Home > United States of America > Iowa > Linn County > Center Point > Center Point Cemetery > James Bartlett Osborn

James Bartlett Osborn

Birth	:	1856 Iowa, USA
Death	:	31 Jan 1877 Linn County, Iowa, USA
Burial	:	Center Point Cemetery, Center Point, Linn County, USA
Coordinate	:	42.1966600, -91.7908900
Description	:	James Osborn in buried in the same grave next to the girl he loved, Flora Hunt. Flora committed suicide after being forbidden to see James by her father on account of the difference in their age. Just a few short weeks later James also took his own life. James wrote an account of his life and the tragic ending of his relationship with Flora in a letter to the Center Point Mirror. The Mirror also gave an account of the facts leading up to the death of James. Here is that article below, along with the letters from James. It was... Read More	James Osborn in buried in the same grave next to the girl he loved, Flora Hunt. Flora committed suicide after being forbidden to see James by her father on account of the difference in their age. Just a few short weeks later James also took his own life. James wrote an account of his life and the tragic ending of his relationship with Flora in a letter to the Center Point Mirror. The Mirror also gave an account of the facts leading up to the death of James. Here is that article below, along with the letters from James. It was found reprinted in the Mount Vernon Hawkeye on 2-9-1877: ANOTHER SUICIDE AT CENTER POINT We find the following startling and graphic account of another suicide in the Center Point Mirror of last week, which appears to be a sequel to the first one which occurred only a short time since: Little did we expect, when we recorded the suicide of Miss Hunt, that in a few short weeks we would be called upon to perform the same sad duty for another of our young folks. But such is the case, and the second is a sequel to the first. James Bartlett Osborn, than whom there was not a more highly respected or promising young man in this community, has taken the fatal step, which has landed him in eternity almost instantly. We could write indefinitely on the sad fact above stated, for ''Jim" was a young man whom we regarded as a particular friend, and respected for his many good qualities of heart and mind—having known him almost from his cradle up—but we are compelled to omit any lengthy comments and the words of eulogy which we would willingly pen did space and time permit. The particulars, briefly stated, are as follows: "Jim" left his own home on Tuesday morning, of which fact he speaks in one of his letters given below—probably the last lines he ever penned— remaining in town all day. In the afternoon he went to bear the funeral sermon of Miss Hunt—his adored Flora—preached by Mrs. Parry, a spiritualist, of Beloit, Wis. In the evening he went to his uncle's, Mr. Robert Osborn, 1 ½ miles south of town, where he remained til night. At about 7 o'clock Wednesday morning, his cousin, Miss Eliza Osborn, who occupied an adjoining room, heard him call to her in an excited voice. She started at once for his room, but before she arrived there she heard the report of the fatal shot. Rushing in, she found –“Jim” lying in the bed bleeding profusely from the mouth, nose and an ugly wound in the left breast. She asked him if it was an accident, and he responded, ''No." She then inquired if he done it purposely, to which he was unable to reply, but he nodded his head affirmatively. His uncle then appeared on the scene, and in a few seconds more, “Jim" was a corpse—having lived only about a minute after the shot was fired. The pistol was found by the bed side where it had dropped from the hand of the dying young man. It belonged to his brother, William and had been taken from his trunk unawares and was not missed until after the news of "Jim's" death reached his home. These are the main particulars and all we have room to give. The funeral occurred Thursday afternoon, and the remains were followed to the grave by a procession at times at least a half mile in length, not less than 500 people being in the cemetery during the burial ceremonies.—Eld Glymps officiated. "Jim" was in the Mirror office frequently, and on one of his visits, about two weeks since, we gave him some scraps of card board, on which to write "personal" cards—he being an excellent penman. On our refusing pay for them, he remarked that he would give us a first class item one of these days, and it is this to which he refers is the following note, which he left for us: T . J . Metcalf, Editor Mirror:— I now come to you with an item, which, if you but remember, I promised you for the scraps of card-board, when talking in fun; I give it to you in earnest. I at the same time contemplated self-destruction, but have felt at times since then that I would give up the idea. But over and anon my terror stricken soul would break forth in cries of agony, and my thoughts of prolonging life would disappear. The day we were at the Indian camp I felt somewhat jolly, and came nearer feeling like myself that day than I have felt since the suicide of Miss Hunt. You will, I trust, pay strict attention to what may be said by the news paper press in regard to myself and the victim of poison, and if any slanderous report is brought out through the press, I faithfully urge you to take up the matter in our behalf. I do not fear that such will be reported for any other reason than I know that callumnious reports always follow a suicide. I beg leave to inform the whole world that I have died for no one but Flora Hunt, who was one day the idol of my heart, and can say that her tranquil affections have haunted me to my grave. I am, dear sir, your departed friend, JAMES BARTLETT OSBORN. Our crowded columns will only admit of the following letter, out of the many, that this unfortunate young man left behind addressed to his relatives and friends: GRAPHIC AND BRIEF SKETCH OF MY LIFE I was born in the county of Linn and State of Iowa, two miles north of the town of Center Point, on the 11th day of May, 1856; lived at that place until I was nearly 9 years of age, nothing of importance happening during this time, and therefore I do not give any of the little events. At this time we removed two miles west of my birth place, and at a country schoolhouse near by is the place where I collected the greatest part of my education, which is nothing more than a common school education at least. There were seven of us in the family—two sisters, two brothers, myself and parents, all older than myself. We did not live at this place a very great period of time, but made other removals, but not at any time leaving the township and the vicinity of Center Point, and I never knew what it was to be away from home, only at times when i would go to visit my relatives and friends at a distance; and thus it will be seen that I have lived in this one place all my life, and in consequence whereof I am quite well acquainted with the entire town and country. In the early part of the winter of 1875, after our farm work was all done for the season, I was (if you allow me to boast of my own reputation) hired through my honesty alone, to work in a billiard hall for a Mr. Manahan, at which place I only stayed until farm work commenced again in the spring. Went home and worked through the summer, and commenced work again in the fall at my former place. On the 4th of July of the summer just referred to (1876) I commenced paying my address to a Miss Flora Hunt, a near neighbor of my family. At this juncture (or a short time elapsed) trouble was brought to bear upon us both, from mental opposition in regard to our mutual affairs, by her father, which as he has said, and I really believe, was for no reason than that his daughter was too young to place her affections on anyone (she being about 16 years of age at the time). But the paternal opposition was all to no purpose, and the more we were opposed the deeper our affections were settled in each other, until at last I was so bitterly opposed I was compelled to abandon calling, but at sundry times would meet at parties and other places of amusement, and often times making jealous the respectable gentleman who was, at the time, trying to win her affections from me. This state of affairs lasted from about the 1st of November, 1876 until between Christmas and New Years, when I again ventured back, and escorted her to a dancing party at Union Hall, on New Year’s night, and during this joyful event vows of love were made and our affections were proved by both parties. After we had arrived from the dance, at her father’s house three miles northwest from Center Point, on the 2d day of January 1877, I parted from my loved one, never to meet again (but at that time not aware of our parting forever). I returned to my work in town, and proceeded as before, until on the evening of Friday, when the news came to me that she had taken poison, and was at the same instant laying at the point of death; whither I hurried, and arrived only to find the prostrate form of that lifeless girl. Ever and anon my hopes were gone, and I was left in the world alone, with no one to love me or an affectionate heart and hand to caress me. And since that time my heart has been broken, and sleep has forsaken my eyelids, and my agonized spirit has suffered a hundred deaths—when at last, and after due deliberation and consideration, I have arrived at the conclusion that my only consolation is death—death at my own hands—an event which will take place at no great period from the present time. I am and have the honor to be the World’s Obedient Servant, James Bartlett Osborn

