OSBORN, John - Putnam

John Osborn, native of KY born in Mason County in the month of September 1809. In 1830 at age 21 he emigrated to Putnam Co IN and in 1836 located at Bowling Green, Clay Co. In 1838 he was elected and commissioned Col of the Sixth Regt Indiana Militia. In 1839 he was elected a member of the State Legislature and served during the session of 1839'40. In the fall of 1840 he was elected justice of the peace serving in this capacity until March 1850, a period of 10 years by virtue of which he was also a member of the board for the transaction of county business. In March 1843, he was admitted to the bar and continued in the profession of the law for more than a 1/2 of a century. When the Mexican War broke out, Mr. Osborn volunteered his services and was elected Capt. of Clay Co. Vol. and commanded his company in the battle of Buena Vista. After his return from Mexico he was elected county auditor in the year 1849, and was reelected in 1854, serving 9 years - five under the provisions of the old constitution and 4 under the new. In the onth of April 1861 he left Bowling Green after having resided ther 25 years and located at Greencastle. When the Civil War began he was commissioned Lt. Col. of the 31st Regt Indiana Vol, his commission bearing date Sept 1861 and commanded his regiment at the Battle of Ft. Donelson under the lead of Col. Cruft then in command of the brigade. at the battle of Shiloh Col. Cruft was wounded in the commencement of the action, when the command of the regt devolved wholly upon Lt. Col. Osborn, who commanded throughout the two days' bloody engagement. Col. Cruft was then appointed brigadier gen and Osborn promoted to colonel of the regiment which he commanded at the siege of Corinth at Perrysville and Stone River. Having returned home at the close of the war of the rebellion, he was appointed postmaster at Greencastle, under Pres. Johnson's administration in 1866, and reappointed under Pres. Grant's administration in 1870, servin 8 years in this position. On his retirement from the Post office to private life, Mr. Osborn was 65 years of age 35 years of which had been spent in the public service - 29 in the civil capacity and six in military - in positions, of trust, honor, responsibility and imment peril. On the 12th day of March 1833 he married Emily McCorkle. To them were born 5 children, one son and 4 daughtesr. The son, Milton A. Osborn, practice law at Bowling Green and at Greencastle, and was at one time district prosecutor. He died at Greencastle Jan 24, 1874 aged 38 years. The ledest daughter, Caroline B. Osborn married Enos Miles in the month of August 1851 and died at the family residence, Denver Colorado Feb 6 1909 aged 74. Gibbeah Osborn, 2nd daughter, married David Laughlin, at some time in the year 1856 and died 1887, aged 50 years. Anna osborn, 3rd daughter, married George Dole in the year 1864 and died 1907, aged 67 years. Mary Osborn, 4th daughter, who was born in 1846 and married Virgil Peck in 1866 survives and lives near Greencastle. Mrs. Emily Osborn died Oct 9, 1884 aged 73 survived by her husband, John Osborn who died June 11, 1887, aged 78 years.