Osborne Bragg Robertson, the son of L.B.T. and Rhoda West Robertson, was born in Arkabutta, DeSoto County, Mississippi, November 23, 1861, the ninth of eleven children. When he was fourteen years old, the family moved to Waelder. He was a graduate of Scherrer’s Art & Business College in Galveston. On March 30, 1887, Osborne married Susan Miller and they had eight children. Susan, born December 27, 1865, in Hopkinsville, Texas, was the daughter of Robert L. and Sara Hopkins Miller.
Robert came to Texas from Tennessee in 1842 and, in 1860, settled in Hopkinsville, named after Sara’s family. Robert and Sara moved to Waelder in 1873 where Robert opened a mercantile store.
Osborne became a partner with his father-in-law in 1887 . According to family sources he opened a drug store in 1889, but soon turned to buying and selling land. He was one of the original stockholders of The Farmer’s State Bank of Waelder. At the turn of the century business was good in Gonzales and Osborne devoted more time to business here becoming a principal stockholder in the Gonzales State Bank & Trust Company, originally the Miller-Sayers Bank.
Lots for the house were purchased in 1913 and construction was completed later that year. In early 1914 Osborne moved his family to Gonzales. This magnificent Greek Revival style home features elegant first floor rooms for gracious dining and entertaining. The staircase leads to a large second floor seating area and several large bedrooms which add to the beauty and comfort of the home.
In 1914 Osborne secured control of the Sunset Brick & Tile Company built in 1889 and located near the Gonzales Power Plant on the Guadalupe River. He was also involved in farming and lumber and served in the Texas Legislature from 1912 to 1914. During the market crash and following the depression in the late 1920’s and early 1930’s, Osborne, along with his other bank partners, used much of their fortunes to support their Gonzales banking interest. They were successful in saving the financial institution which still operates in Gonzales.
Osborne died January 12, 1941, and Susan died nineteen days later. They are buried in the Gonzales Masonic Cemetery.
