"A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of the City of Seattle and County of King, Washington." New York and Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1903. p. 451. CHARLES OSNER King county figures as one of the most attractive, progressive and prosperous divisions of the state of Washington, justly claiming a high order of citizenship and a spirit of enterprise which is certain to secure development and advancement in the material upbuilding of the section. The county has been and is signally favored in the class of men who have controlled its affairs, have promoted its business interests and thereby contributed to its prosperity, and in this connection the subject of this review deserves representation. The growth of any community, town or city depends upon its commercial activity and its industrial interests, and therefore the real upbuilders of a town are those who stand at the head of its leading enterprises. Mr. Osner is actively connected with real estate dealing, both on his own account and as a broker, and his labors have been effective in promoting the growth and attractive appearance of Seattle, to which he has laid out two additions. Although born in Germany, Mr. Osner is of American parentage. His father, Ferdinand Osner, was an importer and wholesale leather dealer of Philadelphia, but was abroad at the time of Charles's birth, which occurred in Baden on the 20th of January, 1858. In Philadelphia Charles Osner acquired his early education and then returned to Germany to continue his studies. On putting aside his text books he became associated with his father in the leather business and so continued until twenty-one years of age, when he started out upon an independent business career as a leather broker in Chicago, which pursuit he followed for ten years. Believing that there were better business opportunities on the Pacific coast, in 1888 he came west, and for a year was a representative of the Gambrims Brewery of Portland, Oregon. Visiting Seattle, he became convinced that this was to become the leading city of the northwest and determined to make it the base of his future business operations. Accordingly in 1890 he made a permanent location here, and time has proved the wisdom of his decision. For the first year he was the Seattle representative of the Portland Company, after which he engaged in the hotel business, but in 1898 he retired from that and became a member of the real estate and investment firm of Groll, Damus & Osner. Following the financial panic which swept over the country in 1893 Seattle suffered considerable depression, but Mr. Osner maintained firm faith in its future, made the best of his. opportunities during the dark period and in course of time saw Seattle emerge into a new growth, which has made it the leading metropolitan center of the northwest. In January, 1902, in connection with Mr. Damus, he purchased Mr. Groll's interest in the firm, and under the style of Damus & Osner business is now carried on. While they do some fire insurance business, representing the Philadelphia Underwriters, the business is mainly the buying, and selling of real estate, which they carry on their own account, also acting as brokers. They also superintend the negotiation of loans and investments and now have a large clientage in their line, for both gentlemen are known as reliable and trustworthy business men of large knowledge concerning realty values. Mr. Osner has erected some residences in Seattle and has also laid out two additions on Green lake, one inside the city limits and the other just outside the corporation confines. Sixty acres have been divided into city lots and he also holds another sixty acres within the city limits which has not yet been sub-divided. While at Portland Mr. Osner was united in marriage to Miss Bielenberg. whose father is now living retired here, and in 1898 erected his residence at 326 Bellevue avenue, where they have a pleasant home in what is known as the Broadway district. In his political affiliations Mr. Osner is independent, although he usually votes the Democratic ticket. He does not consider himself bound by party ties and is a man of independent spirit, self-reliant and always outspoken in defense of his honest convictions. He belongs to the chamber of commerce and is a member of several fraternal organizations, and he withholds his co-operation from no movement or measure calculated to advance the general welfare. To him there has come the attainment of a distinguished position in connection with the material industries of the state, and his efforts have been so discerningly directed along well defined lines of labor that he seems to have realized at any one point of progress, the full measure of his possibilities for accomplishment at that point. ******************* Submitted to the Washington Biographies Project in January 2008 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.