Osburn
W. L. Osburn, 91, Confederate Veteran Dies
Mckinney Daily Democrat Gazette 6-8-29
Father of family Prominent and highly respected children
W. L. Osburn, age 91 years 7 months and 7 days, passed away at 12:45 o’clock Sunday afternoon June 3 at the home of his son-in-law and daughter, former County Tax Collector Henry E. Morgan and wife, 708 South Chestnut Street, this city. He had been sick for several weeks and his condition was regarded as critical for several days before his passing.
Born in Tennessee.
William Levy Osburn was born Nov. 2, 1837, three miles west of Lewisburg, Giles county, Tenn. He was the youngest of the family of 13 children, nine girls and three boys. One of the girls died in infancy: one when a grown woman. The other seven lived to a ripe old age. One of the boys died after the civil war. Another boy, Robert Osburn, died in 1880. The deceased was the last living member of the large family of children. He was a gallant confederate soldier and a devout Christian, who led a life of industry, honesty and set a worthy example for his own fine family of children and the younger generation about him to model after as an example for it footsteps to follow.
Scotch-Irish Decent
W. L. Osburn sprang from Scotch-Irish decent. His grandfather, William Osburn, was born in 1765 in Devonshire, England and emigrated to the United States and settle first in South Carolina where Robert Osburn, father of W. L. Osburn was born July 25, 1795. The grandfather moved from South Carolina to the state of Tennessee in 1810. The ancestors of the deceased were noted for their patriotism and participated in all of the conflicts at arms engaged in by their country from the Revolutionary war down to the present time. His maternal grandfather Hillis was a courier in the Revolutionary war who was captured by the Tories and for punishment had his eyes put out. One uncle was a member of the “White Horse” company formed in Tennessee to fight for Texas Independence from Mexico.
Confederate Veteran
W. L. Osburn went into the Civil war on the Confederate side, enlisting in 1861 and served throughout that conflict. He was a member of Company I, 53rd Tennessee infantry. At Fort Donaldson he was captured by the Union forces, was exchanged but immediately re-entered the Confederate ranks. He was slightly wounded a time or two during the war.
Mr. Osburn was an active member of the J. W. Throckmorton camp United Confederate Veterans of McKinney. He enjoyed attending the reunions both state and national. He was able to attend the national reunions in recent years at Dallas, Tampa and Birmingham.
Mason, 63 years
The deceased was made a Mason in 1864 at Lynville, Tenn. He later transferred his membership to the Melissa Lodge. He was a faithful Mason as he was faithful in all other relations of life.
Joined Church in 1878
Mr. Osburn confessed Christ and united with the Christian church in 1878 under the preaching of the late, Eld. J. H. Faulkner, father of Mrs. Tom W. Perkins and lived 51 years after that in accordance with the high standard of Christian virtues and consistency which he professed. He was baptized in Sister Grove Creek at the place known as the Coffey crossing.
Married May 16, 1858
The deceased was united in marriage May 18, 1858 to Miss Harriett Elizabeth Wilson at the home of the bride’s father, James Wilson, on mile west of Dynville, Tenn., by H. K. Shields, a Presbyterian minister. To this happy union were born 9 children, 7 sons and 2 daughters. The oldest son died when only about two years old. The seventh child, a son, died when 15 months old. At his death, this honored old father is survived by seven living children, 290 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. His descendants their husbands and wives are all numbered among our county’s most highly esteemed citizenship. His beloved, wife passed to her immortal home Dec. 14, 1910 since which time he had been lovingly cared for and ministered to by his devoted children. His later years were spent in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Morgan. No father or grandfather ever had more tender loved lavished upon him by the hands of living children, grandchildren, and great -grandchildren than did Mr. Osburn. He enjoyed uniformly good health practically all of his life. But when the frailties of life incident to extreme old age came upon him, he was patient in his suffering and appreciative for every kindly deed or consideration shown him.
In Texas 59 Years
W. L. Osburn, wife and four children came to Texas in 1870. They landed in Collin County Oct. 22 of that year and settled in the Stony Point community ix miles east of Melissa. He ___ to make that and the Melissa vicinity home for the remainder of ___. He followed farming but was also an expert carpenter & mechanic. He worked at that trade when ___ his crop. He worked a great deal with his old friend T. J. Nale who is now in the old Confederate home at Austin and who was also an expert builder and contractor. The erected many of the early farm houses in Melissa and McKinney. Mr. Osburn’s mechanical ability was transmitted to some of his children. Several of his sons are expert ___carpenters, builders and contractors.
His Children
The deceased is survived by the following sons and daughters: W. N. Osburn of Melissa, former county commissioner of this county; R. J. Osburn of Houston; S. T. Osburn of Abilene; C. R. Osburn druggist and prominent business man of Melissa; J. L. Osburn of Melissa; Mrs. Henry E. Morgan of McKinney, and Mrs. J. L. Davis of Melissa.
Two sons are deceased: Albert Alonzo Theodore Osburn died at the age of 2 years and John Calvin Osburn died when 15 months old.
Funeral services were conducted at 2:30 p.m. Monday afternoon at the Morgan family residence on South Chestnut street this city by his pastor Eld. A. L. Chinkbeard of the Melissa Anna Christian churches, assisted by Dr. Clifford S. Weaver and Rev. O. B. Airhart both of this city. The services were concluded at Melissa Christian Church. Interment followed in the Melissa Cemetery under the direction of the Sam Massie & Son Funeral home.
This veteran Mason was laid to rest according to the burial rites of that ancient fraternity.
