JAMES A. OSBORN, manager of the Parkersburgh Mill, in which he also owns an
interest, is one of the leading citizens of this community. His life record is
as follows: He was born on the 4th of March, 1849, near Lancaster, Ill., and is
a son of Daniel Osborn. His father was a native of Virginia, and came with his
parents to Illinois about 1825, the family locating in Lawrence County. Daniel
was united in marriage with Nancy Thompson. In Lawrence County, he erected one
of the first gristmills there built, and carried on business in that line for a
number of years. He now resides on a farm near Lancaster.
The subject of
this sketch spent the greater part of his boyhood days upon a farm and in the
common schools, where the most of his education was acquired. For three months,
however, he was a student in an academy at Friendsville, Ill. At the age of
twenty-two years, he began working at the milling trade, and three months later
he took charge of one of the largest mills in southern Illinois. This was
located at Friendsville. Since that time he has operated and managed mills at
various places.
On the 27tli of February, 1871, was celebrated the
marriage of James Osborn and Mary French, a daughter of Newton and Sarah French.
Her parents were pioneer settlers of Lawrence County. Unto our subject and his
wife have been born three children, a son and two daughters, namely: Rosa, now
the wife of A. L. Seibert; Nora and Charles M. The family circle yet remains
unbroken by the hand of Death, and the two younger children are still under the
parental roof. The Osborn household is the abode of hospitality and its members
rank high in social circles.
In political sentiment, Mr. Osborn is a
Democrat, but has never been an aspirant for public office, preferring to devote
his entire time and attention to his business interests. It was in 1890 that he
purchased an interest in the Parkersburgh Flouring Mill, of which he has since
had charge and he has proved himself an able manager. He thoroughly understands
the business in all its details and has therefore controlled affairs
successfully. Since becoming connected with the mill, he has enlarged it and put
in the new roller process. The present capacity is fifty barrels of flour per
day. This finds a ready sale in the surrounding markets and the owners of the
Parkersburgh Mill are enjoying a flourishing trade. Mr. Osborn is a man of
sterling worth and strict integrity, and is widely and favorably known in this
community.
Extracted 12 Apr 2020 by Norma Hass from 1893 Portrait and Biographical Record of Effingham, Jasper and Richland Counties, Illinois, page 251.
| Jasper | Crawford | |
| Clay |
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Lawrence |
| Wayne | Edwards | Wabash |
