OSBORN-E.B. - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

E. B. Osborn, dealer in lumber, groceries and dry goods, Veedersburg, is a native of Van Buren township, born 1836, and was educated in the pioneer schools. His parents, Oliver and Hulda Osborn, the former a native of New Jersey, the latter of Ohio, settled on Coal creek, east of. Osborn's prairie some three miles. There the former died in 1838, aged thirty-eight years. By trade he was a millwright and a mason. He erected the first mill on Coal creek, in Van Buren township, in 1829. Many of the houses built by him are still standing. He was a member of a society called Lodyists and at one time its president. Its motto was Borrow but never return. His mother still lives on the old homestead, and is now in her seventy-seventh year. in 1861 he was married to Mary E. Phebus, daughter of Lewis and Mary Phebus, both natives of Ohio, and settled in Fountain county, in 1838. By this union he has four children, John L, James M., Emma, and Charley, and he has raised a boy named Wm. Shipman, whom he regards with great affection because of his good traits of character. He and his wife are members of the New Light order of christians, at Osborn's prairie. He began life in moderate circumstances, but by his energy and good judgment he has steadily advanced in business. He now is solo proprietor of a saw-mill at Hillsborough, and the saw and planing mill at Veedersburg; the former valued at $1,200, the latter at $4,000, and has a forty-acre farm, besides considerable town property, and is operating a dry-goods and grocery store in Veedersburg; stock in trade valued at $7,000. When he and his brother, E. M. Osborn, erected, in 1872, the planing mill of which he is proprietor, at this place, there was not so much as a single dwelling in Veedersburg. He is strictly a temperance man, and is an active member of the Blue Ribbon Club,” of this place. He is willing and ready to lend his influence and give aid to whatever is in the interest of business or moral culture.