The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-02-09
George Osborne, a WelI-known
Pioneer NicoIIet County.
CAME TO DEFENSE OF PEOPLE
Conducted Farm, Taught School
and Was Prominent in the
Public Affairs. -.
From Fridays Daily.

FToH FTfody lazy. e.. ..
ST. Peter, February AFTER an i'll.
ness Of about a week with pleurisy
George Osborne, a veteran of the
Sioux Indian war of 1852, and an
early settler of Lake Prairie town
ship, passed away at his home at
the corner of Nassau and Fifth
streets at an early hour Wednesday
morning. In his death there passes
one of the most widely esteemed OF
Nicollet county's pioneer residents,
a man who was held in high regard
wherever he was known.
George Osborne was born in Moli.
crou County Louth, Ireland, March
II, 1888, and was nearly seventy.
four years of age. When youth OF
eighteen he emigrated to America,
and settled at Springfield, ILL.,, where
he remained two years. Then, in
1858, he came to Minnesota, and
after reaching st. Peter pre-empted
his homestead in Lake Prairie town
ship. This was at time when the
fertility and productiveness of this
section had not been demonstrated,
when the farms were small and
their owners able to produce but lit
tie more than that required for their
own consumption. Farming opera
tions were conducted under >condi
tons Of the greatest difficulty, but
Mr.. Osborne was a sturdy pioneer
who was not daunted by the hard
work, the privations and other OBJ
stacles, and he lived to see his home.
stead become one of the finest farms
in this county. . st,..., l..
Among First to Enlist. z
Four years after he settled in Lake
Prairie, Little Crow and his Sioux
went on the warpath, and Mr.. o.
borne was one of the first to volun.
teer for the defense Of the exposed
settlements along the frontier. When
the campaign had terminated with
the repulse Of the Indians, the de.
ceased returned to the pursuits of
peace, and for two years taught
school in Lake Prairie-township. Dur.
ing the renlainder of his residence
in the township Mr. Osborne held
various. school offices, aud was ever
progressive advocate OF the cause
of education.
In May, 1910, Mr.. Osborne bought
his residence on Nassau street, and
came to St. Peter to make his home.
During the past nine months be had
been a sufferer with Bright's dis
ease, and IL so weakened his pow
ers Of resistance that the attack
of pleurisy proved fatal. Mr.. Osborne
was an honorable, upright man, scru-
pulous and conscientious in all his
dealings with his fellows, and his
oln nj
reer. al s..,.. o.
Married in 1867.
In 1857 the deceased was united in
marriage to Miss Ellen Norris, who
is left to mourn the loss of a de-
voted husband. He is also survived
by three daughters and two sons.
The. children are as follows: Mrs.
Frank Barker, Ottawa; Frank Os-
borne; Lake Prairie: Luke Osborne
and the Misses Mary Z. Osborne
and Alice NJ. Osborne, at home.
There are two brothers and two sis.
tiers, James, Osborne, st. Peter: Mrs.
Alice McCue, Duluth; Frank Osborne
and Mrs. Mary Osborne, Lake Prai.
RE. -... ....
Funeral services were held from
ST. Peters Catholic church at ten
o'clock this morning. They were
conducted by Rev. Father Moran,
and the interment was in Calvery
cemetery. Among those from out.
side the city who were here to at.
tend the funeral are: Miss Elizabeth
Osborne, Mankato; Mr.. Gamble, Miss
Mary Gamble and John Gamble, Man.
kato; Michael Kennedy, Minneapolis:
Eugene Osborne, st. Paul. Mr.. and
Mrs. Thomas Fay, Austin; Miss
Mayme Fay, William Fay and James
McCue, Duluth; James Burns, Men
dota; Professor P. P. Kennedy, Fair.
mont; Mr.. and Mrs. Mcguire, Rusb
City, and Miss Jennie Osborne, LIE
Sueur. Il