Cumberland County, Maine - Woodbridge G. Osborne
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Biography
Woodbridge G. Osborne
Biographical Review
Cumberland County, Maine
Boston
Biographical Review Publishing Company
1896
Page 220-222


Woodbridge G. Osborne, who is living retired from active business, is a native
of Cumberland County, Maine, his birth having occurred July 14, 1837, in the
town of Scarboro. His father, the Rev. Charles F. Osborne, and his grandfather,
the Rev. John B. Osborne, were faithful ministers of the Free Will Baptist
denomination.

John B. Osborne was a native of Lee, N.H., where, when but a boy, he became
imbued with religious zeal, and determined to consecrate his life to the cause
of Christianity. He was ordained to the ministry in his native town, and became
one of the- most successful and influential preachers of that faith in New
Hampshire. He was twice married. His first wife, Abigail Smith, bore him three
children. His second wife, Mary Frost, mother of the Rev. C. F. Osborne, was
born in Epping, N.H. She bore him fourteen children; and of these Jerry Jackson
Osborne, the youngest child, is the only one now living. He is a farmer in
Gorham, owning one hundred and fifty acres of land, about one third of it being
under cultivation.

Charles F. Osborne, born March 15, 1800, in Lee, N.H., was there reared to man's
estate. For some years he was engaged mostly in surveying in Portland, being
employed a portion of the time as a clerk in a store. He subsequently started in
mercantile business for himself, opening a general store, but gave up this in
order to fit himself for the ministry, for which he was eminently adapted. He
was ordained as pastor of the Free Will Baptist church at Fort Hill, Gorham, in
1837; and he continued his pastoral labors until his death, January 24, 1854,
his last charge being at the Limerick and Limington Church in Parsonsfield,
quarterly meeting, York County. The Rev. Charles F. Osborne married Susan C.
Leavis, a daughter of Thomas Leavis, of Portland, and of their nine children the
following are living; namely, Harriet S., Ellen M., Charles H., Ervine D.,
Lillia, and Woodbridge G.  Harriet S., born in September, 1820, is the wife of
Hanover S. Nickerson, of Pittsfield, Me., where both attend the Free Will
Baptist church. Ellen Maria, born in March, 1831, makes her home with her sister
Harriet in Pittsfield, and is there a member of the Free Will Baptist church.
Charles H., who was one of triplets, born in December, 1833, owns a farm of one
hundred acres in Gorham, where he makes a specialty of early fruits. He married
in November, 1868, Mrs. Sarah Haywood, born Holmes; and their eldest child,
Sumner C. Osborne, married Isabelle Durrell, of Hyde Park, Mass. Ervine D., a
graduate of Bowdoin College, is now engaged in teaching in Winthrop, Mass.
Lillia is a professional nurse of Brookline, Mass. They are Congregationalists
in their religious belief.

Woodbridge G. Osborne was educated at the Limerick and Limington Academies,
being graduated from the latter when but sixteen years old. He at once began
teaching school, first in Sebago, in the following winter at Baldwin; and the
next fall be had charge of the tuition school at Emery's Corner in Limington. In
1855 he taught the winter term of the North Gorham school; and just afterward he
assumed charge of the school at Gorham Corner, where he remained a year. He had
confined himself so closely to the duties of his calling that he was now forced
to abandon his profession for a while. He came to Portland, and was subsequently
employed as a clerk in a store for a short time. In 1859 he established himself
in a mercantile business in company with J. F. Dearborn, the firm being Osborne
& Dearborn. The following year he sold his share to his partner, and began
traveling for Shaw Brothers, wholesale grocers of Portland. When the Shaws gave
up business in 1860, Mr. Osborne opened a store for the sale of grain and
groceries on Market Square in this city, forming a partnership with O. W.
Eldredge, whom he afterward bought out. He continued this business successfully
until the summer of 1862, when he sold out, in order that he might be free to
enter the service of his country. On July 28 he enlisted under Captain Ellis M.
Sawyer in Company E, Seventeenth Maine Volunteer Infantry; and for three months
he was employed as mail messenger. He was then taken sick, and, being
incapacitated for active duty, was assigned to look after the Quartermaster's
stores. He was subsequently promoted, and given charge of the Quartermaster's
store at Blue Ridge Mountain. Another promotion placed him in the office of
bookkeeper at the Brigadier Quartermaster's department. His health remaining
impaired, he was from there sent to Washington, where he was honorably
discharged April 30, 1863. By virtue of his patriotic services Mr. Osborne
receives a pension; and he is a member of Bosworth Post, No. 2, Grand Army of
the Republic, of Portland.

After regaining his health, Mr. Osborne resumed teaching, being employed
successively at Gorham, Buxton, and Cape Elizabeth, retiring from this work in
1874, his last school being the Ligonia at the Rolling-mills in Cape Elizabeth.
In 1875 he began traveling for the wholesale grocery house of W. E. Donnell &
Co., with whom he remained five years. He was subsequently employed in a similar
capacity by Charles McLaughlin & Co. and then by Thomas Dana & Co., of Boston.
While working for the latter firm, through some business transaction Mr. Osborne
took possession of a grocery store in a New Hampshire town, where he remained
engaged in business for six or seven years before he could dispose of the store
at an advantage. Returning then to Maine, he worked a year for Twitchell,
Champlin & Co. of Portland, going in 1894 to the store of Shaw, Harmon & Carney,
by whom he was employed until December of that year, when he retired from active
life. Mr. Osborne has a farm of sixty-five acres, which he has bought in small
lots, at South Portland; and here he spends the warmer months of the year,
residing in the winter season in Portland.

On August 29, 1860, Mr. Osborne was united in marriage with Mary Ellen Anthoine,
daughter of Deacon Daniel Anthoine, of Cape Elizabeth. Their only child,
Woodbridge G. Osborne, Jr., was born April 5, 1880. In politics Mr. Osborne is a
steadfast and loyal Republican. Religiously, both he and his wife are members of
the Free Will Baptist church. Socially, he is identified with several of the
leading organizations of the city, being a member of Beacon Lodge, No. 67,
Independent Order of Odd Fellows; of Bramhall Lodge, No. 3, Knights of Pythias;
of Portland Encampment, No. 19, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and Oasis
Commandery, No. 241, of the Golden Cross of Knightville.