VOSBURGH, Martin H.

VOSBURGH, HOLMES, DAVIS, TIBBETS

Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 1/29/2011 at 15:56:01

Martin H. Vosburgh, who since 1910 has conducted a photographic studio in Osage, was born in Columbus, Wisconsin, in 1861, a son of Orrin and Mary (Holmes) Vosburgh. The father, a native of New York, was born October 24, 1816, and his life record covered the intervening years to March, 1906, so that he was in his ninetieth year when he was called to the home beyond. The greater part of his life was spent at Columbus, Wisconsin, and he devoted his time and energies to general farming, to fruit farming and to the conduct and operation of a stone quarry. His wife, who was also born in the Empire state, her natal year being 1826, passed away in December, 1906. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom six are yet living: James and Edgar, who are residents of Connecticut; Mrs. Mathew Williams, living at Staples, Minnesota; Frank, of Chicago; George, who is located at Columbus, Wisconsin; and Martin H., of this review. Those who have passed away are Henry, Charles, William, Cor­nelia and Everett. The father was a stanch republican in his political views.

In the district schools of Wisconsin, Martin H. Vosburgh acquired his early education and remained with his parents until he attained his majority. He took up the study of photography in 1883 and established his first gallery at Columbus, Wisconsin, after spending four years in learning the business under the direc­tion of W. K. Hosken. In the latter part of 1887 he began operating independently along the line of his chosen life work and for a year thereafter remained in Columbus. He then removed to Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, where he spent two years, conducting a photographic studio, and in the spring of 1890 he removed to Charles City, Iowa, where he remained for eleven years. He next located at Whitewater, Wisconsin, where he remained in business for nine months and through the succeeding six months he was located at West Allison, Wisconsin. He then removed to Austin, Minnesota, where he carried on busi­ness for nine years, and in 1910 he came to Osage, where he purchased the gallery of J. A. Douglas, who had been a well known photographer of this city for twenty-three years. Mr. Vosburgh has modern equipment and utilizes the most progressive methods of photography. He has recently refitted and enlarged his place, to meet modern-day conditions and the demands of his patrons and he has now one of the best galleries in this part of the county. He is intensely inter­ested in his profession and keeps in touch with all the latest improvements which are being made.

In 1887 Mr. Vosburgh was united in marriage to Miss Myrta Davis, of Wisconsin, who was born at Fox Lake, that state, December 31, 1867, a daughter of James and Emma (Tibbets) Davis. Her father was a mechanic. Her mother is still living. To Mr. and Mrs. Vosburgh have been born two children: Harold, who was born December 24, 1891, and is now a practicing physician located at Pipestone, Minnesota; and Max, who was born in Austin, Minnesota, in 1904.

Mr. Vosburgh gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has served as a member of the school board, of which for two terms he was president. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias lodge at Osage, to the Knights of The Maccabees and to the Yeomen and in the last named organization is a past secre­tary and foreman. While never neglectful of public interests and duties, his activities, nevertheless, center on his profession and his work shows him to be a worthy exponent of all that is latest and best in the art of photography.

Source: History of Mitchell and Worth Counties, Iowa, 1918, Vol. II, page 321.