Franklin Osborn

Biography

FRANKLIN OSBORN was born in Ovid, Seneca county, New York, August 16th, 1820. His father, James Osborn, was born in Coleraine, Massachusetts, October 23d, 1793. When he was a small boy his parents moved to Seneca county, New York. About the year 1814 he purchased a new farm in Ovid, Seneca county, New York. He erected a house in which he lived fifty-two years. In 1866 he sold his farm there and came to Michigan, and settled in Franklin, this county. He carried on a distillery in Ovid, for nearly forty years. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and served under Gen. Scott. He died in Franklin, in September, 1870. About 1814 he married Miss Elizabeth Longcore, daughter of Richard and Sophia Longcore, of Essex county, New Jersey, by whom he had ten children, Franklin being the second son and. third child. Mrs Elizabeth Osborn was born in Essex county, New Jersey, January 6th, 1797, and died in Franklin, this county, in June, 1876. Franklin Osborn lived with his parents until he was about twenty-one years old. He worked at farm work by the month, for about two years, when in 1842, he came to Michigan, and purchased land on section twentyfive, in Franklin, this county. The following year he returned to the State of New York, and in 1845 moved to Michigan with his family, and has lived on section twenty-five, in Franklin, ever since. His first purchase, in 1842, was forty acres of land, but he has steadily added to it, until now he owns three hundred and fourteen acres, with good buildings and all necessary tools and conveniences. About the year 1855 he commenced shipping poultry to New York city, and has continued in the business every year since. He has shipped as high as sixty tons in a season. In December, 1876, he, in company with his brother, Richard Osborn, Went to New York, each having a large lot of poultry. On their1 return trip they were passengers on the ill-fated train that fell through the Ashtabula bridge, on the night of December 29th. Richard Osborn was never seen after the accident, and his body was undoubtedly burned in the conflagration that immediately followed the crash. Franklin was most severely injured, having his collar bone broken, his left arm fractured, six ribs broken, a frightful scalp wound, and serious injuries about the spine. He was partially paralyzed for several months, and at this writing, suffers more from his spine than all the other injuries he received. For more than six months he was in a helpless condition, and finally, much to the surprise of all, he recovered sufficiently to get about without assistance. Previous to starting east, both purchased railroad accident tickets for three thousand dollars each. Richard had a life insurance of fifteen hundred dollars. The railroad company paid his widow six thousand, five hundred dollars, and the accident company paid her three thousand dollars. Franklin received ten thousand, five hundred dollars from the railroad company, and about four hundred dollarsfrom the accident company. He remained in Ashtabula about four weeks after the accident, the railroad company paying all expenses, including hotel, nurse and doctor's bills, and finally conveyed him to Tecumseh, in a magnificently appointed sleeping car, devoted exclusively to himself and family. January 1st, 1845, he married Miss Alice Grove, daughter of William and Isabel Grove, of Ovid, Seneca county, New York, by whom he has had six children, as follows: Walter S., born March 7th, 1846, a farmer, of Franklin; William J., born March 10th, 1848, a farmer of Franklin; Alice R., born April 6th, 1852, at home; Elizabeth, born November 4th, 1856, at home; Frank L., born August 2d, 1869, now a student at the Michigan university; Elmer, died in infancy. Mrs. Alice Osborn was born in Ovid, Seneca county, New York, March 24th, 1820.

History and Biographical Record of Lenawee County, Michigan ..., Volume 1, p. 169