester W. OSBORN

History of Lafayette County, WI. Chicago: Western Historical Co., 1881, p 725

Sylvester W. OSBORN, Postmaster, Town of Darlington [Lafayette County, 
Wisconsin], was born in Delaware County, New York, 01 July 1812; is a son of 
Samuel and Polly Webster OSBORN; he came to Ohio in early boyhood, and grew 
to manhood in that State. In 1835 Mr. [Sylvester W.] OSBORN was united in 
marriage to Miss Julia M. GARDNER, of Kingsville, Ashtabula County, Ohio, 
where he was engaged in the milling business; they came to Wisconsin and 
located in La Fayette County at Darlington, in April 1851; he came to 
superintend the building of a flouring mill for Messrs. KEEP and LYND, the 
first mill of the kind erected in the place; he operated the mill for those 
parties until after the breaking out of the Rebellion, when he enlisted in 
the 16th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and was commissioned Captain of 
Company I; he participated in the battles of Shiloh and Corninth and after 
serving over one year, he resigned his commission on account of ill health; 
he returned to Darlington and engaged in the milling business in 1866. In 
February 1877, he received the appointment of Postmaster, and since then he 
has held that position. Mr. OSBORN was a member of the General Assembly in 
1865, and served as Chairman of the Military Committee; he has always been a 
strong opponent of human oppression, and early became a member of the Liberty 
party, voting for James G. BIRNEY for President in 1844; he attended the 
first Republican State Convention held in Wisconsin, and has acted with the 
party since that time. Mr. and Mrs. OSBORN have four children, all married: 
(1) Sarah M. is the wife of Judge P. A. ORTON [see also the Lafayette 
County, Wisconsin, biography of Philo A. ORTON], of Darlington [Lafayette 
County, Wisconsin]; (2) Julia M. is the wife of Dwight W. HODGE, of Buffalo 
[Erie County], New York; (3) Homer S. is a physician at Mineral Point 
[probably Mineral Point, Iowa County, Wisconsin; less likely possibility is 
Mineral Point, Green County, Wisconsin]; and (4) Charles Francis is a lawyer 
practicing his profession at Darlington.

Biography of Charles Francis OSBORN
[son of Sylvester W. OSBORN]

History of Lafayette County, WI. Chicago: Western Historical Co., 1881, p 725

Charles Francis OSBORN, of the firm of Orton & Osborn, attorneys and 
counselors at law, Main Street, Town of Darlington [Lafayette County, 
Wisconsin], was born in Ashtabula County, Ohio, 16 March 1847; his parents 
came to La Fayette County [Wisconsin] in 1851; he grew up and attended school 
here; studied law and was admitted to the Bar on 02 May 1868; after being 
admitted he began the practice of law, and since associated with Judge ORTON 
[see also the Lafayette County, Wisconsin, biography of Philo A. ORTON], he 
has successfully practiced his profession here. He holds the office of Mayor 
of the city [Darlington, Lafayette County], was elected to that position in 
March 1880. Mr. [Charles Francis] OSBORN was united in marriage, 29 
September 1874, to Miss Juliet STEPHENS, a native of New York, and daughter 
of E. R. STEPHENS [see also the Lafayette County, Wisconsin, biography of E. 
R. STEVENS], one of the oldest merchants in Darlington. Mr. and Mrs. OSBORN 
have two children: Sarah Melissa and Harry S.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly