Sebastian-Independence County ArArchives Biographies.....Osborne, Thomas Samuel 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ar/arfiles.html
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Robert Sanchez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00027.html#0006574 June 6, 2009, 10:16 pm

Author: S. J. Clarke (Publisher, 1922)

THOMAS SAMUEL OSBORNE.
    Thomas Samuel Osborne, member of the Fort Smith bar, who entered upon the
active practice of law here at an early day and has since become known by reason
of his ability in handling cases entrusted to his care, was born in Independence
county, Arkansas, in 1858 and is a son of Enoch Morgan and Emeline (Howell)
Osborne. He received liberal educational opportunities at Asheville, North
Carolina, and later was a student in the University of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill, where he graduated with the Bachelor of Arts degree. His identification
with Port Smith dates from 1886 and through the intervening period of thirty-six
years he has remained an active factor in the practice of law. Prom 1889 until
1893 he was in partnership with George A. Grace. In 1887 he was elected city
attorney and has been closely associated with professional interests here from
the pioneer border days when Port Smith was the seat of justice for Indian
Territory, now Oklahoma. He defended the notorious bandit, Henry Starr, on a
minor charge. He was attorney in the federal court in many important cases
during those stirring early days before law and order had fully taken root and
suppressed lawlessness in this frontier district. He has constantly been
inspired by an innate love of justice and fidelity to the interests of his
clients, yet he never forgets that he owes a higher allegiance to the majesty of
the law. The tenacity and courage with which he defends the right as he
understands it challenges the admiration of his associates. Moreover, he
invariably seeks to present his argument in the strong, clear light of common
reason and sound logical principle and he displays notable diligence in the
preparation of his cases. Mr. Osborne is well known as a lawmaker as well as a
lawyer, for in 1913 and 1917 he served as a member of the state legislature and
while in the general assembly introduced and had passed a measure to create a
commission form of government in Fort Smith.

    Mr. Osborne's mother is still living at the advanced age of ninety years.
His father died in 1876 at the age of sixty-one years. They were of well known
families in North Carolina, and came to this state in 1854, locating in
Independence county. His father owned a large plantation on White river, and was
a successful and ideal farmer. He was a gentleman of the old school and of fine
stalwart character and highly respected in his county; his mother, a woman of
more than two generations back, was noted for her knowledge of the Bible,
beautiful Christian life and charity to others; and both were known for their
example and parental training of their five sons and two daughters.

    Thomas S. Osborne was married in 1892 to Miss Jessie Collier and their
children are Virginia E. and Howell C. The former, who was born in 1896, is a
graduate of the University of Arkansas and also attended the University of
Chicago. She engaged in the profession of teaching prior to her marriage to John
S. Toney of Pine Bluff. For a time she was teacher of English in a high school
at Fort Smith and also taught at Palm Beach, Florida. During the World war
Howell C. Osborne was a student in the army training corps at Fayetteville,
Arkansas. Five years ago he entered the grain business and has since conducted
his interests as a grain broker and as a dealer in flour and feed at Fort Smith,
where he has gained an enviable position in business circles. He married Miss
Nell Wright of Fort Smith on the 1st of October, 1921.

    Mr. Osborne has long been prominent in politics as a supporter of the
democratic party and has ever been most loyal to any cause which he has
espoused. He is everywhere recognized as a man of integrity and honesty of
purpose, despising all unworthy or questionable methods in securing success in
any direction, political or otherwise. He has wrought along the lines of largest
good for the community and the commonwealth and is today one of the honored
pioneer practitioners of the Fort Smith bar.


Additional Comments:
Citation:
Centennial History of Arkansas
Volume II
Chicago-Little Rock: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
1922


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ar/sebastian/bios/osborne45bs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/arfiles/

File size: 4.8 Kb