Osborn was the seventh child of nine born to Rev. William Thomas Blenkarn and Eleanor Maria Ardley. He was just six years old when his father moved the family to the United States. They resided at Dover, Illinois for the next three years and then moved to Wabaunsee, Kansas. The family remained in Kansas throughout the rest of his childhood years, but moved numerous times from one church calling to another. Osborn along with his brothers and sisters were raised in Christian surroundings. His father was minister of the Congregational Church and he also had come from a devout Christian background. Osborn's grandmother, Emma Hart Ardley, died in April of 1884 and his parents along with his youngest sister LIlian, left for England in July of that same year to take care of the matter of Eleanor's inheritance. Elanor's father, Abraham Osborn Ardley, had been a very wealthy builder, and upon his death in 1868, his property was held in trust for teh maintenance of his wife Emma and his three children. Upon Emma's death the children were to receive their fair share. Osborn was sixteen when his parents went off to England.

The following notice appeared in the local newspaper of Eureka:

"Osborn Blenkarn of Topeka, and Miss Clara I. Vaudrey of Eureka, Kansas were married at the home of Rev. J.S. Gould in Eureka, Kansas Wednesday June 21, 1899 at 8 o'clock in the morning. The Rev. W.T. Blenkarn of Wabaunsee, Kansas, father of the groom, officiating and witnessed by Maude Doile and Nellie F. Gould (a sister and a friend of the groom and bride). The groom is an excellent young man, standing high in the community in which he lives, and has lived for nearly all the years of his life. His father the Rev. W. T. Blenkarn, A Congregational minister and a pioneer in the Kansas field. The bride is a refined and intelligent young lady and is highly regarded by all. She is a teacher, having taught the Twin Falls school during the past two terms. They young couple left on the nine o'clock train for their future home in Topeka."

They had four children:

William Osborn
Eleanor Clara
Lois Alice
Walter Ardley

Osborn was a minister for God. He spent his whole life serving Him, living as he understood to be the right way according to God's ordinances. He was a gentle, kind man; but he was a preacher that spoke out strongly against what he considered to be the sins of man.

Source: "Blenkarn Tapestry" by Dorothy L. Taylor pgs 190-202
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"England and Wales Census, 1871," Osborn E A Blenkarn in household of William T Blenkarn, Watton, Watton, Norfolk, England

name: Osborn E A Blenkarn
event: Census
event date: 1871
gender: Male
age: 2
relationship to head of household: Son
birthplace: Walton, Norfolk
record type: Household
registration district: Wayland
sub-district: Watton
event parish: Watton
county: Norfolk

Household Gender Age Birthplace
self William T Blenkarn M 38 Shoreditch, Middlesex
wife Eleanor M Blenkarn F 38 Chipping Hill, Essex
daughter Emma E Blenkarn F 12 London, Middlesex
son Walter W H Blenkarn M 10 Shoreditch, Middlesex
son Alfred G O Blenkarn M 8 Hackney, Middlesex
daughter Eleanor M Blenkarn F 6 Stourport, Worcestershire
daughter Constance C A Blenkarn F 4 Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
son Osborn E A Blenkarn M 2 Walton, Norfolk
daughter Lilian E F Blenkarn F 1 Walton, Norfolk
servant Mary A Overton F 14 Wretham, Norfolk
servant Sarah A E Balls F 14 Walton, Norfolk

Source Citation
"England and Wales Census, 1871," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VFX4-LTG : accessed 09 Sep 2012), Osborn E A Blenkarn in household of William T Blenkarn, Watton, Watton, Norfolk, England; citing PRO RG 10/[piece], folio 141, p. 3; Wayland registration district, Watton subdistrict, ED 9f, household 18, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
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"United States Census, 1880," Osborn E A Blenkarn in household of William T Blenkarn, Republican, Clay, Kansas

name: Osborn E A Blenkarn
residence: Republican, Clay, Kansas
birthdate: 1869
birthplace: England
relationship to head: Son
spouse's name:
spouse's birthplace:
father's name: William T Blenkarn
father's birthplace: England
mother's name: Eleanor A Blenkarn
mother's birthplace: England
race or color (expanded): White
ethnicity (standardized): American
gender: Male
martial status: Single
age (expanded): 11 years
occupation: At School
nara film number: T9-0376
page: 106
page character: D
entry number: 398
film number: 1254376

Household Gender Age Birthplace
self William T Blenkarn M 48 England
wife Eleanor A Blenkarn F 47 England
dau Alice M Blenkarn F 23 England
dau Edith E Blenkarn F 21 England
son Walter W H Blenkarn M 19 England
son Alfred G O Blenkarn M 17 England
dau Maude E Blenkarn F 15 England
dau Constance A Blenkarn F 13 England
son Osborn E A Blenkarn M 11 England
dau Lilian E F Blenkarn F 10 England

Source Citation
"United States Census, 1880," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MFPG-4Z4 : accessed 09 Sep 2012), Osborn E A Blenkarn in household of William T Blenkarn, Republican, Clay, Kansas; citing sheet 106D, family 8, NARA microfilm publication T9-0376.