O. E. Osborn, who is engaged in carrying on general agricultural pursuits in Hazel Dell Township, was born in Virginia on the 4th of March, 1858. He is a son of J. W. Osborn, of whom further mention is made in connection with the sketch of G. H. Osborn on another page of this volume. He pursued his education in the common schools and remained at home until twenty-five years of age, during which time he received ample training in the work of the farm, becoming familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and planting and harvesting the crops. When twenty-three years of age he bought eighty acres of unimproved land, whereon he now resides, and with characteristic energy began its development and cultivation. He has made all the modern improvements upon it, including the erection of a large frame dwelling and barns. He now owns one hundred and sixty acres of land, one-half of this being received by him as his share of this father's estate. In tilling the soil he has brought his fields under a high state of cultivation and his farm therefore presents a neat and attractive appearance. For sixteen years he has been making a specialty of Duroc Jersey hogs and now has upon his place two hundred head which are eligible to registry. He holds two stock sales each year and disposes of about one hundred head of hogs annually. This branch of his business is proving profitable to him.

Mr. Osborn was married to Miss Sarah Roosa, a daughter of Isaiah and Mary L. (Turner) Roosa, residing in Garner Township. Unto Mr. and Osborn have been born the following children: Margaret, the wife of Richard Hough, of Hazel Dell Township; Frank, who is a student in Simpson College at Indianola, Iowa; Ernest, who attends the Agricultural College at Ames, Iowa; Grace, a student in the school at Cedar Falls, Iowa; Olive, pursuing her education at Council Bluffs; Mary, at home; and Charles L.

Mr. Osborn and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in the work of which he is actively interested, while to its support he contributes generously. He does everything in his power to advance the growth of the church and to extend its influence, is now serving as one of its trustees and for four years has been superintendent of the Sunday School. His life accords with its teachings, for he has ever been an upright, honorable man, well meriting the confidence and esteem which are so uniformly extended him.

In politics he is a stalwart Republican. For four years he served as Justice of the Peace and for four years has been school director, filling this position at the present time. In all of his farm work he is practical, following methods that product good results, and today has a valuable property which presents a very attractive appearance, owing to the care and labor that Mr. Osborn has bestowed upon it.