Osbourne - James Harvey - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Although a school man in the broadest sense of the term and as such, making every other consideration secondary to his professional duties, Prof. James Harvey OSBORNE, of Wabash College, Crawfordsville, Indiana, has never become narrow or pedantic as have so many whose lives have been spent in intimate association with the immature minds within the four walls of the schoolroom. He is a well rounded symmetrically developed man, fully alive to the demands of the times, thoroughly informed on the leading questions before the public and takes broad views of men and things by keeping in touch with the times and the trend of current thought he is enabled to discharge the duties of citizenship in the intelligent manner becoming the level headed American of today, and his acquaintance with the history of the country and its institutions makes him, in the true meaning of the word, a politician, although he has in every way avoided any public connection with politics as we usually use the term. He believes in progress in other than the profession to which he belongs and, to attain the end, manifests an abiding interest in whatever makes for the material, moral and civic advancement of the community, encouraging all worthy enterprises and lending his influence to means whereby his fellow men may be benefited. Prof. Osborne was born on July 29, 1857 near Roachdale, Putnam County, Indiana. He is a son of John Joseph Osborne, who was born on Oct 4, 1828 in Kentucky, and when two years old, in 1830, his parents brought him to Putnam County, Indiana, where he grew to manhood, received such education as the schools of these early days afforded and there spent the rest of his life engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was always interested in public affairs and was influential in the ranks of the Republican party. He was an elder in the Presbyterian Church in the early part of his life. His death occurred near Bainbridge, Indiana in Jan. 1908. The mother of our subject was born on March 28, 1833 near Bainbridge, this state and her death occurred on Dec 26, 1911. To John J. Osborne and wife five children were born, all living but one, namely, Mrs. Mary E. ALLISON ; George C, is deceased; James H. of this review; Caroline B, who married a Mr. HUTCHINS; and Jennie Josephine who has remained single. Prof. Osborne received his early education in the common schools of his native community, and he grew to manhood on the home farm. Later in his boyhood days he entered Wabash College, where he made an excellent record for scholarship and was graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Arts with the class of 1879. The degree of Master of Arts was conferred on him by this institution in 1885. He was a student of law for 2 years in Crawfordsville. He did not, however, find Blackstone & Kent as much to his liking as a career of teaching so finally gave up the idea of legal course. He became tutor in Wabash College until 1885, then was made assistant principal of the preparatory department, which position he held until 1893, then became assoc. prof. of mathematics & Latin, then f r two years was prof. of history here and from 1900 to the present time has filled the chair of assoc. prof. of math. and Latin. As an instructor he has given eminent satisfaction to all concerned and has been a favorite with the hundreds of pupils who have come under him, for he is both an instructor and entertainer in the school room, and, having remained a profound student, he has kept fully abreast of the times in all that pertains to the branches which he teaches. Prof. Osborne was married on May 21, 1881 to Grace A. INSLEY of Crawfordsville, who was born on Oct 21, 1881 at Sugar Grove, Tippecanoe County, Indiana. When a child, her parents brought her to Crawfordsville where she grew to womanhood and was educated, passing through the common and high schools. She is a daughter of James J. and Adeline MONTGOMERY Insley. Her mother was a daughter of Isaac Montgomery. To our subject and wife three children have been born, namely: Helen, b. June 3, 1885 married Harley T. RISTINE ; she attended high school and studied music; Mr. Ristine is an attorney in Crawfordsville; James I, the Professor's second child, was b. Feb 25, 1887 is a graduate of Wabash College, class of 1906; he later spent a year at Columbia University, NY City and he is now a student at Oxford, England, having been granted a RHODE'S Scholarship. Elis Eleanor, youngest of our subject's children, was born June 18, 1889, received her education in the schools of Crawfordsville and in Northwestern University at Chicago and later studied at Depauw University, Greencastle and she is now engaged in teaching in the city schools of Crawfordsville. Prof. Osborne owns a pleasant home adjoining the campus at Wabash College, and he owns a productive and well improved farm in Putnam County. Politically, the Prof. is Republican.  He is a member of the Center Presbyterian Church, and has been a ruling elder in the same for nearly 20 years. He has an honorary scholarship in the Phi Beta Kappa fraternity, a society for the promotion of scholarship and friendship among students and graduates of American colleges. In the summers of 1901-03 he did post grad. work in the Univ. of Wisconsin. - typed by kbz