Son of Edmund J. Osburn & Perlina "Liney" Blevins. Married Nancy Missouri Dockery 18 June 1882 in Washington Co., Arkansas.

Their children: Ella (Mrs. John H.) Butts (1883-1930); Lewis Henry "Luke" Osburn (1884-1962); Charles Jefferson Osburn (1886-bef. 1964); Victoria M. (Mrs. George) Webb (1889-1977); Cora Christiana (Mrs. William B.) Thompson (1891-1959); Clarissa Lavina "Clercy" (Mrs. Jesse B.) Terry (1893-1971); Jobey "Joe" Osburn (1897-?); Jerry Lawson Osburn (1900-1965); Bessie (Mrs. Jesse) Hobbs (1902-1939); Elkannah Osburn; William Dessie "Buster" Osburn (1905-1980); Lasty "Fern" (Mrs. George W.) Thompson (1908-1998).

Death Steals O'er Me
written by J.M. Osburn, September 25, 1920

"Come all my friends if any, let us take the parting hand,
For I'll soon be safely landed in the glorious spirit land.
For death doth prey upon me how awful I do feel,
My folks may not miss me now but there'll be a cog out of the wheel.

"I know I am old and childish both in the house and field,
I think they'll find when I'm gone there's a cog out of the wheel;
I know one thing, my prayer they'll miss when death my form shall steal,
Except they give their selves to prayer there'll be a cog out of the wheel.

"My wife has been as true as steel, God bless her when I'm gone
And all the burden left on her shall bear what I have borne;
But there's no use now to wish me back in the house or in the field;
It's only that old rusty cog that's left out of the wheel.

"Just write my sister in Arkansas, when death my form doth steal,
Tell her 'tis only that rusty cog that dropped out of the wheel,
Tell her I ain't forgot her shouts when I left her in that Old Field,
But now alas I'll not return, there's a cog out of the wheel".

This may not stand the test of the standards of literary construction but it is a very human document. There is a reflective sentiment running through this which marks this uncultivated man above the common run of men of his class and opportunities. And for his community as well as for his family, "There's a cog out of the wheel."