Ransom Osborn - Early Settler of Hicksville - Part 2

 

What happened to Ransom Osborn after his experience in the woods and the partial amputation of his limbs?

In 1836, Ransom opened the first school in Hicksville with five pupils - two were his daughters, Mary and Caroline, who were joined by Joseph and Sarah Bunnell and Alexander Yaxley.

"In the spring of 1837, he moved into the double cabin occupied by Mr. Comstock where Mrs. Osborn kept the workmen that cleared away the dense forests, and also the men that built the first grist mill."  Mr. Osborn's family consisted of his wife and one son and five daughters - Sarah, Ruth, Esther, Joseph M., Mary and Caroline "

When A. P. Edgerton arrived at the village on April 17, 1837, he found a log cabin in the middle of the crossing of Main and High Streets where Ransom Osborn kept a boarding house. His wife was using a spring pole pestle to pound corn for hominy to feed her boarders.

As well as a teacher, Ransom also served several terms as Justice of the Peace and helped grow the mail service in the Hicksville area.

On August 14, 1837, he purchased a hundred acres of land from George Norrick for $5.00 an acre, part down and part on time. The land was located in Section 17 of Hicksville Township.

"He owned the property where Dr. Rakestraw now lives, and also the farm on the Edgerton road where Mrs. Herrick now lives."

Mrs. Osborn died March 8, 1843, aged 48 years. In 1857, Mr. Osborn went to Geneseo, Illinois to live with his oldest daughter, Mrs. Buenos (Sarah) Ayres. On October 14, 1872, he ate his dinner as usual, and in the afternoon, died sitting in his chair. Almost three years before his death, he received his second sight, which was a great pleasure to him, as he was a great reader."

He was buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Genesco, Henry County, Illinois.  The information given on findagrave.com is a bit different than that given in the 1883 History of Defiance County.  The tombstone has Ransom's birthdate as April 5, 1790, and his death date as October 14, 1872.   It would appear that Ransom was buried with a young granddaughter, Helene, who had died ten years earlier, daughter of B. Ayers and Ransom's daughter, Sarah.

*All quoted material was taken from the History of Defiance County, 1883.  Photo of Ransom Osborn, courtesy of Dianne Grimm.