Copyright 8 August 2005
New 8 August 2005
READ FAMILY CONNECTIONS
ALVA BLAIR OSMUN4
777. ALVA BLAIR OSMUN4 (Sarah Ann Read3, David Read2, Joseph Read1) was born 23 November 1854 in Hope Township, Warren County New Jersey and died 1928 (LDS Batch #C509811; Ramseyburg Cemetery). In 1860, Alva lived with his parents and seven sisters and brothers on the family farm in Hope Township. Her siblings included his sisters Elizabeth, Mary Adeline, Emmaretta and Sarah Ellen and his three brothers Lemuel, Joseph and Charles. The census gives his name as "Albert B." (1860 United States Federal Census, Hope Township, Warren County, New Jersey, page 2). His father died in 1867, when Alva was about 12 and a half years old . In 1870, he appears on the census as a 15 year old male who was employed as a loberer on the family farm. He lived with his mother and his brothers Joseph and Charles and their sister Emmaretta on their farm in Hope Township (1870 United States Federal Census, Hope Township, Warren County, New Jersey, page 177A, 4 August 1870).
Alva married in either 1876 or 1877, Phebe Eliza Heitsman, the daughter of Asa and Emeline Heitsman or Heitzman. She was born December 1854 in New Jersey and died 1937 (1900 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 191, Knowlton Township, Warren County, New Jersey, sheet 7A, 26 June 1900; Ramseyburg Cemetery). In 1860, Phebe lived with her parents and her older sister Margaret on their farm in Knowlton Township. They probaly lived near the town of Delaware as their post office was Delware Station (1860 United States Federal Census, Knowlton Township, Warren County, New Jersey, 4 July 1860, page 529). Her sister Sarah was born in 1861. Sarah would grow up and marry Alva's younger brother Charles Osmun. By 1870, Emeline Heitsman was a widow. She and her three daughters lived on the family farm in Knowlton Township (1870 United States Federal Census, Knowlton Township, Warren County, New Jersey, 9 June 1879, page 222, post office Columbia). By 1880, Both Phebe and Sarah were married to the Osmun brothers.
In 1880, Alva (whose name is given as "Albert Osmon" on the census) and Phebe lived in Knowlton Township. Alva was a farmer and Phebe was keeping house. They had two live-in servants, 17 year old Philip Swyze and 15 year old Rosa Swayze (1880 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 201, Knowlton Township, Warren County, New Jersey, page 444C, 2 and 3 June 1880). Alva and Phebe lived in dwelling 28. Their near neighbors (in dwelling 30) were Alva's second cousin (366) Mary Catherine (Read) Brinkruff4 (Samuel Cooke Read3, Aaron Read2, Joseph Read1) and her husband Edward.
Alva and Phebe's son, Milton M. Osmun, was born 7 August 1883. In 1900, the Osmuns lived still lived in Knowlton Township. Alva was a farmer and Milton worked as a laborer on the farm. The family had an 11 year old girl named Maud (born 1888) living with them. The copy of the census I consulted was in poor condition and it was impossible to make out her last name. Also the relationship was hard to read, but it appeared to be servant. Maud was in school in 1900, but Milton, who was 17 years old was not. The family owned their farm free and clear of all mortgages (1900 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 191, Knowlton Township, Warren County, New Jersey, sheet 7A, 26 June 1900).
Sometime in the early twentieth century, Alva and Phebe bought an automobile. A photograph of Phebe in the car may be viewed by clicking on the photo album link below.. By 1920, Alva and Phebe lived alone on their farm on the Delaware Road in Knowlton Township. Alva's occupation was given as "farm operator." Alva and Phebe, who were in dwelling 231, were listed on the census adjacent to the household their nephew Clayton Osmum5, who was in dwelling 230. Clayton was the son of Alva's younger brother Charles Osmun4. Their son Milton lived in dwelling 241 (1920 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 161, Knowlton Township, Warren County, New Jersey, sheet 9A, 19 and 20 January 1920).
Alva died in 1928 and was buried in Ramseyburg Cemetery which is near the town of Delaware in Knowlton Township. Phebe continued to live in Knowlton Township. On the 1930 census, her household is listed adjacent to that of her son Milton. Both households were on RD2 Delaware. Phebe owned her home and was not renting it, so it is assumed that Milton had not yet inherited the entire Osmun farm from his father's estate. Phebe had a boarder in 1930, he was a 65 year old widower named Myron M. Dean. Myron Dean worked on the farm as a laborer and probably got his board and some wages in return (1930 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 21-13, Knowlton Township, Warren County, New Jersey, sheet 4A, 9 April 1930). Phebe lived until 1937, she was buried with Alva in Ramseyburg Cemetery, their graves were field checked on 27 March 2003. The family plot consists of one large family stone with the surname. This large stone is surrounded by by five smaller stones. The east side are stones for Alva and Phebe and the west side are stones for their son Milton, his wife Lillian and Milton and Lillian's son Kenneth.
