The standing of a town or community is measured by the character of its business men, and in this respect Marseilles is especially fortunate. For about a quarter of a century Simon T. Osgood, one of its most progressive and enterprising citizens, has been closely associated with its upbuilding and prosperity, and with the patriotic spirit of all true Americans has used his influence and means in the support of worthy public industries and undertakings, upholding the law and good government and everything else making for the permanent good of the people.
The Osgood family, to which our subject belongs, is one of the oldest and most honored of New England, it having been founded here in 1638 by one John Osgood, an Englishman, and his wife, Sarah. They settled at first in Andover, Essex county, Massachusetts, and several generations of their descendants have lived in the Bay state. The great-grandfather of our subject was Josiah Osgood, and the great-great-grandfather bore the Christian name of David. The grandfather, Luther Osgood, was born in Wendell, Massachusetts, June 20, 1780, and when the war of 181 2 was being waged with England he served in the ranks of the American army. For a wife he chose Miss Joanna (Beaman) Osgood, of Sterling and Wendell, Massachusetts.
The parents of Simon T. Osgood were Luther P. and Catherine (Toll) Osgood, the latter a daughter of Simon and Susan (Conde) Toll, and born in the Mohawk valley in 1821. In 1852 the Osgood family removed to LaSalle county, Illinois, and located upon a farm in Brookfield township. The father became one of the successful and influential agriculturists of that section, and at the time of his death, in 1889, he left a valuable estate, as a result of his well-applied energy and business acumen. Both himself and wife were prominent members of the Baptist church, and led worthy, upright Christian lives. The wife and mother did not long survive her husband, as she received her summons to the silent land in 1890. Of their children Lucy M. is the wife of George Marsh, of Washington, District of Columbia; Susan Condee is the widow of Henry Upton, late of Pierce, Nebraska; Catherine married Charles M. Carpenter, of Rock Rapids, Iowa; Frances P. is the wife of Marshall M. Armstrong, of Ottawa, Illinois; and Henry D., Luther P., Simon T., and Charles DeWitt are all residents of Marseilles.
Born in the town of Verona, Oneida county, New York, March 14, 1843, Simon T. Osgood lived in his native place for four years, after which he passed five years in Oswego county, same state. Since 1852 he has dwelt in LaSalle county, and until 1875 w-as connected with the agricultural interests of Brookfield township. For many years he was associated in the grain business with Isaac Gage, also operating a planing-mill and dealing extensively in lumber until after the death of the senior partner. Since 1890 Mr. Osgood has devoted his time and attention chiefly to the realestate business, and has bought and sold large tracts of land in the western states. He owns considerable property in this county as well as elsewhere, and has amassed a large fortune by his excellent financiering.
On the 22d of January, 1868, Mr. Osgood married Miss Louisa C. Gage, of Brookfield township. She is the eldest daughter of Isaac and Lucy (Little) Gage, and was born and reared in the township just mentioned. The following named children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Osgood: Edgar G.; Harriet L., wife of Howard McCullough, of Marseilles; Susan Conde, now a resident of Phoenix, Arizona, and the wife of Rev. George H. Brewer; Isaac Gage, who married Lottie Estelle Drakley, the youngest daughter of Thomas Drakley, of Manlius township, and is managing the old homestead in Brookfield township; Lucy L., a student in the Chicago university; John L., attending Morgan Park Academy, near Chicago; and Beman F., Simon Milford and Catherine Toll, at home.
Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Osgood are Baptists, belonging to the Marseilles church, where he has acted in the capacity of deacon for a score of years or more. Politically Mr. Osgood is a Republican, and for several years has been one of the trustees of Marseilles. He is a man with high ideals of duty, and to his children he will leave an honorable record, of which they will have just cause to be proud.
Extracted by Norma Hass from Biographical and Genealogical Record of LaSalle County, Illinois published in 1900, volume 1, pages 249-250.
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