Person:John Osborne (15)

The marriage bond for John's mariage to Caroline Gaddie lists his birthplace as Greenup County, Kentucky. His death certificate lists his birthplace as, City: unknown", and State: "Indiana". I tend to think that the marriage bond is a more accurate document, especially since there is another apparent major mistake on his death certificate - his father is listed as "John Osborne" from Indiana (also). To add even more confusion, genealogical information sent to me by Mr. Jack Shroeder of Bloomington Illinois, show that John Brown Osborn was born in North Carolina (Akridge genealogical information). One additional clue to John Brown Osborn's birthplace is the 1860 census, which lists him as living with the Etherton family at age 12 years, in Green County, Kentucky. Listed as John Osburn, he was also listed with his siblings Martha P. and Esquire. His age was listed erroneously as 21, when he was actually about 12 years old at the 1860 census.

According to Mr. Herb Scott (herb-scott@@mindspring.com), John Brown Osborn's mother, Rachel, died in childbirth with her daughter Emily in1853. Soon after her death, John's father James left the children with relatives and went back to Indiana to settle his affairs. James was never heard from again. This may explain why John, his brother Esquire, and his sister Martha P. were listed in the 1860 Green County Kentucky census as living in the William and Mary Etherton household (his future parents-in-law). It appears that John Brown Osborn was married three times. His first marriage was to Bettie Jane Chaudoin, his second marriage to Caroline Gaddie, and his third to Sarah Jane Elmore. According to the Marriage Bond, taken out in October, 1875 when John B. married Caroline Gaddie, John B. Osborn lived in Green County, Kentucky at that time and was 28 years old. The information on the bond also states that it was John B.'s second marriage. In addition to the children that were "born to him", John's obit claims that he raised four other children as well. There names were given as Ben, Edd, Jim and Jessie Osborn.

According to his Death Certificate, John Brown Osborn(e) died of chronic nephritis (kidney inflammation) and cystitis (bladder inflammation) and his death was reported by H.E. Osborn(e) of Hodgenville, Kentucky. He was buried in the Ebeneezer Church Cemetery in Campbellsville, Kentucky on 1 October 1928. Information obtained at the Taylor County KY library stated (in July 2003) that the Ebeneezer Church Cemetery had only rocks, and no headstones, when researchers visited it in June of 1980. According to Urban Bowen of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, John Brown Osborn actually died in Greensburg, Kentucky.

1. ↑ Thomas (Osborne), Anna Susan, Certificate of Death 1 May 1964.
2. ↑ 1900 U.S. Census, Green Co., Greensburg, Kentucky
   pg. 251.

   Marriage Bond taken out on 12 October 1875, the day before John B.
   married Caroline Gaddie.

3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Osborn, John Brown; Death Certificate. (Dated 30 September 1928).
4. ↑ 1900 U.S. Census, Green Co., Greensburg, Kentucky
   pg. 251.