Capt. George W. OSBON

Capt. George W. Osbon Dead
Death, lord over all, claimed another victim Saturday, November 30 at 11:10 a.m., when Capt. George W. OSBON was called to his final reward. November was a month that seemed to have been peculiarly fatal to people of advanced years who were suffering of chronic disorders. Capt. OSBON had been a sufferer from many diseases for several years but not until the last few weeks had he been confined to his room. For several days he had been gradually failing and it was seen that the end was not far off. Saturday morning, however, he seemed to be resting more easily and death came like the passing into a deep sleep.

George W. OSBON, one of a family of eight children, was born at the little town of Americus, Tippecanoe County, Indiana, August 15, 1830, and consequently at his death was seventy-one years, three months and fifteen days old.

The OSBON family came to this county in 1826, afterwards removed to Tippecanoe County, but later returned to Greene County, when the subject of this sketch was only three years old, after losing in Tippecanoe the father and four sisters of George W. OSBON by death.

Mr. OSBON was a carpenter, having begun to learn the trade when eighteen years of age, serving a three years apprenticeship.

He served his country long and well during the civil war and saw much hard service. Enlisting as a private in COMPANY K, FIFTY-NINTH INDIANA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY, he was soon made fifth duty sergeant and a little later, at New Madrid, was promoted to first sergeant. He next was made second lieutenant and consequently was discharged from the position of sergeant, but as his lieutenant’s commission did not reach him for three months, he served during that time without pay and furnished his own rations. Finally he was made captain of his company, August 1863, in which capacity he served for near a year, until July 1864, when on account of sickness in his family, he resigned and returned home. Among the most important battle in which he was engaged were New Madrid, Island No. 10, Corinth, Port Gibson, Champion Hills, Vicksburg and Mission Ridge.

Since the close of the war he has been at one time or another farmer, carpenter, merchant, insurance agent and since 1874 has been justice of the peace. He was admitted to the Greene County Bar in 1878.

Mr. OSBON married Mary I. T., daughter of Thomas PATTERSON, in July 1850, and to this union nine children were born, three of whom died in infancy. Those surviving are: Thomas P., John A., and Virginia B., wife of L. H. STALCUP, of this place; Emmett L., and Mary, wife of S. E. EDWARDS, of Indianapolis; and Frank of Petersburg. March 10, 1887, Mrs. OSBON died, and on September 7, 1890, Capt. OSBON married Mrs. Allie BREWER, who survives him.

Capt OSBON was a Republican in his political faith, a prominent Mason, an Odd Fellow and a member of the G. A. R.

The funeral took place Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the family residence, the Rev. W. H. WILSON, of Virginia, Ill., assisted by the Rev. H. H. ALLEN, being in charge, after which the last said rites were in charge of the Masons, the Odd Fellows and the G. A. R.

The attendance was very large, there being present secret order representatives from Worthington, Lyons, Linton and other neighboring towns.

One noticeable fact was the thinned ranks of the boys who wore the blue, there being only sixty in the procession.

And so the curtain falls upon another life; another pioneer has finished his labors; another soldier has dropped from the ranks and gone to answer the roll call of the great beyond.

THE BLOOMFIELD NEWS, Bloomfield, Greene County, Indiana, Friday, December 6, 1901, Volume XXVI, Number 2, Page 5, Columns 4 & 5

Last updated 4.12.2009