History Of Rush County Indiana 1888 Brant & Fuller Surnames In This Biography are: Osborne, Armstrong, Eads, Evans, JOHN H. OSBORNE, the present Recorder of Rush County, and one of her worthy and honored citizens, was born in the village of Fairfield, Franklin County, this State, January 27, 1821. He was the oldest of nine children — five sons and four daughters — born to James and Alice (Armstrong) Osborne, the former a native of South Carolina, of Scotch descent, and the latter a native of Scott County, Ky., of English descent. His father was the son of John Osborne, also a native of South Carolina. His mother was the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Eads) Armstrong, the former of whom was born near Fredericksburg, Md., and the latter was born in Kentucky. When our subject was but five years old his parents came to Rush County, but three years later they returned to Franklin County, where he was reared upon a farm. When he was twelve years of age, he went to live with his grandfather, John Armstrong, with whom he remained until he was twenty. At that age, he went to Metamora, Franklin Co., where he remained a few months, then went to Fayette County, and there worked upon a farm one year. He then returned to Metamora and there was employed as a clerk in a store one year. He was married, February 25, 1845, to Nancy Evans, a native of Franklin County, born August 11, 1823, and was the daughter of William Evans, one of the early settlers of Franklin County. After his marriage, Mr. Osborne farmed two years, and then took up the avocation of a teacher, to which his attention was directed four years. He then took a position as clerk in a store of Metamora, and from that time until 1858, his attention was given to clerking, farming and school teaching. In 1858, he moved to this county and engaged in general merchandising at New Salem. He opened his store April 6, 1858, and sold out in 1864, giving possession April 6th, of that year. He then removed to Waldron, Shelby Co., and took a position as traveling salesman for a wholesale house in Cincinnati. He was thus employed one year. He then became a resident of Indianapolis, and engaged there in the dry goods business. ‘He resided in that city until 1874, during which time his attention was given to the dry goods trade, to selling on the road and to the real estate business. In 1874, he returned again to this county, and engaged in the dry goods trade at New Salem. In 1876, he was the candidate of his party for the office of Recorder, but was defeated. In January, 1876, he moved his family to Rushville. In 1878, he was elected County Recorder by his party, and took the office in 1879. In 1882, he was re-elected. Mr. and Mrs. Osborne are the parents of one child, George W, born July 11, 1848; now a resident of Pittsburgh, Pa. Mr. Osborne is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and an ardent Republican in politics, lie is an honest man, an efficient and trustworthy official and one of the esteemed citizens of Rush County. He and wife are the parents of one adopted daughter, Dora Osborne, who has been with them since four-and-a-half years old. For the past ten years she has occupied a position as teacher in the Rushville High School. They had another daughter of their own named Angeline G., born in December, 1845, died in June, 1846.