Re: Doc Franklin Lee Osborne b in Indiana 1851 or 1854
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In reply to:
Doc Franklin Lee Osborne b in Indiana 1851 or 1854
12/18/01
I've just about exhausted everywhere I can look trying to find more about Doc.My mother-in-law, Rose Mildred Osborne, found his name written in an old certificate as Doct. Franklin Osborne, which suggests that the Doc is short for Doctor, and not a family nickname.I took my laptop with me to Nebraska over Christmas, and Rose and I went through the disks for the 1880 Census extensively.We found an entry in Lindsey, Benton County, Missouri, for a Franlin (note spelling error) Osborn, 26 yrs. of age, born in Indiana, his father born in Ohio and his mother in Indiana.His wife is listed as Elizabeth P Osborn, 20 yrs. old, born in Kentucky, as were her mother and father.There is a son, Edgar W Osborn, 1 yr. old, born in Arkansas.The facts seem to be fairly consistent, and I suspect that this is Doc and his first wife.Either she then died or he just up and left, because he married Maggie Ann Malloy 11 yrs. later.In the same town, there is also an Amos J Osborn, 53 yrs. od, born in Ohio, whose father was born in Kentucky and mother in Missouri.The wife is Damaris Osborn, 48 yrs. old, born in Indiana, father born in Pennsylvania and mother in Maryland.These are probably Doc's parents.There are two children listed: Hays Osborn, aged 12, and John Osborn, aged 5, both born in Missouri.These were probably two of Doc's siblings.
About the Doctor title:I think it unlikely that someone who had studied and become a qulified doctor would move to Nebraska and not open an medical practice, yet, as I mentioned, he did seem to pass himself off as Doctor Osborn.I get the impression he was the sort of character who would invent stories, and indeed he would have to if he was a bigamist !