John H. Osborn, a prominent business man of Humboldt, Kans., is a native of New York. He was born near Dundee, Yates county, October 26, 1839. His parents, Benjamin and Debora (Paulding) Osborn, were also natives of the Empire State, where the father was a farmer. John H. Osborn was educated in the district school and remained at home on the farm until he reached his majority. He then learned the carpenter's trade and while thus engaged the Civil war broke out, and on August 8, 1862, he enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Regiment, New York infantry, and on August 22, was mustered into the United States service. His regiment participated in the battle of Harper's Ferry, and on September 16, 1862, the entire command was captured. They were paroled in a short time, and sent to Annapolis, Md., and from there sent to Chicago where they were re-instated in November and returned to the front. While at Union Mills, Va., Mr. Osborn was taken sick with measles and smallpox, and during this time the military authorities sent for his brother to come and take him home, and the soldier boy had no knowledge of this until it was all over, and on February 3, 1863, he was discharged from the service on account of disability. He then remained in New York State and worked at his trade until December, 1869, when he came to Kansas, on a tour of investigation. He was favorably impressed with the country and returned east, where he was married and brought his bride to Kansas, reaching Humboldt, March 15, 1870. Garnett was the nearest railroad point at that time. Mr. Osborn followed contracting and building at Humboldt for a time, when he went to California where he remained about a year when he went to Colorado. After spending eighteen months in that State he returned to Kansas and was engaged in contracting until 1886, when he became manager for J. P. Johnson, of the Citizen's Lumber Company. He purchased the lumber business of S. A. Brown & Company, at Humboldt, in October, 1888, which he conducted as an individual enterprise under the title of the J. H. Osborn Lumber yard, until July 15, 1909, when the business was incorporated under the title of J. H. Osborn Lumber Company, with John H. Osborn, president and treasurer, and J. P. Osborn, secretary and manager. They are one of the largest lumber dealers in that section of the State, operating yards at Humboldt and Garnett. Mr. Osborn has been active in other important enterprises, as well as the lumber business. He was one of the organizers of the Citizens State Bank of Humboldt, and was its president for one year, when he disposed of his interest in that bank. He was one of the original stockholders and organizers of the Humboldt Vitrified Brick Company, and was also one of the promoters of the Monarch Portland Cement Company, and the Humboldt Portland Cement Company. Mr. Osborn takes a commendable interest in local affairs, and has served as treasurer of the Humboldt school board for several years. He has also served two terms as a member of the Humboldt city council. He is a Republican and takes an active part in the party organization, and has been a member of the Republican County Central Committee and a delegate to numerous State and local conventions. Mr. Osborn was married at Washington, D. C., January 27, 1870, to Miss Anna J. Millard, a daughter of Squire and Emily (Phillips) Millard, of Yates county, New York. To Mr. and Mrs. Osborn have been born four children: Mary Ella, married John J. Squire, farmer Allen county; Edith; John Paulding, secretary and manager of the J. H. Osborn Lumber Company, and Emly Gertrude. Mr. Osborn is a Thirty-second Degree, Scottish Rite Mason, and a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He belongs to the Christian Science church. Mr. Osborn is still actively engaged in business and is one of the influential men in Allen county.