Denver, History of Colorado, BIOS: OSNER, Joseph A. (published 1918)
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"History of Colorado", edited by Wilbur Fisk Stone, published by The S. J. 
Clarke Publishing Co. (1918)  Vol. II


p. 236, 238
photo p. 237


JOSEPH A. OSNER.

	Joseph A. Osner, engaged in railroad contracting and irrigation 
work at Denver, was born October 3, 1857, in Clyde, Ohio, a son of the 
late Joseph A. Osner, who was a native of Alsace-Lorraine and came to 
America at the age of twenty, settling in Ohio, where he resided for 
fifty-tour years. He was engaged in the lumber business but during the 
period of the Civil war put aside all business and personal 
considerations and served for two years as a private in defense of the 
Union cause. His political allegiance was given to the democratic party 
and his religious faith was that of the Roman Catholic church. He died 
at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. His wife, who bore the 
maiden name of Christina Barnett, was a native of Switzerland and came 
to the United States with a sister, settling in Ohio, her marriage 
being celebrated in Oberlin, that state. She died in 1902, at the age 
of sixty-eight years. The family numbered eleven children, three sons 
and eight daughters.

	Joseph A. Osner was the third in order of birth. He was educated 
in the public schools of Clyde, Ohio, and at eighteen years of age 
started out to earn his own livelihood, being first .employed at 
freighting between Kearney, Nebraska, and the Black Hills. After making 
one trip, however, he came to Denver, where he arrived in 1879.He then 
engaged in freighting from Denver to Leadville and continued in that 
work for two years, after which he turned his attention to the 
contracting business in a small way. As the years passed on his 
patronage steadily increased and he became one of the leading railroad 
and irrigation contractors in the west. He built the South Park 
Railroad, also parts of the Denver & Rio Grande, parts of the Union 
Pacific and the Burlington and has taken many large and important 
contracts for irrigation work at Lake Loveland, Greeley and other 
points. His business has reached very extensive proportions and places 
him among the representative men in his line in Colorado. In addition 
he is the owner of a large breeding farm on which he raises fine mules 
principally, but he also owns and has raised some fine pedigreed 
horses. Two of these are world record horses-Tommy Home, with a record 
of 2:04 1/4, made in the sixth heat of a seven heat race; and Braden 
Direct, with a record of 2:01 1/4, then a world's record. As a famous 
horseman Mr. Osner is known throughout the country. He is a member of 
the Gentlemen's Riding and Driving Club and has been interested in many 
track events. He was instrumental in promoting a matinee of races, the 
proceeds of which went to the Red Cross, and in this event his own 
horse. Little Joe, took part and Mr. Osner himself acted as starting 
judge, the matinee netting a very substantial sum for the Red Cross.

	On the 22d of July, 1878, Mr. Osner was married in Denver to Miss 
Minnie Wernert, a native of Toledo, Ohio, and a daughter of the late 
Joseph W. and Mary Wernert, of a very old Toledo family that was 
established there when the town was known as Fort Lawrence. Mrs. Osner 
is active in all charity organizations, also in Red Cross work and is a 
leader in social circles of the city. Mr. and Mrs. Osner have no 
children of their own but are rearing an adopted daughter, Laura 
Wernert.

	Mr. Osner and his wife belong to St. Elizabeth's Roman Catholic 
church and he is a member of the Denver Civic and Commercial 
Association. He is in hearty sympathy with that organization in all of 
its efforts to promote the welfare of the community and does much 
active work in that connection. He finds his chief diversion in racing, 
fishing and hunting and is the owner of fine saddle horses. He has 
every reason to be proud of his splendidly improved farm and the 
thoroughbred horses thereon to be seen. His political allegiance is 
given to the democratic party, while fraternally he is identified with 
the Knights of Columbus and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.