Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1898-02-10


Thomas A Osborn, sixth governor of Kan
sas, ex-envoy to Brazil and Chill, director
of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe rail-
way and one of the best known citizens of
the state, was not only an early settler in
Kansas but took prominent part in public
affairs when Kansas territory was being
moulded into state, and has filed many
positions of trust in the gift of the state and
of the nation since. He came to Kansas
from Meadyille, Pa, in 1857, when he had
Just turned his majority and settled at
Lawrence. At that time George w. Brown
was the proprietor of the Herald of Free
dom and Preston B. Plumb was the fore
man. Brown and Plumb were interested IN
the founding of Emporla, and were obliged
to go out there to hold down land, and Gov
ernOr Osborn was employed to run the
paper in Browns absence. He was in edit
orial charge in the winter of 1878, and
reported the proceedings of the Territorial
Legislature held that winter in Lawrence.
In 1858 Governor Osborn went to Elwood
Doniphan county, where he commenced
practlcing law. That year he defeats d Web
Wilder for city attorney of Elwood, and
that fall was elected county attorney of
Doniphan county under the LeaVenworth
constitution.
1t was here he formed a law partnership
with Jim Lane under the name of Lane &
Osborn, which partnership was not severed
until the election of Lane to the Senate of
the United States. IL 1859 he was elected
to the state senate for his district under
the WYandotte constitution, and when the
position of lieutenant governor was vacant
in 1869 he was elected president pro tenn OF
the senate over JOIN J. ingalls, on the four
tenth ballot
Governor Osborn ran against John 8 In
gals for Lieutenant governor of the state
in the fall OF 1862, and was elected. In 1864
he was appointed United States marshal
for Kansas by President Lincoln, and in
1867 he was re moved by President Johnson
for opposing the Presidents policy In 1872
he was nominated for governor of Kansas
and elected, and in 1874 he was reelected
to the position In 1874 Governor Osborn led
on the first ballot for United States Sena-
tor to fill the vacancy caused by the resig-
nation of Alexander Caldwell and in 1877
he led in the ace for Senator until nearly
the last ballot, when Preston B Plumb
was elected. That year he was was appointed
by President Hayes as minister to Chilli,
where he served four years during the time
of the war between that country and Boil
via In 1881. without h S knowledge he was
appointed by President Garfield to the Bra
lillian mission and remained there until
1885, when the Republican party went out
of power His services abroad were emf
nently satisfactory he having presided
over the peace conference held on the
United States steamship Lackawana in
1880, to secure peace between Chilli and the
governments of Peru and Bolivia
Governor Osborn was married in 1870 TO
Miss Julia Delahay, daughter of Judge Del
ahay of Lawrence. During his term as
governor of Kansas he had purchased
property in Topeka. and on his return from
the Brazilian mission he came to Topeka
where he since resided His wife died five
years ago, and he had one son. who has
passed through college and is now reading
law in w. II. Rosslng ons office. The gov
ernor had extensive property interests in
Shawnee county and the city of Topeka,
and was largely interested in the Central
National bank. He was at the time of his
death director of the Atchison Topeka q
Santa Fe railroad. Governor Osborn died
possessed of a handsome fortune we'll in
vested.