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biography from Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
JOEL E. OGBORN, of Union Township, son of Samuel and Esther (Andrews) Ogborn, was born in Wayne County, Ind, March 17, 1828, and passed his days upon the farm until he reached early manhood. He then learned the trade of blacksmithing, which he followed for several years. The parents of our subject were both natives of New Jersey, and lifelong members of the Society of Friends. Both are now deceased. In December, 1853, Joel Ogborn removed to Knox County, Ill., remaining there one year, and then came direct to Iowa, arriving in this county June 7, 1855, and locating upon his present farm. Mr. Oghorn had been married to Miss Martha Lane, Sept 6, 1849. Mrs. O. is a native of Preble County, Ohio, and the daughter of Ira and Hannah (Cooper) Lane, the father of North Carolina and the mother of Ohio. To our subject and wife have been born thirteen children, as follows: Rosela and Walter are deceased; Wilbern married Miss Emma Scott, and lives in New Sharon; Horace H. married Miss Laura Marks, and lives at Oskaloosa; Viola is dead; Frank H. married Miss Anna Mead, and lives in Rooks County, Kan.; Katie L. is a teacher and resides at home, but at present is attending Northwestern University, at Evanston, Ill.; Arthur C. married Miss L. Gorsuch, and lives with his father; Mollie died Nov. 26, 1886; she had been a teacher for some years; Alice V. is a teacher; Albert died in infancy; Olive L. and Fred R. are at home. Mr. Ogborn affiliates with the Republican party; he was elected Justice of the Peace in 1862, which office he held for four years. Himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The home farm consists of 130 acres of extra good and, in an excellent state of cultivation and well improved. In the winter of 1886-87 some effort was made for coal on the farm, with a prospect of success. Mr. Ogborn is in every respect a first- class citizen, and possesses those elements of character which command the confidence and esteem of friends and neighbors. Mr. Ogborn's first presidential vote was cast for John P. Hale, with George W. Julian for Vice President. Until the organization of the Republican party he was what was known as a "free-soil" man, since which time he has been a Republican. He is a strong temperance man and has not tasted alcoholic liquors for over forty years.
Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy