Emerson Osborn

Osborn, Emerson, one of the leading photographers and perhaps the oldest representative of that art in the city, was born in Middlebrook, Schoharie county, September 1, 1843, and was less than two years old when his father, Orris Osborn, settled in in Colesville. The family is descended from sturdy New England stock and some of its ancestors gained enviable prominence in the war of the Revolution. (See sketch of Dr. A. J. Osborn in Medical chapter). Emerson Osborn spent his young life on his father's farm on Colesville, and was educated in the district schools and also the famous old Binghamton Academy. He afterward taught two or three winter terms of school, but soon left the farm, came to Binghamton and learned photography with A. B. Tubbs, whose name was once well known in village history. In March, 1865, Mr. Osborn began work with Mr. Hickox, and continued with him until the fall of 1870. Mr. Cobb then succeeded Mr. Hickox in business, and Mr. Osborn having become a skillful and practical operator, was retained by Mr. Cobb and remained with him until the winter of 1885, when he himself became proprietor of the gallery, succeeding Well. G. Singhi. Mr. Singhi was regarded as the best photographic proprietor in the city in his time, yet Mr. Osborn has always maintained the reputation of the gallery previously established by his predecessor. Indeed, he has for many years been looked upon as one of the most competent and experienced photographic operators in this part of the State. He has a prominent standing in Odd Fellow circles, having passed through all the chairs in the lodge, the Encampment, the Canton and the Rebekahs. He also enjoys the pleasant distinction of having been the only male past N. G. of the local Rebekah Lodge, I. O. O. F. His membership in Calumet Lodge dates back more than twenty-five years. On December 24, 1863, Emerson Osborn married Hannah E. Whitham, by whom he has had five children.


Writing in Binghamton, Its Settlement, Growth and Development (1900), William S. Lawyer gave the following sketch of the career of Emerson Osborn: Osborn, Emerson, one of the leading photographers and perhaps the oldest representative of that art in the city, was born in Middlebrook, Schoharie county, September 1, 1843, and was less than two years old when his father, Orris Osborn, settled in in Colesville. The family is descended from sturdy New England stock and some of its ancestors gained enviable prominence in the war of the Revolution. (See sketch of Dr. A. J. Osborn in Medical chapter). Emerson Osborn spent his young life on his father's farm on Colesville, and was educated in the district schools and also the famous old Binghamton Academy. He afterward taught two or three winter terms of school, but soon left the farm, came to Binghamton and learned photography with A. B. Tubbs, whose name was once well known in village history. In March, 1865, Mr. Osborn began work with Mr. Hickox, and continued with him until the fall of 1870. Mr. Cobb then succeeded Mr. Hickox in business, and Mr. Osborn having become a skillful and practical operator, was retained by Mr. Cobb and remained with him until the winter of 1885, when he himself became proprietor of the gallery, succeeding Well. G. Singhi. Mr. Singhi was regarded as the best photographic proprietor in the city in his time, yet Mr. Osborn has always maintained the reputation of the gallery previously established by his predecessor. Indeed, he has for many years been looked upon as one of the most competent and experienced photographic operators in this part of the State. He has a prominent standing in Odd Fellow circles, having passed through all the chairs in the lodge, the Encampment, the Canton and the Rebekahs. He also enjoys the pleasant distinction of having been the only male past N. G. of the local Rebekah Lodge, I. O. O. F. His membership in Calumet Lodge dates back more than twenty-five years. On December 24, 1863, Emerson Osborn married Hannah E. Whitham, by whom he has had five children.