The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1911-11-16
HOW AN IOWA LAD
BECAME A MILLIONAIRE

BECAME a MILLIONAIRE
I%ndianola. Ia.-From chore boy in an
~Indianola livery stable 80 years ago to
the head OF the largest calendar COM
pany in the world, capitalized at mil
lions. is the remarkable record of Burke
osborne. who with ms wire, visited the
scenes Of his student days in Simpson
last week.
Mr., and Mrs. Osborne were the
guests OF Mr.. and Mrs, D.. w. Hustled.
Mr.. Osborne left Sunday for Chicago
to attend the national conference of
progressive leaders, Mrs. Osborne re-
managing in Indianaola until Tuesday.
Loren Talbot, formerly Of the Sioux
City Tribune, has written the following
story of Mr.. Osborne's success for the
AdVocate-Tribune, of Indianola:
Without a cent in his pocket. but full
of ambition and with u propensity for
hard work, Mr.. Osborne came to In
dIanola from Delaware county some
thing over a quarter of a century ago.
In conversation with Senator A. V.
Proudfoot, while in l~ndianola, Mr..
Osborne declared hat he worked for
IS a month just before he took up his
residence in IndIanola.
Upon his arrival here, he went to
work in Willet Carpenters livery
stable. which is the stable located near
the electric light plant. He slept on
a cot in the barn, and did chores for
his board, attending high school dur
ing the day.
on Saturdays. Mr.. Osborne "buclzed'
wood and did odd jobs around the
town to keep him in clothing and to
pay his expenses in school. Mr.. Car
penter, upon whom he called while
here, declares that he has known him
to so to work at 4 o'clock in the
morning, and work until IL O'Clock at
night, Saving wood
Il don't know when he ever studied
or when he ate his n1"als.'' said Mr..
Carpenter. but he generally had his
lessons. He was the hardest worker
| ever saw, and he always had every
thing spio ana span about the barn.
Mr.. osborne "chored' for Mr.. Car
penter two years. The second winter
his mother and sister, Halle, came to
1ndianola, and Mr.. Osborne supported
them, besides paying his own expenses
in the high school. He entered Simp-
son college about 1885, and completed
the preparatory and freshman years.
He won the Buxton oratorical prize
during his first year, and at the age
OF 10 years was elected editor of the
Simpsonian. He was known as the
sold views, and during hay harvest
one summer worked on the farm Of the
late Senator Burkett.
Mr.. Osborne was one of the most
active men that ever attended Simp-
son. He was in on everything, was a
fine student, and enjoyed a prank
about as well RS the next man. There
are some OF I~ndianola's citizens who
remember one or two sessions ne had
with Corney Van Tassel-but what's
the use-noth1ng ever came of them.
They were only boys FRANKS. AMI if
20 a S are still wondering what
became of the ice cream or the boiled
tongue for the guests, it's q safe guess
that Burke Osborne could throw a
little light on the subject if properly
approached.
In 1885, Mr.. Osborne left Simpson
and went to Red Oak. where he en-
tered a partnership with Tom Murphy.
They purchased the Red Oak indie
pendent, and a few years afterward,
entered the calendar business. They
sured a patent fer coloring which
them to make a calendar more
cheaply, which was a large factor in
the success of Mr.. Osborne and Mr..
Murphy. The venture was a success
from the first year, they realized a big
profit Oh the business.
In 1887, Mr.. Osborne married Miss
Jessie Graham, one of the popular
young women of ~Indianola. and a stu
dent in Simpson. Miss Graham was
the daughter of A. j. Graham. who at
one time edited the Indianola Herald.
He was a nephew of Capt. j. M.
Miss Graham was a member
of the Pr Beta Phi sorority, and took
an active part in the social affairs Of
Indianola.
The partnership with Mr.. Murphy
continued until 10 or IL years ago,
Mr.. Osborne went to New York
city, and organized the Osborne Calen-
OAR company, of which he is the head.
1T is Incorporated for many millions of
dollars. The company absorbed a
number of minor concerns and is now
the largest of the kin in the world.
During the past few years, Mr.. Os-
borne has taken an active interest in
New Jersey politics, and is rapidly be-
coming known nationally along poll
lines. He is a radical insurgent.
as might be guessed by the tendencies
he displayed while in college, and is
of the New Jersey Progress
sIve league. He took an active part in
the last New Jersey state convention.
Mr.. Osborne is a personal friend of
Woodrow Wilson, and while differing
with him In politics, has the greatest
admiration for the man. He is a
supporter of Senator Robert
M. La Toilette.
While in Indianola, Mr.. Osborne Wis
tied some of his boyhood haunts. He
particularly enjoyed his visits With
Willis Carpenter and other old friends
He made a speech in chapel and was
much impressed with the growth Of
institution. He left Indianola TO
attend the national progressive con-
In Chicago, and will return to
Red Oak this week for a short visit
before going east.
r HF#.