Lucius Junius Osborne and Martha Jane Elmore (couple 16)

[Mom's maternal grandmothers's maternal Grandparents]
[Lounettie Jennings > Minnie Mae Osburn > Osburn/Elmore]

Lucius Junius Osburn
BIRTH: 18 February 1853, Shelbyville, Bedford, Tennessee, United States
DEATH: 19 June 1935

Martha Jane Elmore
BIRTH: 1852, Tennessee, United States
DEATH: 3 May 1903, Tennessee, United States

William Garner Osborne (1812-1883) was born in Flat Creek, Bedford County to parents who had come from Williamson County Tennessee soon after Bedford County was formed.  He was a merchant and farmer with a $6600 farm in Western Bedford County.  He married Mary Gallihue Scales (1819-1862).  (Probably "Gillespie", given that their farm was down the road from two Gillespies)  William Ozburn is listed with the 1850 Census with 9 slaves,  Their third child, Lucius Junius, was born 18 Feb 1853.  William would later remarry Sallie (per 1870 census) who would help raise te Osborne children.  He employed Billy Russel (black).

At the 1870 Census, we see that the Osburns were living in District 10, and the next farm over was owned and operated by the Elmores with a smaller operation (valued at $2130).  James Hugh Elmore (1829-1896)  Nancy Tillman Gault (1834-1900) ultimately had 11 kids, the eldest being Martha Jane Elmore (1852).  With the 1850 census, Nancy is listed with 3 slaves of her own.

Civil District 10 in Bedford County.  Western border of the County.  1870  notation "J. Elmo" at upper left close to Jackson.

Martha Jane and Lucius Junius were married in 1872 and had 6 kids between 1874 and 1889.  They moved to Civil District 8 to establish their family.  The 1880 Census lists him as a "Huxter" which is a peddler or seller of small provisions.  In addition to his role as a merchant in Bedford County, he was also appointed Postmaster at Fall Creek, Bedford, Tennessee as of 14 December 1905.

The Osborns lived over at Fall Creek along "41A"  They lived next door to Mrs. Claxton, the Parsons, and others in the Fall Creek P.O. Area of District 8 (according to the 1878 District Map).

On the 1878 District Maps, at Fall Creek, there is also a "W Osborn" within the district, which on the 1880 census shows William G and Sarah (Lucius's father).   It's possible that during that decade, William G sold his small farm and moved to the next district.

By 1900, "Lush" (pronounced "Loosh") and "Mattie" are still living in District 8 with 4 of their children (Esther-23, Sam-20, Elma-18, Mattie-11)  (Minnie-26 had married Thomas G. Jennings and moved to District 6,  and Nettie-22 married Mr. Hix and moved away as well.)

In 1903, there was a change in the family when Martha Jane Elmore passed away on 3 May.  Lucius remarried in December 27 1903 to Lucy Margaret "Maggie" Hatcher, widow of Sam Williams (d. 1894).  The 1910 Census shows Samuel J Osburn (30) and Minnie Williams (18) and Mary Williams (17), who are Maggie's daughters with Sam Williams.  Sam J Osburn would later end up marrying his step-sister Minnie in 1915.

By 1920, Lucius (66) and Margaret (57) were empty-nesters, still in District 8.  Same in 1930, now ages 77 and 67.  Lucius died in 1935, and was buried at Willow Mount Cemetery in Shelbyville.  Maggie would live on until 1949 at age 86.  She was living at 527 Madison Street, which  is now along the retail district with banks and stores.