JAMES W. OSBURN was born in Montgomery county, Illinois, August 14, 1826, and the son of Bailey and Phoebe Osburn, nee Landis. His education was received in the common schools. He was married in 1860 to Mary E. Lewis, who was born in Kentucky. They have five children, John, Ellen, Belle, Laura and Nancy I. He enlisted August 9, 1862, in the Seventy-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served nearly three years. He was in a number of engagements, among which there was the battle of Stone River. He was taken sick and afterwards transferred to the ordinance train. He was with Sherman through Georgia, then with Hood until the close of the war. He then came home and engaged in farming and milling. He now owns thirty acres of land on which he farms and also runs the saw mill situated in the southeast corner of Ball township. Politically he is a Republican.