Reuben Osburn. One of the distinguishing features of Wayne County is the excellence of its public schools, this desirable condition having been brought about through the intelligent co-operation between the school board, the parents and the educators. One of the men who has long given of his best efforts and much of his time to this important work is Reuben Osburn, president of the Ceredo Independent School District, a notable American citizen who in spite of the fact that he is a bank director and holds important public offices, is not above carrying his own dinner pail, and does so without any loss of dignity or prestige.

Mr. Osburn was born at Echo, Wayne County, West Virginia, November 18, 1869, a son of John T. and Louisa (Crabtree) Osburn. John T. Osburn was born in what is now Wayne County, September 12, 1832, and died April 25, 1908. Louisa Crabtree was born near Honaker, Russell County, Virginia, April 22, 1840, and died February 21, 1915. They were married over fifty years. John T. Osburn was noted for his strength and good health. The family home was located at Echo during the entire married life of this devoted couple. He was a life-long democrat, and as a farmer he was fairly prosperous. Both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which she was connected during her lifetime. He was a Mason and belonged to Vincent Lodge No. 66, A.F. and A.M., at Fort Gay, West Virginia. There were one son and four daughters born to them, and four of these children survive, namely: Florence, who is the wife of William Ferguson, resides at Kenova, Wayne County, West Virginia; Reuben, who was the second in order of birth; Stella, who is the wife of Pharaoh Webb, lives with her husband on the old Osburn homestead at Echo; Louisa, who is the wife of Sam Smith, baggage clerk at the Union depot at Kenova, West Virginia; Virgin, who married J. H. Throgden, lived at Wayne Court House, West Virginia, and died when she was twenty-six years of age.

Reuben Osburn received his educational training in the public schools at Echo. When he was eighteen years of age he began learning the carpenter trade, at which he worked for seven years, during the latter part of that period being on construction work for the Norfolk & Western Railroad. This connection led to his becoming a brakeman on that road, which position he held for a year, when he was made fireman, and for four years he served as such on the first divison out of Kenova, south. In 1901 he went on the home farm, but in 1903 resumed his railroading as engineer on the Big Sandy, East Lynn & Guyan Railroad, now the East Lynn branch of the Norfolk & Western Railroad.

With the exception of a year or two spent on the home farm Mr. Osburn has maintained his residence at Ceredo and Kenova, and he is still an engineer on the East Lynn branch of the Norfolk and Western Railroad. In 1913 he was appointed to fill out the unexpired term of Dr. J. I. Miller as mayor of Kenova, and the following year was elected mayor of that city. Mr. Osburn has also served as recorder of Wayne, and he is now a member of the chamber of commerce at Kenova. He is serving his third year as president of the Ceredo Independent School Board, and during his incumbency of this office the Ferndale grade school building and the Ceredo-Kenova High School building have been erected, the latter at a cost of $150,000. It is one of the most modern school buildings in the state, and reflects great credit on the board and the people of this district. It is located on a tract of ten acres, purchased from Col. Joseph S. Miller. Soon after the organization of the First National Bank of Kenova Mr. Osburn was placed on its directorate, and he has since remained a member of it, his connection with this institution giving it extra solidity.

In 1888 Mr. Osburn married Rachel V. Dillon, a daughter of George Paschal and Nancy A. (Booten) Dillon. Mrs. Osburn was born on Beach Fork, Wayne County, February 25, 1870. She is the only daughter in the family, but she has brothers as follows: William J. Dillon, who is engaged in a brokerage business at Huntington, West Virginia; R. C. Dillon, who is the owner of the Huntington Restaurant at Huntington, West Virginia; A. T., who is with the Chaffee Wholesale Grocery Company of Huntington. Mr. and Mrs. Osburn have four children, namely: Lucian, who is a house salesman with the Huntington Wholesale Grocery Company; Lora Bell, who is the wife of Walter Robinson, secretary and treasurer of the Harry S. Stout Coal Company of Ceredo; and Garrett and Reuben, Jr., who are both attending school. Mr. and Mrs. Osburn belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church, which he is serving as a trustee. Mr. Osburn is both a Scottish Rite and York Rite Mason, and belongs to Kenova Lodge, Wayne Chapter, Huntington Commandery, Beni-Kedem Shrine, Rose Croix, Huntington, and Wheeling Consistory. He served as master of Crescent Lodge No.