Litchfield enquirer., 1858-05-27
The late Rev. Ethan Osborn.

The late Rev. Ethan Osborn.
Two weeks since we announced the decease of this
aged and much beloved clers nian in Fairfield, j..
in the Tooth year of his ana, and at the same time
gave brief outline of his history. As he was ma
tive OF this town. and was personally known to ma
ny OF our readers, we need not apologize for giving
such additional facts concerning him as have since
come to our knowledge From New JERSEY naners
we learn that his funeral was attended on the 9Th
Inst, at the old stone church, which had baa,,
the theater OF his ministerial labors for more than
half century. The venerable edifice was filed 10
overfowing, and hundreds who were unable To oa;n
admission, were accommodated by seats which had
been temporarily arranged in front Of the building
The PLATFORM erected for the OCCASION was occupied
BY ministers of various denominations A funeral
sermon was preached by the Rev. B. B. Hotchkin.
from ii Kings ii. 12' And Elisha saw it and said.
My father, my father the chariots of Israel and the
horsemen thereof" &C. He was followed bv apnro-
pirate addresses from the Rev. Dr. Kollock and the
Rev. Mr. Cattell The funeral was one of the lar
gest ever attended in Cumberland county Two
hundred and fifty carriages were on the ground and
about fifteen hundred people were present.
The Pastoral Association of Philadelphia being
in session in thst city, the members in their official
capacity, addressed letter to the church of which
Father Osborn" had been pastor, expressing regret
at their inability to attend the funeral in a BODY
attesting their high appreciation of his excellence
and usefulness as christian minister and rendering
their sympathies to his family and friends
During his ministry in small rural parish, Mr.
Osborn married 706 couple, attended the funerals of
1900 persons. admitted to his church about 600
members, baptized l146 persons, and preached
0,164 sermons. It is remarkable fact that his
contemporary, Mr.. Thomas Bateman, was sexton of
his church for over fifty years and, grave-dgger
stood by the side of Mr. Osborn at the burial of at
least twelve hundred of their fellow beings On the
30th of March, 1885, he preached valedictory SER
mon in the old stone church, on the occasion of the
congregation vacating it to occupy the new edifce
which they had erected in the villege of Fairton.
His LAST sermon was preached in the new church in
1855, when in his 9th year. He outlived by many
years every individual who was member of his
congregation at the date of his settlement. He
vived two wives and, of large family Of children,
but three are now iving-one Of whom, Robert, is
pastor of church at Point Pleasant, Va.
!
Mr. Osborn attended church for the last time on
Sunday, January 81, 1853, when he addressed the
audience in an appropriate manner, and made the
concluding prayer. He then SO years and 5
months old. Through life. he distinguished for
his sound judgment, practical piety, and christian
zeal.
| The subject Of this sketch was the third son of
Capt John Osborn, of this town. Capt 0. died here
January 7. 1914, in his 87th year. He was highly
esteemed citizen and christian, and was called
by his fellow-townsmen to the performance of vari-
Gus public duties. He frequently chosen a
Grand Juror, Lister, and Selectman; and in August
1770-during the "non-importation'' contest which
Immediately preceded the Revo'ution-he was ap-
pointed, with the Hon. Jedediah Strongly Dele
gate to the Convention of the mercantile and landed
interests at New Haven. His honesty and piety
it is said, were proverbial. As indicative of this
we recently stumbled upon the following passage in
a communication addressed to "Mr. No Party" in
the Litchfeld Monitor of March 16, 1903: Are
you Of no party when you go about representing
Jefferson being very sober, religious good kind
of man-vERY MUCH LIKE GOOD OLD CAPTAIN JOHN
OSBORN of this town."