Surname: Ogborn, Bradbury, Bundy, Durbin Compendium of Biography Of Henry County, Indiana B. F. Bowen 1920 ALBERT D. OGBORN. Rising above the head of the masses are many men of sterling worth and value, who by sheer perseverance and pluck have conquered fortune and by their persistent and indefatigable efforts have risen from the ranks of the commonplace to positions of eminence in the business, professional and political world, and at the same time have commanded the trust and respect of those with whom they have in any way been thrown in contact. Among the earnest men whose depth of character and strict adherence to principle excite the admiration of his contemporaries Mr. Ogborn is prominent. He not only has attained to a leading place at the Henry county bar, but has also been publicly recognized by the people of the county in his election as state senator, representing the district composed of Henry, Fayette and Union counties. Albert D. Ogborn was born on a farm in Wayne County, Indiana, on the 25th of September 1864, the son of Edwin F. and Jane (Bradbury) Ogborn, the former a native of New Jersey and the latter) of Wayne County, this state. The subject’s maternal grandmother was an Elliott and was a sister of Mrs. Judge M. L. Bundy. Her father was a native of New Jersey and her mother of North Carolina. Edwin F. Ogborn was a blacksmith all his active life, but carried on the pursuit of farming in connection therewith. His blacksmith shop was a station on the famous “underground railroad” and many slaves were concealed in the loft of his shop until a favorable opportunity could be found for proceeding safely on their way to freedom. He came to New Castle in January 1883, and made this city his home until his death, July 4, 1895, at the age of seventy-nine years. His wife had passed away in Wayne county September 10, 1882. His was a positive character and in his community he for years exerted a profound influence for right living and high purposes. A member of the United Brethren church, when that body split he went with the radical branch. His old society, the church at Sugar Grove, Clay Township, Wayne County, Indiana, was the bone of contention and church ownership was the question at issue. Each branch of the United Brethren denomination now has a building on the site of the former structure, it having been destroyed by fire. He held very pronounced views on the slavery question, being in favor of the preservation of the union at any cost. He sent a son and a stepson to the front to assist in quelling the southern insurrection, the former enlisting in the Nineteenth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry and the latter in the Thirty-sixth Indiana Regiment, and both lost their lives in the service. The subject of this sketch was reared upon a farm and received his education in the common schools of his neighborhood. He remained at home until the death of his mother, when he came to New Castle and engaged in the agricultural implement business. After working at this for one year he clerked in a shoe store for two years and later went to Arcanum, Ohio, and clerked there in a store for one year. He studied stenography and in 1887 he secured the position of storekeeper for the Northern Indiana Hospital for the Insane, at Logansport. In April 1889, he resigned that position and accepted the position of court reporter, under appointment by Judge E. H. Bundy, a position, which he occupied until the summer of 1902. During his spare moments he had assiduously given his attention to the study of the law, and made such progress that in 1894 he was admitted to the bar and at once entered upon the practice. In June 1898, upon the call for troops, Mr. Ogborn enlisted in a company raised at New Castle and upon its organization was elected its captain. This company became Company G, One Hundred and Sixty-first Indiana Volunteer Infantry, under command of W. T. Durbin, now governor of the state. They were mustered into the United States service July 12, 1898, and after some time spent in the southern states embarked for Cuba December 13, 1898, being a part of the army of occupation. The regiment was stationed at Marianao under the command of General Lee, and were on the island about three and a half months. At the end of that time they were ordered to Savannah, Georgia, and on the 3oth of April 1899, were mustered out. At the time of enlistment this company consisted of one hundred and fifteen men and all returned to their homes. The majority of the men had had no previous military experience, but the subject, as a member of the Uniform Rank, Knights of Pythias, was well versed in military tactics and was thus eminently qualified to command the company. During his service he served upon two general courts martial and in the absence of his superior officers several times had command of the battalion. Upon his return to civil life Mr. Ogborn at once resumed the practice of law and his former work as reporter of the court. He owns the only complete set of abstracts in the county, they having been compiled by two former county officials. The public was prompt to recognize his abilities and he has enjoyed a liberal share of the business in his line. He has ever been an ardent and enthusiastic Republican and has done much hard work in the interest of his party. During the presidential campaign of 1900 he was employed at Chicago as confidential secretary to the executive committee of the Republican national committee and in this capacity did much effective work. During his absence from home he was nominated and elected to represent this district in the state senate. In that body he was highly honored by appointment on some of the leading committees, the list being as follows: Chairman of the committee on military affairs and of that on enrolled bills, member of the committees on insurance, public health, benevolent institutions, roads and congressional apportionment. He was the author of the bill giving the state militia the same organization as the United States army, this being the only state in the union, which conforms to that standard. The congressional apportionment bill as passed was substantially the same as the bill introduced by him. He was also the author of a bill amending the common school law regulating the loaning of school funds. During his membership of the senate he was active in the discussions, which came up in that body and on both the floor and in committee work his influence was marked and salutary. Fraternally Mr. Ogborn is a member of the Masonic order, having attained to the Knight Templar degree. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias in all of its branches. For five years he was colonel of the Third Regiment of Indiana, Uniform Rank, and is at present chief of staff to the brigadier general of the Uniform Rank in this state. Socially he holds membership with the Columbia Club of Indianapolis. As a diversion from the ordinary affairs of everyday life the subject gives some attention to the study of electricity and has been interested in the promotion of several electric railroads, and the building of the first line into Henry County, the line along the National road, which is to be extended from Dunreith to New Castle, is largely due to his efforts. He takes great pride in the material prosperity of his city and county and is public spirited in the most liberal sense of the term. He is a most affable gentleman, easily approachable, and possesses a pleasing personality, which, with other amiable qualities and characteristics, has won him the confidence and respect of the community. Just in the prime of early manhood and in the possession of a vigorous and active constitution, he may with reason look forward to many years of activity and usefulness.