Children of Alva Blair Osmun and Phebe E. Heitzman |
CHILDREN OF ALVA BLAIR OSMUN and PHEBE E. HEITZMAN:
2423. (i.) MILTON M. OSMUN5 was born 7 August 1883 in New Jersey, probably in Knowlton Township, Warren County and died 14 October 1966 (Ramseyburg Cemetery). Milton first appears on the federal census in 1900. He was 17 years old and was employed as a laborer on his parents farm in Knowlton Township. A photograph of Milton, taken when he was probaly in his late teens or early twenties may be viewed by clicking on the photo album link above. By 1900, he had completed his education. He did not attend school during the 1899 through 1900 school year (1900 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 191, Knowlton Township, Warren County, New Jersey, sheet 7A, 26 June 1900). Milton married in 1904 or 1095, Lillian Estella Leida. She was born 26 December 1883 and died 1 January 1958 (Ramseyburg Cemetery). In 1910, they lived in rented house on the Belvidere Road in the village of Delaware in Knowlton Township. Milton worked as a farmer and did odd jobs. Lillian kept house. The couple did not have children in 1910 (1910 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 133, Knowlton Township, Warren County, New Jersey, sheet 5B, 29 April 1910). Milton and Lillian's son Kenneth was born in late July 1912. By 1920, Milton and his family lived in a rented home on Manukachunk Road in Knowlton Township. Milton worked as a farm laborer (probalby on his father's farm). Kenneth was in school in 1920. Milton and Lillian lived in dwelling 241, Milton's first cousin Harold D. Osmun5 lived in dwelling 244. Harold was the son of Milton's uncle Charles Osmun4. Harold's wife, Ada D. Allen6 (Jennie C. Brinkruff5, Mary Catherine Read4, Samuel Cooke Read3, Aaron Read, I2, Joseph Read1), was a second cousin once removed of both Harold and Milton. Harold's brother Clayton Osmun5 lived in dwelling 230 and Milton's parents lived in dwelling 231 (1920 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 161, Knowlton Township, Warren County, New Jersey, sheets 9A through 9B, 21 January 1920). Milton's father died in 1928. By 1930, Milton, Lillian and Kenneth lived adjacent to Milton's widowed mother, Phebe Heitzman Osmun. Milton owned his home, which was valued at $1,400. He also owned a radio. Milton was employed as a farmer. It is probable that he worked both his share of the farm and that of his mother. His mother had a hired hand named Myron Dean living in her house and it is possible that Milton and Kenneth worked the farm together (1930 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 21-13, Knowlton Township, Warren County, New Jersey, sheet 4A, 9 April 1930). Milton's mother died in 1937. It is assumed that he inherited the entire farm upon her death. He lived in Knowlton Township for the rest of his life. His social security number was issued in New Jersey during the years 1955 through 1957 (Social Security Death Index). Lillian died in 1958 and was buried in the family plot in Ramseyburg Cemetery near the town of Delaware (Ramseyburg Cemetery). Milton resided in the vicinity of the town of Columbia in Knowlton Township when he died in 1966 (Social Security Death Index). He was buried with Lillian and his parents in Ramseyburg Cemetery. Their graves were field checked 27 March 2003. Child of Milton M. Osmun and Lillian Estella Leida:
2425. (i.) KENNETH B. OSMUN6 was born 27 July 1912 in New Jersey, probably in Knowlton Township, Warren County and died 1 June 1994 (Ramseyburg Cemetery). Kenneth appears on the 1920 census as a 7 year old school boy. He lived with his parents in a rented home near the village of Delaware in Knowlton Township (1920 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 161, Knowlton Township, Warren County, New Jersey, sheets 9A through 9B, 21 January 1920). Kenneth was still in school in 1930 (probably high school). His parents lived adjacent to his recently widowed grandmother, Phebe Heitzman Osmun. Both families lived on RD2 Delaware (1930 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 21-13, Knowlton Township, Warren County, New Jersey, sheet 4A, 9 April 1930). Kenneth never married. He lived in his grandparents old house until a few years before his death (Shuster 2004). His social security number was issued in New Jersey during the years 1955 through 1957 (Social Security Death Index). He resided in the vicinity of the town of Columbia in Knowlton Township when he died in 1994. He is buried with his parents and grandparents in Ramseyburg Cemetery near the town of Delaware in Knowlton Township, Warren County, New Jersey. His grave were field checked 27 March 2003.
PRIMARY
Cemetery Data
Ramseyburg Cemetery
Delaware, Knowlton Township, Warren County, New Jersey
Census Records
Vital Records
Social Security Death Index
SECONARDY SOURCES
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