Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

and then went into the grocery business
in Georgetown for two years. After dis-
posing of this, he came to Westport, in
1890, and bought the grocery business of
Bradley & Wheeler. This engaged his
attention until 1917, in which year he
disposed of it and retired from mercan-
tile business.
For sixteen years, he has been a director
of the Westport Bank and Trust Company,
and for a similar length of time has
served Westport as town treasurer. He is
a Republican in politics, and has served
as a delegate to many conventions. Sev-
eral times he has been the candidate of
both parties for town treasurer, and a
number of times has been the only one
on the Republican ticket. An upright citi-
zen, public-spirited, he ranks among the
leading men of Westport.
Mr. Osborn married Ida Frances Jel-
liff, daughter of James F. Jellifif, of
Georgetown, and their only child, William
Francis Osborn, receives extended men-
tion below.
OSBORN, William Francis,
Hannfactnrer.
It is always profitable to study the records
of such men as William Francis Osborn,
representative as he is of one who
has raised himself by means of his own
efforts. Beginning as an assistant to
his father in the work about his store,
he persevered and applied himself diligently
to each task as it came to hand
until he now occupies a position as a
man-of-affairs and an upright citizen in
his community.
Mr. Osborn was born in Georgetown,
Connecticut, the only child of William E.
and Ida F. (Jelliff) Osborn (q. v.). He
was educated in the grammar schools and
in the Staples High School, and then became
associated with his father in the
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
324
grocery business. He later became identified
with the firm of Osborn, Kimber &
Kemper, leather manufacturers of West-
port, Connecticut. This firm is one of the
oldest manufacturers of leather in the
United States, the firm being founded by
Daniel Kemper in the early part of the
nineteenth century. They make a spe-
cialty of fine Morocco leather and their
product is marketed all over the country.
Mr. Osborn was admitted to partnership
in the firm.
For a term he served as town auditor,
and has in many other ways shown him-
self to be a public-spirited citizen and a
worthy scion of the family he represents.
He is a member of the Westport Club and
served as its treasurer.
Mr. Osborn married Carrie Louise
Kemper, daughter of C. H. Kemper, a
sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this
work. Mr. Osborn and his wife attend
the Congregational church of Westport,
as do their paternal families.
BRATHWAITE. Dr. Frederick G.,
Surgeon, Participant in World War.
The origin of the name Brathwaite is
particularly interesting. It is common
knowledge that previous to the thirteenth
century there were no surnames. It was
the custom to designate a person by ref-
erence to his occupation, his place of
abode, or some personal mannerism or
characteristic. Brathwaite is of the second
class. Literally, it means broadclearing,
and was first assumed by one
who lived near such an open space. The
spelling is found Braith and Braithe, also
Brath, being old English for broad, as
waite is for clearing.
A distinguished scion of this family is
Dr. Frederick G. Brathwaite, son of the
Rev. F. Windsor and Mary Elizabeth
(Woolsey) Brathwaite. The Rev. F.