Alphabet File page 273
Unfortunately, I have never been able to learn who Jeremiahs parents were. If anyone in the newspapers readership is aware of additional information about him, I would deeply appreciate being made aware of it.
In the meantime, happy Birthday Grandpa Doug. Thanks so much for the tradition of hard work that you and Grandma Carrie handed down to me amy generation. Love you both.
Sincerely yours, Sue A. Osbourn. Waveland.
There are two photographs in the artice as described above. (SCE 4/3/1997, copy in HCHS VF)
Osbourn, Percy m Casanova, Eva 9-1-1908 (PC&C)
Osbourn, Dennis r Old Spanish Trail (Ph 49-50, 55)
Osbourn, Edwin Old Spanish Trail (Ph 50)
Osbourn, Edwina Miss, 310 N. 2nd (Ph 48 thru 50, 55)
Osbourn, W. C., Old Spanish Trail (Ph 48-49, 55)
Osoinach, Family. Grace Osoinach stopped by Beachwood Hall one afternoon about 1989 or 90 and we exchanged some information on her family. She wrote the following names on a sheet of paper but I can not remember the explanations of each.
Henry O. 6200 Fountainbleau Dr. N.O. La. 70125 home phone 861-4372
John Campbell Osoinach, Joanesboro, Arkansas
Anton Osoinach m. Marie Lalancell
Anthony Osoinach m. Bella Zelida
John Osoniach
John Angast Osoniach
Henry Wattson Osoniach
Clarence Wytch Osoinach
Lucille O. Porter
Cleo O. Anderson
Ethys O. - Elli Ballard
(CHG)
THE FIVE GENERATIONS OF BAY ST.LOUIS OSOINACHS
Survives Rugged Century Of Wars And Fires
All through the hundred year history of the City of Bay St. Louis persistently and constantly runs the name Osoinach -from the schooner Captain Antoine Osoinach who became identified with the city's career about the time it was contemplating incorporation, through the versatile John Osoinach whose activities as merchant, banker, member of council and patron of the arts marked the city's middle years, up until the present day fourth generation Henry Osoinach who is the vice chairman and publicity chairman of its Centennial.
At the Versailles Treaty table that concluded World War I sat an Austrian diplomat by the name of Osoinach from the city of Fiume. His ideas at that memorable meeting so closely coincided with the American aims that the U.S. delegates commented upon it at the time. This was the same Osoinach family from Fiume that had released the restless Antoine Osoinach over a half century earlier to find his way to the Gulf Coast, where he became a schooner skipper between the Bay and New Orleans, and where he married Marie Lalancett, the daughter of one of then large land owners of Hancock County.
Of the union of Marie and Antoine was born John Osoinach in 1865-who in his twenties became the manager and confidential assistant of August Keller, who during the latter part of the century operated at Washington and the beach the famous Blue Store mercantile establishment.
ENTERS BUSINESS
Somewhere in the nineties young John Osoinach went into business for himself, establishing the Bay Mercantile Company which has, at four different locations and in five different buildings, been a part of Bay St. Louis ever since. During Centennial preparations the question has been frequently asked-where was the original Bay Mercantile store? It was located at the present 400 block of South Beach around Citizen street.
The second and considerably larger Bay Mercantile store was west of the Merchants Bank around the present 200 block of South Beach. This was the famous store on the second floor of which John Osoinach had built the first theatre of Bay St. Louis, called the Osoinach Opera House, and capable of presenting the best road shows of the period.
He had gone dangerously into debt to give his city of Bay St. Louis and opera house worthy of the name, which was consistent with his previous custom of annually absorbing the deficit of the Lyceum Circuit which provided a great deal of the cultural entertainment of the community. For John Osoinach was a patron of the arts, a music lover and a man who believed in backing up his interest in cultural activities with financial help.
After his new store and theatre had both been operating only a few years the entire building burnt to the ground in 1907. Since it was only partially insured the blow not only represented a substantial loss but left him heavily in debt.
ANOTHER FACET
When his creditors generously offered to accept 50 cents on the dollar another facet of the character of John Osoinach was revealed. He refused to take advantage of the offer, stating that if they would give him time he would repay every dollar full value. They agreed and in a few years John Osoinach, merchant, had liquidated all debts and was back in the commercial world again with excellent credit. The third and next Bay Mercantile store was built across from the Merchants Bank, which John Osoinach continued to operate until 1926 when he retired. He died on January 1, 1939, thirteen years later, having lived to the fullest his 74 years.
His son Henry Osoinach had taken over the business in 1926 and continued to operate his third store until it also burned in 1939, the same year John Osoinach died.
Henry immediately rebuilt (what is the Olen store today) and continued its operation until he sold out to his son Henry Osoinach II, the present owner and operator of Bay Mercantile.
It was the now living and Centennially active Henry Osoinach who built the present Bay Mercantile Store at the North corner of Beach and Main in 1952.
And so, in the course of Bay St. Louis events, five and cultural life of the city. Where do we get the fifth generation? That is young Henry Osoinach III, the willing lad whom you'll find occasionally sweeping up around the store-learning the business literally from the ground up, like his father, his grandfather and great grandfather. (Sun generations of Osoinachs have been closely associated with the business Herald July 29, 1958)
Osoinach, A. G., Brother of John. Partner of C. G?. Moreau in the Echo in 1892. Later he was owner of the Gulfport Record.
Osoinach, A. G. Early partner in Sea Coast Echo. (ATG pBSL-7, photo)
Bonds, Mr. Edgar, of Handsboro, was in the Bay Sunday, the guest of Mr. A. G. Osoinach. (SCE 10/15/1892)
Pillow, Mrs., and her winsome daughter, Miss Addie, entertained a number of friends on Friday. Misses Bell Osoinach, Carrie Hackney, L. Osoinach, Pearl Meek, Messrs. J. Tomasich, Jos. O. Mauffray. A. G. Osoinach, R. Pillow and others were present. (SCE 10/15/1892)