My Genealogy Hound

JOHN OSGOOD, deceased, was one of the old settlers of Cincinnatus, Cortland County, where he lived over half a century. Those of this generation remember him as a man of advanced years, who possessed in a very large degree the esteem and respect of all his fellow-townsmen. He was born in the town of Pomfret, Windham County, Conn., May 13, 1782, and died in Cincinnatus, this county, December 19, 1872, being at that time over ninety years of age. His wife, Olive Grosvenor, whom, he married May 27, 1808, was born November 14, 1784, in Abington, Conn., and was a member of one of the oldest and most prominent families of that state. She was a woman who was eminently qualified to accompany her husband on the long journey of sixty-four years’ wedded life. Her death occurred on November 25, 1872, but a few weeks before that of her husband’s. After their marriage, they moved to Troy, N. Y., in 1810, where Mr. Osgood commenced his business life as a merchant. In 1812, they came into Central New York, and settled in Sherburne, Chenango County; late in the fall of 1816, they became residents of Cincinnatus, Cortland County, where Mr. Osgood still followed his chosen line of business until about 1840, when he retired to his farm, and thereafter agricultural pursuits claimed his whole attention. In 1838, he was a member of the New York State Legislature.

John Osgood, the subject of this sketch, came of English antecedents, although far removed. He was descended from John Osgood of Andover, Essex County, Mass., who was born in the parish of Wherwell, Hampshire, Eng., July 23, 1595, and died at Andover, Mass., October 24, 1651. He was joined in marriage in England, about 1627, to his wife, Sarah, who departed this life April 8, 1667. John Osgood came to New England in 1638, and shortly after settled at Newbury, where he remained until he became a resident of Andover, in 1845. He thus became a citizen of the Massachusetts Bay Colony during the governorship of the first colonial governor, John Winthrop, from whom our subject can trace a line of descent. Among the family of this adventurous pioneer was John Osgood, who is in the direct line of descent to our subject. He was born in England in 1630, and died in Andover, Mass., August 31, 1693. On November 15, 1653, at Haverhill, he married Mary Clements, and in their family was John Osgood, lineal ancestor of our subject. He was born September 13, 1654, and died April 22, 1725; he married, October 17, 1681, Hannah Ayers of Haverhill, Mass. She was born August 2, 1662, died September 6, 1735, and was a daughter of Peter and Hannah (Allen) Ayers. They reared a large family of children, among whom was William Osgood, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch. William was born February 16, 1697, and died September 20, 1791. His first marriage, which took place June 16, 1726, was with Sarah Pickering, who died January 3, 1728. He was joined in the bonds of matrimony, the second time, on January 26, 1729 or ‘30, to Mary Baker, who was born October 1, 1701, and died November 12, 1775. Their son, William, the father of our subject, was born at Abington, Conn., November 27, 1740, and died February 8, 1804. He married on June 2, 1774, Mary Scarborough of Brooklyn, Conn.

The children born to John and Olive (Grosvenor) Osgood were as follows: Mary S., born April 10, 1809, married George I. Kingman, who was born September 5, 1806 — Mary S. Kingman died November 7, 1895; Sarah J., born September 12, 1813, died in February, 1859; Helen E., born August 5, 1816, died February 1, 1840, unmarried; Charles G., born March 22, 1820; George, born October 19, 1824; and John W., born August 9, 1827.

Charles G. Osgood married Josephine Todd, and lives at Wellsborough, Pa. He has been in mercantile life exclusively until three or four years since, when he retired from active life. His children are as follows: Harry W., born February 23, 1862, who for seven years was in the employ of the United Press Association, his health compelling him at last to relinquish his position; Charles G., Jr., born May 2, 1871, a graduate of Yale College, taught one year as principal of the schools of the village of Towanda, Pa., and in 1897 finished a post-graduate course at his alma mater; Mary, born October 24, 1863, married C. W. Webb, a practicing physician of Wellsborough, Pa.

George Osgood was educated in the common and select schools of the town of Cincinnatus, and has, until 1895, followed the pursuits of agriculture in that town; he is now enjoying the sunset years of his well-spent life. Politically, he has ever been known as a zealous, active Republican. On September 20, 1858, he was married to Mary Elizabeth Richards, and he now has one son, John Grosvenor, who was born August 14, 1872, and was married June 8, 1897. John G. was educated in the academy at Cincinnatus, and is in the employ of the Cleveland Linseed Oil Company, his residence being in Chicago, Ill .

John W. Osgood, the youngest son of our subject, was educated in the schools of Cincinnatus, and then was engaged at the trade of a tinner until 1877, since which date he has been retired. He is a Republican of no uncertain quantity in his politics, but has never sought preferment in office. He is a member of Eastern Light Lodge, No. 126, F. & A. M., of Greene, Chenango County, N. Y.; Greene Chapter, No. 106, of the same place; and Malta Commandery, No. 21, Knight Templars of Binghamton, N. Y. He is of quite a literary turn of mind, and since his retirement in 1877 has devoted much time to reading, and to the investigation of subjects of discussion along scientific lines. He takes great pride in his collection of books of standard reputation, which vies in point of scope and completeness with many of the finest private libraries in the State of New York. The books cover a variety of subjects, such as science, history, poetry, fiction, etc. Mr. Osgood spends much of the time that is not devoted to looking after his various property interests in pleasant study among his books. He is a very entertaining conversationalist, and nothing delights him more than to engage in a friendly discussion on the merits of some doubtful question.