1. Margaret Jane Major - March 09, 1854, Blakesburg, IA

The chief inhabitants of the broad plains then were Indians, buffalo and antelope. All were plentiful, but the Indians made themselves the most familiar. The squaws were anxious to trade the papooses for white babies, but no instance is on record where an exchange was mutually made, though they would even offer ponies to boot as an inducement.
Alpheus Osborn was then seven months old. Mrs. Osborn left him standing in front of the wagon while she attended other duties when a squaw stole him and was making for the tribe, but was captured by the teamsters.
The Osborns took a homestead in Jefferson County, near Golden, then known as Golden City. At first the Indians annoyed the settlers only by begging, but they finally took to stealing and of course trouble ensued.
Settlers did not dare leave their homes to hunt, and at one time there was not a bit of flour in Steven's house for three weeks. The family lived on potatoes, milk and butter. At one time flour sold at a dollar a pound.

Their three youngest children were triplets, born in 1869; tragically two of the triplets died within a week of birth, and the third died at 6 weeks of age.  They are buried in a small private cemetery in what is now Arvada, Jefferson Co., CO.  In 1878, the family moved to the Little Thompson River, one east and a little south of Berthoud, Larimer Co., CO.

Margaret and Steve were among the first members of the Berthoud United Brethren Church congregation.  They are buried in Greenlawn Cemetery, Berthoud, Larimer Co., CO.

Photo copyright Arlene Miller