Santa
Clara County
Biographies
GEORGE H. OSEN
GEORGE H. OSEN. Conspicuous among the most progressive and
enterprising men of San Jose is George H. Osen,
who is carrying on an extensive and lucrative automobile business, being well
located at Nos. 13, 15, 17 West St. John street. Having a practical knowledge of the
mechanical arts, and being far-sighted, and the possessor of keen business
instincts and tact, he has met with undoubted success in his undertakings and
stands high in manufacturing and financial circles. A son of Beryer Osen, he was born November 19, 1869, at Chippewa
Falls, Wis. He comes of pioneer stock,
his Grandfather Osen, a Wisconsin pioneer, having
been one of the first settlers of Oconomowoc.
A contractor and builder by occupation, Beryer Osen followed his trade in
Wisconsin for many years. During the
Civil war he took part in many engagements, serving in the Thirteenth Wisconsin
Volunteer Infantry. Coming with his
family to California in 1888, he settled first in San Jose, and then removed to
Princeton, British Columbia, where he is still employed in contracting and
building. He married Emma Lang, whose
father was an early settler of Wisconsin, and they became the parents of three
children, of whom George H. is the eldest child.
Reared and educated in the public schools of Chippewa Falls, George H. Osen found ample opportunity in his boyhood days to exercise his mechanical talent and ingenuity while working with his father’s tools at the carpenter’s bench. After locating with his parents in San Jose he worked at the carpenter’s trade for a few years with his father. Locating at No. 168 South Second street in 1894, Mr. Osen embarked
in the bicycle business, representing Stearns &
Phoenix. In 1900, in company with
Mr. Hunt, he enlarged his operations, moving to No. 69 South
Second street, and soon afterward began the
manufacture of automobiles, making the first Osen &
Hunt machine in that year, and subsequently manufacturing four other
machines. Being successful in this line of
manufactures, the firm disposed of its bicycle business and devoted its entire
attention to automobiles, in January, 1903, taking possession of the present
shop, which is 60x75 feet, and is well equipped with the most approved
up-to-date machinery and furnished with electric power. Purchasing the interest of his partner,
Mr. Osen has carried on business alone since
January 1, 1904, and is meeting with characteristic success. He represents many of the leading automobile
companies of the country, handling among others the Oldsmobile runabouts and
touring cars; the Winton Motor carriages; the Locomobile
auto cars; and the Stevens Guryea.
In Wisconsin, in 1893, Mr. Osen married Imogene Wetmore, a native of New York state, and they have two children, George Arthur and
Frances. Politically Mr. Osen sustains the principles of the Republican party by voice and vote.
Fraternally he is a member of the Woodmen of the World and of the
Foresters, and belongs to the San Jose Chamber of Commerce.
Transcribed by Donna Toole.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 605-606. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2015 Donna Toole.