WILLIAM H. Osmun. It is with pleasure that the editors of this publication take up the life of one of Oakland county's honored and representative citizens, William H. Osmun, who has resided in this community for over half a century and who has contributed in very definite fashion to its progress and growth. His interests have been for the most part in the line of agriculture and brick manufacturing. He has ever led an active and busy life and has been helpfully inter ested in all measures tending to the general welfare. He is a man of breadth of character and of generosity of judgment, and he comes of a family of like fine principles, who have succeeded better than the average in living together in peace and harmony, a pleasant fact of which he is justly proud.

William H. Osmun is a native son of the state and county, his eyes having first opened to the light of day within its pleasant boundaries on October 27, 1841. He is the son of William H. and Mary A. ( Linderman) Osmun, both natives of New York, who came to Michigan in 1836. The father followed the vocation of a farmer until after the Civil war, when he engaged in loaning money. He lived to advanced old age, passing to the Great Beyond on January 15, 1905. The demise of the mother occurred in March, 1900. These greatly respected citizens of Oakland county were the parents of six sons and daughters, as follows : Abraham, who died in childhood; the subject of this review; Martha, wife of Welcome Young, of Pontiac; Charles, of Detroit; Mary, wife of Lewis Young, of Pontiac; and Carrie, wife of Charles Bartlett, also of this city . Upon the death of his father William H. Osmun, Sr. , found himself the owner of over five hundred acres, and a remarkable circumstance in connection with the settling up of the parental estate, the largest in all the county, was that there was no trouble whatsoever among the heirs, and the entire cost of settlement amounted to two dollars. This spirit has always distinguished the Osmuns.

The subject received only a small part of his education in the schools of this place, but attended fourteen years in New York, whence he had accompanied his father, who was called there by business. At the age of twenty years he came back to his native county and here has ever since remained. When the Civil war cloud was gathering he en listed in the New York Sharpshooters, whose services were not accepted by Lincoln. During his practice at sharp- shooting a shell exploded and destroyed the sight of his left eye, and, thus disabled, he had to abandon his idea of becoming a soldier. It was a sad trial to the patriotic young fellow who longed to be with the companions of his youth and give his services for the defense of the Nation whose institutions were dear to him. Fate decreed otherwise and he came to Pontiac and went into business. Mr. Osmun's first adventures in business were in raising sheep and selling wool, in New York, in which business he was engaged for three years. He married young, and upon coming to Michigan bought from his father-in-law two farms, having some idea of devoting his energies to the great basic industry. These farms consisted of eighty acres apiece. He also bought from that gentleman his brick plant, and he continued in the manufacture of brick for forty years . He filled many large contracts, among others providing all the bricks used in the construction of the Michigan State Asylum, 27,000,000 in number. He is the possessor of sound judgment and executive ability and has been very successful in his undertakings. In April, 1911, he received the compliment of election to his present office of commissioner of public utilities, and at three different times he has served as alderman of the second ward. He has never been found wanting in public office, but the interests of the people have always been more important to him than his own personal interests.

Mr. Osmun was happily married on the 22nd day of March, 1864, his chosen lady being Frances Chaffee, daughter of Stephen and Melletiah ( Leonard ) Chaffee, natives of Vermont. Mrs. Osmun, however, is a native of Michigan. The union of the Chaffees was blessed by the birth of the following children: Ellen, deceased; Mary, of Pontiac; and Mrs. Osmun. To Mr. and Mrs. Osmun were born three children. Mabel is the wife of Melton Robentson, of Pontiac; Allie died at the age of eleven years; and Flora is the wife of H. H. Crisp, of Pontiac.

Mr. Osmun is a loyal Republican and the friend of good government. He is a man of exemplary life and glories in the fact that neither his father nor his father's sons and sons-in-law smoked or used intoxicating liquors. Mr. Osmun carried the piece of copper in his eye, received previous to the Civil war, for more than forty years before it was removed. He and his wife are popular and genial members of society, holding high place in the community and supporting its good They built their present home forty-six years ago, and have continued to live therein ever since.