BIOGRAPHY: George W. OSBORN, Cambria County, PA 

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From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria 
County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 228-9
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GEORGE W. OSBORN, a citizen of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and a gardener by 
occupation, is a son of George W. and Margaret (Murphy) Osborn. August 6, 1843, 
in a little log house, corner of Main and Market streets, Johnstown, he was 
born, and there, too, he was married, his wife being Miss Phoebe Myers, a 
daughter of Abraham Myers. Mr. Osborn attended the public schools in his early 
boyhood, but did not acquire very much book-knowledge on account of a failure of 
his eye-sight. However, he entered a store, and in making his own way gained an 
education that was as valuable to him as the same about of book-lore would have 
been, perhaps more so. He was twenty-one years in this store, and then he 
entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad company as a ticket-agent. Later 
he was transferred to the freight department, where he remained until he became 
assistant agent with R. T. Given, agent. He now discharged the duties of a 
brakeman for the Pennsylvania Railroad company. He was a faithful workman on the 
Pennsylvania railroad, but after having served this company for a number of 
years he married and moved to Bedford county, returning in 1888, after thirteen 
years' residence there, he located in Johnstown and working for the Johnson 
company, and at gardening.
     Mr. Osborn has had various occupations, and in all has proven himself a 
laborer eminently worthy of his hire. In this respect, as in others, he shows 
the temper and quality of the Irish race to which he belongs.
     His grandfather was a native of the "Old Country" and came to America, 
settling first in Lancaster county, later in Westmoreland, about one and a half 
miles from Latrobe, in Unity township, where he died. The grandfather was a 
farmer by occupation and emigrated to this country on account of being a home-
ruler.
     The father of our subject was born and reared to manhood in Westmoreland 
county. Then he came to Johnstown and ran a boat for a short time on the 
Pennsylvania canal. Afterwards he went into partnership with John Dibert, until 
1850, and shortly afterward went to New Florence, Westmoreland county, and 
engaged in the mercantile business. In 1855 he had purchased a farm of two 
hundred and forty acres near Johnstown from Abraham Stutzman, paying for all 
this good land but $7150.00. After his venture at New Florence he moved to 
Johnstown to his farm, going into partnership at the same time with his son-in-
law, J.H. Fisher, in a store. He continued for some time in this partnership, 
and then retired and devoted his entire time to the care of his real-estate, and 
to farming and gardening.
     He was a prosperous business man, who lived in the confidence and esteem of 
all his neighbors and associates. He was a leading member of the Methodist 
Episcopal church, and was a trustee for a number of years. A donation of $2,000 
to the building at the corner of Franklin and Locust streets prove him to have 
been a liberal man.