Tulare County Biographies

FRANK OSBORN

Transcribed by: Craig A Hahn

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 
     In Fountain county on the Wabash river in Indiana, Frank Osborn, a musician 
and singer of note and now superintendent of the Tulare County Hospital at 
Visalia, was born May 2, 1851, a son of Oliver and Margaret (Dyer) Osborn, 
natives of respectively of Ohio and of New Jersey. Oliver Osborn, brought his 
family to California in 1875 and settled in Tulare county on the Upper Tule 
river near Globe, where he bought land and achieved success as a stockraiser. 
His wife, who was a singer of exceptional ability even when she was more than 
seventy years old, died there in 1898 and he in August, 1909. Mr. Osborn was a 
man of influence in the community and during all his active life gave much 
attention to educational matters. He and his wife were devout members of the 
Christian church. Of their thirteen children four survive: Oliver P., a rancher 
near Porterville; Frank, of this review; Mrs. Sarah A. Evans, of Indiana, and 
Mrs. Mary E. Clark, of Missouri. 
 
     From his boyhood Frank Osborn has been familiar with all the details of 
stockraising and until 1897 was identified with his father in that industry. As 
long as he can remember he has been a singer, he having inherited marked musical 
ability from his talented mother. As such he became known throughout all the 
country round about Visalia, and he was long in great demand as a teacher of 
vocal classes during the winter months, for many years leading the choir of the 
Christian church at Visalia. In 1897 he was appointed superintendent of the 
Tulare County Hospital at Visalia, which position he has since filled with a 
degree of ability and integrity which has commended him to all the people of the 
county. He has in all his relations with his fellowmen proven himself public 
spirited in an eminent degree. Fraternally he affiliates with the Knights of 
Pythias. 
 
     In 1870 Mr. Osborn married Miss Elizabeth Marksbury, a native of Kentucky, 
who was so situated during the Civil war that she was an eye-witness on many 
engagements between the Federal and Confederate troops. A detailed account of 
her experiences and the conditions which made them possible could not but make a 
most interesting volume. 
 
     To Frank and Ellen (Marksbury) Osborn have been born children as follows: 
Mrs. Edna Hannaford, who has children named Lura, Duke and Laura; Charles H., 
who married Miss Minta Berry, daughter of Senator G. S. Berry of Lindsay, and 
has children named Audra and Irma; Earl, who married Maud Carter, who has borne 
him a child whom they have named Rolla; and Gladys, wife of E. L. Cary of 
Stockton, who has a daughter, Ellen L. Cary. 
 
SOURCE:  History of Tulare and Kings Counties, California with Biographical 
Sketches - Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company, 1913 Pp 359, 360