| I'm currently researching the Osbornes, McMahans, Polleys, Drakes, Taylors, Smiths and Hansons in my family tree. The McMahans and Osbornes lived in Roane (now Loudon) County in Tennessee. Joseph McMahan, his wife, Josephine Edwards, and their children left Tennessee sometime around 1879. They reappear in the 1880 census in Centennial, Carbon County, Wyoming. The McMahan family moved on from Wyoming arriving in Ashland area of Oregon around 1881. They may have first stayed with Josephine's sister, Martha Ann Tallent, in the town of Talent, but they eventually settled in a neighboring place called Wagner's Creek. Wilbur Osborne followed Mary Elizabeth McMahan west from Tennessee and married her in Ashland, Oregon on March 23, 1882. Wilbur's younger brother, Oscar, also moved west to Coulee, Washington, in 1882, and became a prominent cattleman there. Oscar wrote home to his younger brother, Charles, with talk of the amazing opportunties in the west. Charles joined him the next year. They were both instrumental in the eventual development of the Grand Coulee Damn. Oscar was the first homesteader in the area! Both his land and Charlie's are buried under one of the lakes that flooded were formed by the damn. Oscar was an excellent blacksmith, something that I learned only recently after reading his obituary. Another brother (half-brother), John Wright Osborne, also moved west. He eventually settled in the Tacoma area after checking out eastern Washington, and did very well in the lumber business for a number of years. He was a Civil War veteran who enlisted June, 1861, in Co. F, 43rd Tennessee CSA. He filled out the Tennessee Civil War questionaire and in it is a wealth of information, including a description of the family home in Tennessee! What a treasure! Joseph McMahan died right after their first harvest in Wagner's Creek near Talent, Oregon. Joseph was accused by his son, John William, of visiting another woman's room in the night on April 8, 1883. Joseph didn't take well to this accusation by his son and he proceeded to attack him. John fired a fatal shot, he believed, in self-defense, killing his father instantly. If anyone is interested I have in my possession copies of the coroner's inquest and the newspaper articles that tell the entire story. This story has been buried for over a century, but an old letter that fell into my lap from my aunt gave my cousin (Whitney McMahan) and I more information than was previously available and we were able to unravel the story! Sometime soon after Joseph's death, Josephine moved to Lewis County, Washington, as did Mary and Wilbur Osborne. Wilbur was the postmaster of a tiny place called Osborne. An old timer who was interviewed years ago (I do not have the source) said that a building stood and it's sign read, "W.J. Osborne." Wilbur and Mary had four of their children in Washington, Lillie M., Josephine Evaline ("Eva"), John T., and Vida Verda. Josephine married Job McMurry there on 31 Aug 1886. According to Anni Bauer of Lewis County, Wilbur was postmaster of a tiny place called Osborne, WA from July 20, 1886 until February 14, 1889. At that time an Alexis Norvy took over. Wilbur was once again the postmaster from May 25, 1891 until June 10, 1892. This leads me to believe that Wilbur may have gone to Texas earlier than previously believed. Perhaps he even went during that two year break in his postmaster position. The story that I was told, by my grandmother, Lillie Mae Drake, was that Wilbur left Washington on horseback for Texas, and that the trip took two months to complete. He settled in the Ft. Worth area. He sent for the family by rail. Mary and Wilbur appear to have divorced eventually. Mary listed herself as "widowed" on two census reports. On the same reports, Wilbur listed himself as "married" on the first and "divorced" on the second. Wilbur died in 1925 and is buried in Tarrant County. |
My legacy to my children....their family history.
Updated February 12, 2008 |
Lori (Polley) Leyba |
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