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James H. Osmer |
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JAMES H. OSMER, attorney at law, was born in central Pennsylvania, January 22, 1833, son of Reuben and Catharine (Gilbert) Osmer, both natives of England, who came to the United States after marriage, and finally settled in Centre county, Pennsylvania, where the remaining years of their lives were spent. Our subject was reared in Centre county, and grew up inured to the toil and hardship incident to farm life in those days. His early educational advantages embraced a few months’ attendance at the neighborhood school. From boyhood he was compelled to earn his own living, but possessing an ambition to acquire an education, he invested his earnings in school books, which he studied at night, after his day’s work was done, by the light of pine knots. He thus obtained a fair knowledge of the common school branches as then taught. At the age of eighteen he entered Bellefonte Academy, and subsequently taught a school a few miles from his borne. Alternately teaching and prosecuting his studies at Mt. Pleasant College, Westmoreland county, Pine Grove Academy, Centre county, and Dickinson Seminary, at Williamsport, Pennsylvania, he obtained a good literary and classical education. In June, 1856, Mr. Osmer entered the office of Robertson & Fassett, Elmira, New York, where he diligently applied himself to the study of the law, in the meantime teaching as principal of one of the city schools. He was admitted to the bar at Cortland, New York, in November, 1858, and practiced his profession at Elmira until the spring of 1865, when he came to Franklin. Finally concluding to remain in that place, he was admitted to the Venango bar in the following August, and soon won a conspicuous place and a large practice in the courts of this district. He has also been admitted to practice before the district and circuit courts, the supreme court of the state, and the United States supreme court. Mr. Osmer is recognized as a well-read, studious, careful, pains-taking lawyer, thoroughly versed in the principles of legal science, and possessing a well trained, logical mind. He is especially strong as an advocate, and his arguments before court or jury are often eloquent and convincing. Entering into every case with unbounded zeal and enthusiasm, he is regarded by his professional brethren as a very dangerous foe in a legal contest. He is an affable and entertaining conversationalist, with a mind well stored with a vast fund of valuable information and the faculty of imparting it in a happy, courteous manner. Politically Mr. Osmer was originally an Abolitionist, whence he naturally drifted into the Republican party. In 1876 he was chosen a delegate to the national Republican convention, but a severe illness prevented him from attending. In the fall of 1878 he was elected on the Republican ticket to congress, and during his term served on the committee on education and labor. He was a delegate to the state convention that nominated Governor Beaver, and did all in his power toward electing him. Mr. Osmer was married in June, 1859, to Miss Mary J. Griggs, of Steuben county, New York, who is the mother of four children, two of whom are living: Archibald R. and Newton F. For many years he has been a member of the Masonic order, and is one of the best known lawyers now practicing in the courts of Venango county.
History of Venango County, Pennsylvania
: its past and present, including its aboriginal history, the French and
British occupation of the country, its early settlement and subsequent
growth, a description of its historic and interesting localities, its rich
oil deposits and their development, sketches of its cities, boroughs,
townships, and villages, neighborhood and family history, portraits and
biographies of pioneers and representative citizens, statistics, etc.,
etc.
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