The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 435

REUBEN M. OSBORN.

A third of a century has passed since Reuben M. Osborn took up his abode in the
Kittitas valley. In the early days he was identified with sawmilling and later
turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, purchasing his present farm
property in 1898. He was born in Ingham, Michigan, September 15, 1856, a son of
John and Lucinda (Matteson) Osborn, the former a native of New York and the
latter of Ohio. They removed to Michigan about 1842 and the father took up
government land, casting in his lot with the pioneer settlers of that region.
There he resided to the time of his death, which occurred when his son Reuben
was but nine years of age. He left five children, of whom Reuben was the second
in order of birth. Three years later the mother passed away, so that Mr. Osborn
of this review was a lad of but twelve years when left an orphan. His mother was
a daughter of Jesse and Mary Matteson, who after the death of Mr. Osborn lived
upon the Osborn farm and took care of the children who had been early orphaned.
Both the grandparents, however, passed away by the time that Reuben M. Osborn
was twenty-two years of age. He had been reared upon the old home farm and had
little opportunity to attend school. He worked in the fields through the summer
months and only in the winter seasons did he have the chance to pursue an
education. After the death of the grandparents the farm was sold and the money
divided. Reuben M. Osborn then went to Kansas, where he resided for a year,
after which he returned to Michigan but later became a resident of Dakota. At a
subsequent date he again went to Michigan and during these years was engaged in
the cultivation of rented farms. Once more he became a resident of Dakota and
there resided until 1886, when he made his way to the northwest, reaching
Kittitas county on the 6th of December. For three years thereafter he worked in
a sawmill and later he rented farm land for a few years. By the careful
cultivation of rented land he acquired the capital that enabled him to purchase
property. In 1898 he bought fifty acres adjoining Thorp and built thereon a fine
home and substantial barn. His attention is given to the raising of hay and
grain and he also makes live stock a feature of his place.

On the 1st of May, 1888, Mr. Osborn was married to Miss Jennie B. Goodwin, a
daughter of Thomas B. Goodwin, of whom extended mention is made on another page
of this volume. They have a son, Rex, who married Mildred McCormick, of Yakima,
by whom he has two children: Lavera, aged three; and Billie, two years of age.
Rex Osborn cultivates his father's ranch. In 1906 Mr. and Mrs. Osborn adopted a
little girl, Pansy, who was then only six weeks old and is now in school.

Mr. Osborn belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has passed
through all of the chairs in the local lodge. In fact he was one of the
organizers of Tanum Lodge No. 155, of which he has been treasurer for many
years. He joined  the order when twenty-one years of age and has always been
active therein. He belongs also to the Woodmen of the World, while his
religious faith is that of the Christian church, with which his wife and son are
likewise affiliated. Politically he is a democrat where national questions and
issues are involved but at local elections casts an independent ballot,
considering the capability of a candidate of greater importance than his party
connection. He has served for many years on the school board and the cause of
education finds in him a stalwart champion. In fact his aid and influence are
always on the side of right and progress and he is esteemed and respected as a
self-made man, while his personal characteristics and qualities are such as make
for popularity among those who know him.

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Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in December 2007 by Jeffrey L. Elmer.
Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.