• His travel to Utah and death on the plains is mentioned in his son's obituary.

  The family sailed to America in 1856 on the ship Thornton, and their surname is listed as "Osborn" on the ship manifest.   

James G. Willie Company (1856)

• Age at Departure: 45
• Head of Household
• Died en Route

Sources

• "Handcart Veteran is Dead at Union," Deseret Evening News , 23 Oct. 1915, 8.
• "Immigration to Utah," Deseret News, 15 October 1856, 254.
• James G. Willie Emigrating Company journal, 1856 May-November, 16-53.
• Josiah Rogerson, "Captain J. G. Willie's Or, the Fourth Handcart Company of 1856 (No. 1)," Salt Lake Herald, 15 December 1907, 5.
• Josiah Rogerson, "Strong Men, Brave Women and Sturdy Children Crossed the Wilderness Afoot," Salt Lake Tribune, 4 January 1914.
• Journal History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 9 November 1856, 18, 19.
• Marilyn Austin Smith, Faithful Stewards--the Life of James Gray Willie and Elizabeth Ann Pettit, 95-120.
• Oborn, John, Reminiscences and diary [ca. 1862]-1901, [Part 1], 4, [Part 2], 2.
• Perpetual Emigrating Fund, Financial Accounts 1849-1886, Ledger B, p. 200.
• Saints By Sea: Latter-day Saint Immigration to America