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is James Bartlett Osborn's memorial?
James Bartlett Osborn's memorial is located at: Center Point Cemetery, Center Point, Linn County, USA.
When did James Bartlett Osborn death?
James Bartlett Osborn death on 31 Jan 1877 in Linn County, Iowa, USA
Where are the coordinates of the James Bartlett Osborn's memorial?
Latitude: 42.1966600
Longitude: -91.7908900

Family Members:

Parent

Stephen Osborn

(1805 - 1883)

Jerusha Wood Osborn

(1819 - 1901)

Siblings

Rachael Catherine Osborn Osborn

(1835 - 1928)

Barbara Ann Osborn Merrifield

(1846 - 1924)

Aaron Osborn

(1848 - 1914)

William Jones Osborn

(1850 - 1927)

Mary E. Osborn Holcombe

(1853 - 1935)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Center Point Cemetery
Center Point, Linn County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1966600, -91.7908900

2. Davis Cemetery
Linn County, USA
Coordinate: 42.2324982, -91.8272018

3. Greens Grove Cemetery
Washington Township, Linn County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1452700, -91.7581100

4. Urbana Memorial Cemetery
Urbana, Benton County, USA
Coordinate: 42.2198730, -91.8623650

5. McBroom Cemetery
Benton County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1549988, -91.8480988

6. Urbana Cemetery
Urbana, Benton County, USA
Coordinate: 42.2210007, -91.8659973

7. Ashlock Cemetery
Center Point, Linn County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1414500, -91.7486000

8. Pleasant Ridge Cemetery
Cedar Rapids, Linn County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1307983, -91.8146973

9. Alice Cemetery
Alice, Linn County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1974900, -91.6950000

10. Kisling Cemetery
Urbana, Benton County, USA
Coordinate: 42.2050018, -91.8893967

11. Squires-Oliphant Cemetery
Linn County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1250000, -91.7455978

12. Oliphant Cemetery
Linn County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1335983, -91.7238998

13. Saint Marys Cemetery
Benton County, USA
Coordinate: 42.2616997, -91.8683014

14. Greenwood Pioneer Cemetery
Shellsburg, Benton County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1216610, -91.8506255

15. Walker Cemetery
Walker, Linn County, USA
Coordinate: 42.2840000, -91.7868000

16. Cox Cemetery
Benton County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1994019, -91.9107971

17. Sacred Heart Cemetery
Walker, Linn County, USA
Coordinate: 42.2938995, -91.7778015

18. Lafayette Cemetery
Alburnett, Linn County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1457780, -91.6765840

19. Strawn Cemetery
Linn County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0971985, -91.8289032

20. Spencers Grove Cemetery
Benton County, USA
Coordinate: 42.2841988, -91.8655014

21. Mount Pleasant Cemetery
Shellsburg, Benton County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1183840, -91.8965000

22. Troy Mills Cemetery
Troy Mills, Linn County, USA
Coordinate: 42.2835999, -91.6960983

23. Dunkard Cemetery
Midway, Linn County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1046982, -91.6971970

24. Crawford Cemetery
Shellsburg, Benton County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0873200, -91.8497200