Edgar S. Osborn, Co. F, 9th Pennsylvania Reserves

Thomas A. Osborn, proprietor and editor of the Cambria Freeman, at Ebensburg, Pennsylvania, was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, September 2, 1873, son of Edgar S. and Mary (Helfrich) Osborn. He was one of four children in his parents’ family, two of whom survive, Thomas A., and Elizabeth, single, residing at home.

The father, EDGAR S. OSBORN, was born in Meadville, Pennsylvania, 1837; his father was a Presbyterian minister, and of an old Virginia family, members of which came to Meadville, Pennsylvania. Edgar married Mary, daughter of Charles and Catherine Helfrich, who was born in 1854, at Hastings, Pennsylvania. The grandfather, Charles Helfrich, was a native of Alsace-Lorraine, Germany, and was compelled to flee the country during one of the revolutions. He came to Cambria county, Pennsylvania, from Wilkes-Barre, and located in Hastings some time in the forties, and later moved to Johnstown, where he died.

Edgar S. Osborn was reared in Meadville, and on the breaking out of the Civil war enlisted at that place as a member of Company F, Ninth Pennsylvania Reserves, and served during the war. He was wounded at the battle of Gettysburg, and eventually the wound caused his death. After the close of the war, he married and settled in Johnstown, where for a number of years he was a merchant. He died February 12, 1878. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Osborn married W.S. Elder, by whom she had two children, Cora M. and William S. Mr. Elder died in 1891.

Mr. Osborn had a brother, Thomas A. Osborn, who went to Kansas at an early day, and edited a newspaper at Leavenworth. Later he was elected governor of the state, serving two terms.

Subsequently he was appointed under President Grant as minister to Chile, South America. Thomas A. Osborn, son of Edgar S. and Mary (Helfrich) Osborn, was reared at home, acquiring his education at the public schools, at the McAllister’s Soldiers’ Orphan School, and at Morrell’s Institute, conducted by Bennett & Greer, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. As early as his fifteenth year he entered the office of the Johnson Street Railway Company, holding a clerical position with them for about six years, resigning his position to take a trip to the west, including far away California. While away he was employed with a surveying party, and by his exposure contracted rheumatism and one year later returned home. He then entered the employ of F.A. Cresswell, a contractor of Johnstown, with whom he was associated one year, and was then appointed secretary of the Democratic county committee of Cambria county. Upon the election of W.H. Strauss to the office of register and recorder for Cambria county, Mr. Osborn was appointed his deputy, serving in the office up to the time Mr. Strauss went out of office – January, 1904, having served continuously as the county’s Democratic committee’s secretary since 1898, with the single exception of 1894[sic]. During his tenure of office in the court house, on July 1, 1903, he purchased the Cambria Freeman, at Ebensburg. It is the oldest Democratic paper in Cambria county, and for twenty-seven years was edited by James G. Hasson. After the expiration of Mr. Osborn’s term of office, he assumed control of the newspaper and has vigorously conducted the same, and his strength and personality have made it one of the leading papers in Cambria county. He is a member of Johnstown Lodge, No. 175, Elks; also belongs to the Woodmen of the World. He is known in Cambria and adjoining counties as a wide-awake Democratic politician.

Mr. Osborn married, June 15, 1905, E. Gertrude Reese, of Johnstown.