Mckinney Daily Democrat Gazette 6-8-29
Father of family Prominent and highly respected children
W. L. Osburn, age 91 years 7 months and 7 days, passed away at 12:45 o’clock Sunday afternoon June 3 at the home of his son-in-law and daughter, former County Tax Collector Henry E. Morgan and wife, 708 South Chestnut Street, this city. He had been sick for several weeks and his condition was regarded as critical for several days before his passing.
Born in Tennessee.
William Levy Osburn was born Nov. 2, 1837, three miles west of Lewisburg, Giles county, Tenn. He was the youngest of the family of 13 children, nine girls and three boys. One of the girls died in infancy: one when a grown woman. The other seven lived to a ripe old age. One of the boys died after the civil war. Another boy, Robert Osburn, died in 1880. The deceased was the last living member of the large family of children. He was a gallant confederate soldier and a devout Christian, who led a life of industry, honesty and set a worthy example for his own fine family of children and the younger generation about him to model after as an example for it footsteps to follow.
Scotch-Irish Decent
W. L. Osburn sprang from Scotch-Irish decent. His grandfather, William Osburn, was born in 1765 in Devonshire, England and emigrated to the United States and settle first in South Carolina where Robert Osburn, father of W. L. Osburn was born July 25, 1795. The grandfather moved from South Carolina to the state of Tennessee in 1810. The ancestors of the deceased were noted for their patriotism and participated in all of the conflicts at arms engaged in by their country from the Revolutionary war down to the present time. His maternal grandfather Hillis was a courier in the Revolutionary war who was captured by the Tories and for punishment had his eyes put out. One uncle was a member of the “White Horse” company formed in Tennessee to fight for Texas Independence from Mexico.
Confederate Veteran
W. L. Osburn went into the Civil war on the Confederate side, enlisting in 1861 and served throughout that conflict. He was a member of Company I, 53rd Tennessee infantry. At Fort Donaldson he was captured by the Union forces, was exchanged but immediately re-entered the Confederate ranks. He was slightly wounded a time or two during the war.
Mr. Osburn was an active member of the J. W. Throckmorton camp United Confederate Veterans of McKinney. He enjoyed attending the reunions both state and national. He was able to attend the national reunions in recent years at Dallas, Tampa and Birmingham.
Mason, 63 years
The deceased was made a Mason in 1864 at Lynville, Tenn. He later transferred his membership to the Melissa Lodge. He was a faithful Mason as he was faithful in all other relations of life.
Joined Church in 1878
Mr. Osburn confessed Christ and united with the Christian church in 1878 under the preaching of the late, Eld. J. H. Faulkner, father of Mrs. Tom W. Perkins and lived 51 years after that in accordance with the high standard of Christian virtues and consistency which he professed. He was baptized in Sister Grove Creek at the place known as the Coffey crossing.
Married May 16, 1858
The deceased was united in marriage May 18, 1858 to Miss Harriett Elizabeth Wilson at the home of the bride’s father, James Wilson, on mile west of Dynville, Tenn., by H. K. Shields, a Presbyterian minister. To this happy union were born 9 children, 7 sons and 2 daughters. The oldest son died when only about two years old. The seventh child, a son, died when 15 months old. At his death, this honored old father is survived by seven living children, 290 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. His descendants their husbands and wives are all numbered among our county’s most highly esteemed citizenship. His beloved, wife passed to her immortal home Dec. 14, 1910 since which time he had been lovingly cared for and ministered to by his devoted children. His later years were spent in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Morgan. No father or grandfather ever had more tender loved lavished upon him by the hands of living children, grandchildren, and great -grandchildren than did Mr. Osburn. He enjoyed uniformly good health practically all of his life. But when the frailties of life incident to extreme old age came upon him, he was patient in his suffering and appreciative for every kindly deed or consideration shown him.
In Texas 59 Years
W. L. Osburn, wife and four children came to Texas in 1870. They landed in Collin County Oct. 22 of that year and settled in the Stony Point community ix miles east of Melissa. He ___ to make that and the Melissa vicinity home for the remainder of ___. He followed farming but was also an expert carpenter & mechanic. He worked at that trade when ___ his crop. He worked a great deal with his old friend T. J. Nale who is now in the old Confederate home at Austin and who was also an expert builder and contractor. The erected many of the early farm houses in Melissa and McKinney. Mr. Osburn’s mechanical ability was transmitted to some of his children. Several of his sons are expert ___carpenters, builders and contractors.
His Children
The deceased is survived by the following sons and daughters: W. N. Osburn of Melissa, former county commissioner of this county; R. J. Osburn of Houston; S. T. Osburn of Abilene; C. R. Osburn druggist and prominent business man of Melissa; J. L. Osburn of Melissa; Mrs. Henry E. Morgan of McKinney, and Mrs. J. L. Davis of Melissa.
Two sons are deceased: Albert Alonzo Theodore Osburn died at the age of 2 years and John Calvin Osburn died when 15 months old.
Funeral services were conducted at 2:30 p.m. Monday afternoon at the Morgan family residence on South Chestnut street this city by his pastor Eld. A. L. Chinkbeard of the Melissa Anna Christian churches, assisted by Dr. Clifford S. Weaver and Rev. O. B. Airhart both of this city. The services were concluded at Melissa Christian Church. Interment followed in the Melissa Cemetery under the direction of the Sam Massie & Son Funeral home.
This veteran Mason was laid to rest according to the burial rites of that ancient fraternity.
