BIO: Joseph OBURN, Huntingdon County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: 
Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, 
Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. 
Runk & Co., 1897, pages 238-239.
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  JOSEPH OBURN, Mooresville (p. O. Neff Mills), Huntingdon county, Pa., 
was born in Jackson township, August 16, 1842, son of Joseph and Mary 
(Randolph) Oburn. He is the fourth in direct line of descent to bear 
the same name. His great-grandfather, Joseph Oburn, fought in the 
Revolutionary war. He came to Huntingdon county, then a part of Bedford 
county, a few years before the war. Traditional anecdotes prove him to 
have been a man of sterling worth, and of a very liberal and generous 
disposition. He was of Scotch-Irish ancestry; he farmed extensively in 
Jackson township. His son, Joseph Oburn (2), succeeded to the same 
occupation, tilling the ground and raising cattle, &c. He married a 
Miss Logan, of the family for whom Logan township is named; their 
children were: Margaret, wife of John McElwee, a soldier of the war of 
1812; Mary (Mrs. John Harkness); Ann (Mrs. Thomas Husting); Sarah; 
Joseph; and David, who died in infancy. Joseph Oburn (2) was a Whig. He 
was an enterprising and successful farmer, and a member of the Baptist 
church. He and his wife both died in Jackson township. The only son who 
survived him, Joseph Oburn (3), was well educated in the common schools 
and in subscription schools, grew up on the farm, and retained it after 
his father's death. It then contained 58 acres; Mr. Oburn also owned a 
farm of 116 acres, improved under his own supervision. The dwelling 
which he built was constructed of brick burned on his own farm, and 
cost $2,500. He was a Republican, taking a deep and active interest in 
public affairs, especially during the war of the Rebellion. He was 
elected to all the offices in the gift of his township, being a popular 
citizen, and known as an energetic and indefatigable worker, and withal 
a man of sound judgment. Joseph Oburn (3) was married in Jackson 
township, to Mary, daughter of William and Mary (Rupman) Randolph; her 
father was a shoemaker, and of Scotch-Irish descent. Their children 
are: William, residing on the homestead; Harrison, merchant, of 
Altoona, Pa.; Joseph; Mary, wife of Jefferson Miller, of Barree 
township; Margaret, wife of Rev. John Horning, of Hazleton, Pa.; 
Amanda, wife of William Kantner, of Altoona; John; Daniel; Sarah, died 
young. Both the father and the mother died on the homestead. They were 
members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
  Joseph Oburn (4) received his school education in the common schools 
of Jackson township; from the age of nine years, he worked much of the 
time on the farm; but by his own efforts, he acquired sufficient 
education to pass examination for a school teacher. He taught in 
Jackson and Barree townships, and lived on the home farm until the war 
of the Rebellion called for the patriotism and the strength of the 
young manhood of America. Then Joseph Oburn enlisted, in February, 
1864, in Company C, Forty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers, Col. J. I. 
Curtin, Captain Trout, of Lancaster, Pa. The company went first to 
Hollidaysburg, thence to Carlisle, and thence to Nashville, Tenn. Mr. 
Oburn was in the battles of the Wilderness, Cold Harbor, Spotsylvania 
C. H.; on the 6th of June, 1864, he was captured and taken to Libby 
prison; after three weeks spent there, he was taken to Andersonville 
and four months later, to Florence, S. C., where he passed the last 
three months of his captivity. He was then paroled, came first to 
Maryland, and then on furlough to his home. He remained there three 
months, but as soon as health permitted, was again with the army. 
During the whole term of his enlistment, he was faithful to duty, not 
regarding danger or difficulty. He was discharged at the close of the 
war, in 1865. Mr. Oburn has since suffered much from the effects of 
exposure and privation in camp and in prison.
  After his return to his home, Mr. Oburn remained for two years on the 
farm. In 1867, he began business as a storekeeper at Mooresville, where 
he did well. He removed to McAlevy's Fort, in 1869, and was there 
engaged in mercantile business for two years; in 1871, he returned to 
Mooresville, where he has carried on his business with a good share of 
success for twenty-four years. He has purchased a comfortable home, of 
fine appearance, and has two farms, containing 350 acres, besides 200 
acres in timber. He has made various improvements on his property. 
Having begun life without resources, Mr. Oburn has by diligence and 
good management obtained a competence, and may now enjoy the fruits of 
his labors. He is a Republican, interested in politics, but not an 
office-seeker. 
  Joseph Oburn (4) was married December 9, 1869, in West township, to 
Mary F., daughter of John H. Neff, a farmer of that township. Their 
children are: John N., born September 16, 1870, educated in the 
township public school, at Dickinson Seminary and at Dickinson College, 
Carlisle, Pa., and is now studying medicine; Addie C., at home; Anna 
M., at home. Mr. Oburn is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, 
and takes an active part in church enterprises. He is a Sunday-school 
worker, has been teacher and superintendent; is a class leader, 
recorder, and trustee of the church.
  Harrison Oburn, brother of Joseph Oburn (4), enlisted in Company C, 
Forty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers, at the beginning of the war, and 
after serving three years, re-enlisted in the same regiment and served 
until the close of the war. He participated in all the most important 
engagements of the war, was taken prisoner and imprisoned for about 
four months in Salisbury, N. C., and was twice wounded. After his 
discharge he returned to his home and farmed for about two years. He 
subsequently removed to Altoona, and did business as a merchant; he 
still resides in that place.