Biography of Hon. Job Osborn, Tippecanoe Co., Indiana

HON. JOB OSBORN, a prominent and influential citizen of Tippecanoe County, is a native of Hendricks County, Indiana, born June 20, 1841, a son of DAVID and ANNIE (STANLEY) OSBORN. The parents were natives of Guilford County, North Carolina, the father a son of DAVID OSBORN who was born in North Carolina, and the mother a daughter of ABEL STANLEY, who was also a native of North Carolina. The parents of our subject were married in their native State, and in an early day they immigrated to Indiana, making the journey in a one-horse wagon, and settled in the then wilderness of Hendricks County, where the father entered a tract of land from the Government. He owned at that time a horse, and $200 in money, a part of which he paid for land. Here they passed through many hardships and privations incident to pioneer life, but lived to see the surrounding country change from a wilderness into well cultivated farms, and now enjoy the fruits of their years of toil. Both were active and consistent members of the Society of Friends, and honored and respected citizens. They made their home on their farm in Hendricks County until death, the mother dying in 1850, aged forty-five years, and the father dying in March, 1877, at the advanced age of eighty-two years. They were the parents of twelve children, all born in Indiana, but their eldest child who was born in North Carolina.
        JOB OSBORN, the subject of this sketch, was reared on the home farm to agricultural pursuits, which he has followed principally through life. He received good educational advantages, attending the district schools and high school of his neighborhood, and the Western Manual Labor school at Bloomingdale, and also attended the Farmer's Institute in Tippecanoe County for one year. While at Bloomingdale he cut cord-wood during his leisure hours to help pay his board.
        He was married August 19, 1863, to HANNAH C. SLEEPER, a daughter of BUDDELL and ELIZABETH SLEEPER, of Tippecanoe County. Four children were born to this union--OLIVER J., of Union Township, this county; ELIZABETH A., ROSELLA J., who died aged four years, and MARY ELSIE.
        After his marriage MR. OSBORN settled on his present farm in Wayne Township, Tippecanoe County, and in connection with his farming pursuits, he was extensively engaged in the manufacture of drain tile for five years, he having established the second tile factory in the county. In 1884 MR. OSBORN was elected to represent Tippecanoe County in the Indiana State Legislature, by a majority of 600 votes, and served both in the regular and special term of 1885, and in 1886 he was re-elected to the same position by an increased majority, this time receiving 1,028 over his opponent. Both he and his wife are earnest and active members of the Friend's Society.

Biographical Record and Portrait Album of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, pg. 740
Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1888

Biography Index | Tippecanoe Co. INGenWeb