Hon. Samuel Osborn, Jr., of Edgartown, died at his residence on Summer street last Friday evening at about eight o'clock, after an illness of several months of Bright's disease and accompanying complications.
Samuel Osborn, Jr., was born at Edgartown May 29, 1823, and was one of seven children of Samuel and Mary T. Osborn. After passing through the schools of his native town he as a young man started in the clothing business for himself in the store on lower Main street, at the present time occupied by Capt. John W. Modley. Commencing in trade without a dollar of his own, by energy and thrift his business prospered, and he gradually became pecuniarily interested in the whaling fleet sailing from the port of Edgartown, and was first agent of ships Almira and Europa, and part owner in others. Mr. Osborn's holdings in whaling vessels steadily increased, and from 1870 to 1885 he was very extensively engaged, and about 1880 was probably the largest individual owner of whaling property in the United States.
His first vessel as sole owner was the bark Clarice, purchased in 1872, which he fitted for three voyages; next followed bark Perry, in 1874, two voyages; bark Mary Frazier, 1876, four voyages. The above were closely followed by purchases of the Sch. Emma Jane, Sch. Hattie E. Smith, Sch. E. H. Hatfield, bark Minnesota, brig Eunice H. Adams and bark Mattapoisett. It was during this period, also, that one of his vessels picked up the Sch. Ringleader, abandoned at sea, and which vessel he had in the coasting business for about a year, when she was sold to Marine parties. Mr. Osborn in the period above stated met with the loss of several vessels, and yet in 1880 he had a fleet of eight at sea. From figures at hand it is shown that the total gross product for ships hailing from Edgartown of which Mr. Osborn was agent and mostly owned was about $600,000.
He was agent and a large owner in the ship Europa, which with four other vessels in 1871 brought down the officers and crews of the wrecked Arctic ships, and for which work of rescue mainly through Mr. Osborn's efforts the government awarded the sum of $125,000 to the owners of the five ships, and also largely owned in the ship Ocmulgee, of Edgartown, the first vessel destroyed by the rebel privateer Alabama in 1862.
Mr. Osborn in all his career as a ship owner displayed an energy and enterprise which disaster could not retard, and although in some instances his vessels were very fortunate – as in the case of the sch. Emma Jane which paid for herself and outfits within three months from date of first sailing, and secured in all $42,000 worth of oil, - still on the other hand, owing to the high rates of marine risks, disaster overtook others uninsured, and occasioned Mr. Osborn very large financial loss.
He was owner of the bark Mary Frazier, which was blown to sea and lost after having been seized and detained by the Portuguese government. A claim was made for indemnity, and, although it still remains unsettles, it has been prosecuted vigorously by Mr. Osborn, who never gave up hope of eventually receiving a satisfactory settlement of the losses he sustained. The case was a famous one in its day, and attracted much attention, as it nearly led to complications between this county and Portugal.
His shipping enterprises gave employment at times to a large number of our citizens, and it was a source of much satisfaction to him that he was one of a class of business men whose ventures produced and added wealth to the community.
Mr. Osborn was an ardent Republican, of intense patriotism, and many living today remember his glowing speeches in the war times of '61. He represented this district in the Legislature, and was also at one time Sheriff of Dukes County. He was a member of Gov. Andrew's Council in 1863 and '64, and was the Governor's trusted friend during those historical years. He made several trips to Washington while Councillor on missions for Gov. Andrew, and Mr. Osborn had entertained the Governor at his home in Edgartown. Mr. Osborn was a member of the Edgartown school board for many years, and always manifested a lively interest in town affairs. He was every ready to contribute his energy and means to whatever seemed for the advancement of the prosperity of his native town, and with others, as a case in point, took his thousands from the savings bank to be lost in Katama and Martha's Vineyard Railroad stocks. He had been for many years a member of the New Bedford Board of Trade. Although not a member, he was, when able, a constant attendant at church, and for years was one of the largest contributors to the support of the Congregational church of this town.
Mr. Osborn's first wife was Zoraida, daughter of Timothy Coffin, Esq., by whom he had two sons, Howard O. and Walter S., both now of this town. Mrs. Osborn died in 1885. He married for his second wife Miss Hattie Jordan, of Dorchester, who survives him.
The funeral was from the family residence on Tuesday afternoon and was largely attended. Rev. C. N. Gleason officiated, assisted by Rev. C. T. Hatch, with singing by a selected quartette. The carriers and pallbearers were: Thomas Mellen, Hiram J. Cleveland, Holmes W. Smith, Jared Jernegan, Richard Holley, Chas. G. M. Dunham, Daniel E. Dexter and Richard E. Norton.
Mr. Osborn's was a busy life. Of indomitable will and perseverance, he carved for himself a prominence in the community scarcely attained by another in his generation. Of independent and positive views, he made enemies as do all strong men. In his passing away Edgartown loses a citizen who contributed much to the upbuilding and maintaining the name and fame of his native town.
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