Western Pennsylvania Genealogy
Compiled by Douglas H. Lusher


Family Group Record



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James H. Osmer and Mary Jane Griggs




Husband James H. Osmer 1 2




           Born: 23 Jan 1832 - Tenterden, England 3
     Christened: 
           Died: 3 Oct 1912 4
         Buried: 


         Father: Reuben Osmer (      -1865) 1 2 5
         Mother: Catherine Gilbert (      -1863) 1 2


       Marriage: Jun 1859 3 6



• Additional Image: James H. Osmer.




Wife Mary Jane Griggs 3 6

           Born: 16 Nov 1835 - Steuben Co, NY 3
     Christened: 
           Died: 30 Nov 1910 3
         Buried: 3 Dec 1910 - Franklin Cemetery, Franklin, Venango Co, PA 7


         Father: Samuel Griggs (1794-1864) 8
         Mother: Amy Church (1803-      ) 9




Children
1 M Lincoln Osmer 3

           Born: 8 Apr 1860 3
     Christened: 
           Died: 18 Feb 1863 3
         Buried: 
         Spouse: Did Not Marry


2 M William Osmer 3

           Born: 8 Jan 1865 3
     Christened: 
           Died: Sep 1865 3
         Buried: 
         Spouse: Did Not Marry


3 M Archibald Robertson Osmer 3 6 10 11

           Born: 12 Oct 1866 - Franklin, Venango Co, PA 3 10 11
     Christened: 
           Died: 10 Dec 1940 4
         Buried: 
         Spouse: Mary Alice Grant (      -      ) 12 13
           Marr: 21 Aug 1893 13


4 M Newton Fassett Osmer 3 4 6 14

           Born: 23 Jul 1868 - Franklin, Venango Co, PA 3 4 14
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 
         Spouse: Helen Irene Farley (      -      ) 13
           Marr: 30 Jun 1908 - Milton, Armstrong Co, PA 13



General Notes: Husband - James H. Osmer


He was born in central Pennsylvania, Jan 22, 1833. [HVC 1890, 804]
He was born in England in 1832, but in the year of his birth was brought to this country by his parents.

He spent his early life in Centre County, Pennsylvania. It was necessary for him to begin assisting his father with the farm work at a very early age, but he was ambitious to acquire an education, and studied evenings when he could not be spared for attendance at school. For a few months he went to a private school in the home neighborhood, and by the time he was eighteen years old was prepared to enter the Bellefonte Academy in Centre County. He put his acquirements to practical use, teaching school, and thus earned enough to continue his studies, entering Mount Pleasant College in Westmoreland County, and also studying at Pinegrove Academy in Center County and Dickinson Seminary, at Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Altogether he gained an unusually good literary education, which proved an excellent foundation for his law studies, commenced in June, 1856, in the office of Robertson & Fassett, of Elmira, New York. Meantime he continued to support himself at teaching, acting as principal of one of the city schools. In November, 1858, he was admitted to the bar, at Cortland, New York, and at once established an office of his own at Horseheads, a suburb of Elmira. After several years' successful practice in that location he returned to Pennsylvania, in the spring of 1865, some of his clients owning property in the oil country which could be handled better at Franklin than from a distance. His conscientious and skillful attention to this business attracted the notice of a number of people who wanted reliable legal advice and assistance, and the incidental work which came to him in this way was of such volume that he decided to settle at Franklin, which was ever afterward his home. He secured admission to the bar of Venango County in August, 1865, and soon became well known in the local courts, building up a large clientele within a comparatively short period. He was admitted to the Supreme and Superior courts of the State, to the United States District and Circuit courts, and to the Supreme Court of the United States, the varied nature of his practice carrying him into all. He never allowed himself to grow indifferent to the interest of any client, taking as much pains with each case as if it were the only thing he had to do, and his confidence in every cause he sought to defend, his careful preparation for trial, and never-relaxing vigilance in points of law, were the factors upon which he relied for success. For over thirty years he was interested as counsel in every important criminal case tried in Venango County. Though he lived to be past eighty, he went to his office daily until almost the close of his life. His vigorous mentality was unimpaired after years of strenuous work, and his value as a counselor never declined.
He was a Unitarian in religious belief, joining the First Church of Franklin. In his young manhood he was an ardent abolitionist, and joined the Republican Party upon its formation, taking a prominent part in campaign work for many years. He was chosen a delegate to the national convention of 1876, but was prevented by illness from attending. In the fall of 1878 he was elected to represent his Congressional district, and, during his term in Congress, was a member of the committees on Education and Labor. He served a number of years as a member of the school board in his home town. Fraternally he affiliated with Myrtle Lodge, No. 316, F. & A. M., and with Franklin Lodge, No. 110, B. P. O. Elks. [HVC 1919, 441]


General Notes: Wife - Mary Jane Griggs

from Steuben Co, NY

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Sources


1 —, History of Venango County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Brown, Runk, & Co., Publishers, 1890), Pg 804.

2 Charles A. Babcock, Venango County, Pennsylvania, Her Pioneers and People (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1919), Pg 440.

3 Charles A. Babcock, Venango County, Pennsylvania, Her Pioneers and People (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1919), Pg 441.

4 Joseph Riesenman, Jr., History of Northwestern Pennsylvania, Vol. III (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., Inc., 1943), Pg 286.

5 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913), Pg 740.

6 —, History of Venango County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Brown, Runk, & Co., Publishers, 1890), Pg 805.

7 Franklin Cemetery - Record of Interments (Franklin, PA.).

8 Charles A. Babcock, Venango County, Pennsylvania, Her Pioneers and People (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1919), Pg 441, 442.

9 Charles A. Babcock, Venango County, Pennsylvania, Her Pioneers and People (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1919), Pg 441, 443.

10 George P. Donehoo, Pennsylvania - A History (NW) (New York, NY; Chicago, IL: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., 1926), Pg 119.

11 Joseph Riesenman, Jr., History of Northwestern Pennsylvania, Vol. III (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., Inc., 1943), Pg 285.

12 —, History of Venango County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Brown, Runk, & Co., Publishers, 1890), Pg 835.

13 Charles A. Babcock, Venango County, Pennsylvania, Her Pioneers and People (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1919), Pg 442.

14 George P. Donehoo, Pennsylvania - A History (NW) (New York, NY; Chicago, IL: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., 1926), Pg 121.


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