The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1892-02-12
Col. chas. z. osburn.
A Tribute to His Memory.

former prominent citizen, Col. Charles
Yates Osburn, whose death occurred at
hls home N Marquette, Thursday, Feb.
4, 1892. Although for many years a resi-
dent of Marquette Owosso was his pater-
nal home here his days were spent from
boyhood upward, and although his busi-
ness interests were in the Upper Penin-
sula, he was still claimed as belonging to
Owosso, where all his family ties were
conferred. His health had been FILLING
for several months, and while on visit
TO Owosso previous to Christmas he had
a severe attack of hemolrhage of the
stomach, from which he recovered suffi-
centlv to return to his home. after an
illness of about three weeks Two weeks
ago he hat q recurrence of hemorrhage.
and his brother Fred FASTENED to his
bedside. All medical skill was unavail-
ing, and after days of alternate hopes
and fears he dropped away suddenly.
Col. Osburn was born in Meadville,
Pa in 1912; the tamily came to Owosso,
in 1857, and from that time unit he
transferred his interests to Marquette, in
1873. Owosso was his home. In politics
he was an active republican, a party lead
er, and was elected from Shiawassee
county to the legislature ofl87l-2. There
he formed an intimate acquaintance with
Hon. A. p. Swineford member from Mar
quette which result ed in his purchasing
an interest in Mr.. Swineford's paper, the
Mining Journal, and consequent remov-
al to that place. There Mr.. Osburn be-
came power in Upper Peninsula poll
tics notably the leader of his party, its
most SIX lllful organizer. lie was termed
the Warwick of Upper Peninsula poll
tics, and was also piominent factor IN
state politics.
On retiring from the Mining Journal
in 1875 he was appointed spe ial ms &c
tor of customs and in 1877 became collec-
tor of customs, a position he held unIn-
terruptedly until his death, except dur
ing the period of the Cleveland admins
tration He also held many local posi-
tionI of honor.
In 1862, before his Goth birthday. Col.
Osbnrn enlisted in the Fifth Michigan
cavalry, in which he served until retired
for disability as the result of wounds e.
ceived in one of the hottest cavalry en-
gagements of the war, that at Hawes'
Shop, Virginia, May 2Sth, 1864. Soon
after his enlistment he was made SER
geant-major of the Fifth, promoted to
second lieutenant, Aug. Is, 1862 first
lieutenant, Nov. 2, 1868; captain, August
9, 1864, and honorably discharged sep
80. 1864, for disability, his brevets being
given at the close of the war for gallant
and meritorious conduct during the
war;" Russell A. Alger was colonel of
the Fifth Michigan cavalry during he
latter part of the war, and Lieutenant
Osburn was his adjutant. The Fifth was
part of the famous michigan cavalry
brigade which did such service under
Custer. Fitzpatrick and sheridan in the
Virginia campaigns, at Gettysburg, and |
in the closing days of the rebellion. At
Hawes Shop the Fifth had eleven Off
cers and one hundred and fifty men IN
gagged, and of these five officers and fifty |
men were either killed or wounded,
Lieut.. Osburn being among those severe
ly wounded. [The foregoing WAL record |
is copied from the Mining Journal
In addition to his public career and
the social qualities by which he was
most widely known, Mr.. Osburn possess
ed fund of deep metaphysical and phil
osophical thought and research, coupled |
with an aesthetic taste cultivated in his |
Younger days in qualification ola natu-
rally thoughtful and poetic temperament
"a portion of his inner life with which |
only those of kindred tastes were made |
partakers.
Previous to settling in Marquette Mr.
Osburn was member or the widely |
known mercantile firm of Osturn Il sons,
of this city. Both parents died last June |
the father on the 18th, and the m ther |
on the 9th and both were buried i'll |
one grave Two daughters of the fami y |
had previously been taken by death.
There now remain of the family three
brothers, Morris, supervisor at large
James, x.mayor, and Fl ed. eX-alderman |
Of this city, the two latter constituting |
The firm of Osburn & Sons The b 9TH
ers are crushed by this unlooked-for
affliction. CHARLES had ever been mot |
tender and devoted son and br Their in |
the family trusted counselor and adj
wiser, and their sorrow is overwhelming |
In 1877 Mr.. Osbnrn was married to
Miss Lena M. Gould, daughter of judy
GOULD. of this city Her death occurred
in 1881, and Mr.. Osburn has since re-
manned single.
Episcopal funeral services were held at
the Marquette residence, Friday af er-
noon. by Arch Deacon u. Mott Williams,
and he remains were then brought to
Owosso, Postmaster Billings and Repre-
sentative George Wagner accompanying
FREQ OH Ills ulOuTnlul ftJuIn. ~ tue |
depot in this city they were met by fam
lily friends and body of repr' sentative
citizens and members of the q. A. H., by |
whom the remains were escorted to the
residence of Morris Osburn, on Oliver
street. where on Sunday afternoon funer-
al services were conducted Ivy Rev. j. r.
Reitzel, pastor of the Congregtti nal
church, who gave touching and o.
quent tribute to the deceased. The
house was filled to overlooking with IL
zens and comrades who mingled their
sympathies with the stricken friends.
The remains were escorted to the Gem
etery by the q. A. X. and citizens and
eposied in the receiving vault.
There is universal expression of regret
in the state, and great mourning in the
Upper Peninsula over the death of Col.
Osburn taken in the prime of manhood.
The Marquette Mining Journal gives a
long sketch of his life and services, fiom
which we extract the following:
During the nearly twenty years OF his resi-
donce in Marquette he was Intimately connect