Drummer John footnote in Cape's past

They called him John the Drummer.

Eccentric? Yes.

Part of Cape Girardeau's history? Definitely.

For more than 50 years, John Osborne drummed up business for Cape Girardeau merchants and others eager to draw attention to special events -- sales, church suppers, auctions, important news events.

Osborne's story begins with the Civil War where he served as a drummer boy.

Osborne often insisted he didn't know his age. At the turn of the century, he liked to tell people that he remembered when the Mississippi River was a small creek. When people wanted to cross it, he said they cut down a tree and let it fall across the water.

The photo of John Osborne, which appeared on "Faces and Places" recently, was taken in 1898 by Cape Girardeau photographer C.W. Haman.

"C.W. Haman was my grandfather," said Jim Haman, another Cape Girardeau photographer who recently retired.

Osborne was a pied piper of sorts. "My grandfather said" Osborne "drew a crowd wherever he went -- including youngsters and dogs," Jim Haman noted.

Osborne loved to regale crowds with stories of his exploits as a drummer boy in the Civil War. Deep down, he was an advertising man.

For a small fee, Osborne marched the streets of Cape Girardeau, beating a snare drum to call attention to whatever event he had been hired to promote.

No one knew where in Cape Girardeau Osborne lived, but most merchants knew where to find him -- on the streets.

"My grandfather got to know John," said Jim Haman, who added that the photo of Osborne was shot by his grandfather near Good Hope and Sprigg streets.

Osborne was around another 22 years after the photo was made. He died Dec. 31, 1920, at the county home for the friendless, the Cape County Poor Farm. He was 96.

Photo brings memories

Harry Samuels, pictured in a "Where is this?" photograph published on the Feb. 21 "Faces and Places" page, said he has many fond memories of Cape Girardeau Boy Scout Troop 4.

The photo was of a Troop 4 World War II scrap metal drive.

"I have lots of fond memories of Troop 4, which was domiciled at the Presbyterian Church," said Samuels in an e-mail to the Southeast Missourian.

Samuels recalled meeting several baseball players who visited the troop. Visiting players included Don Gutterage, second baseman for the St. Louis Browns, and Pete Gray, the phenomenal one-armed player.

"Gray played for Memphis and led the Southern League with a batting average of .333 and 20 home runs," Samuels noted.

During the war years, major league teams were unable to train far from their home locations. Cape Girardeau was host for the St. Louis Browns training camp, added Samuels.

"I haven't lived in Cape Girardeau since 1948," said Samuels, "but I really enjoy reading the Southeast Missourian."

Scout memorabilia sought

Carol Dean is scouting for information to prove the existence of Cape Girardeau Boy Scout Troop 4 from 1927 through 1930.

"There was no Scout council those three years, but our records say we registered as an independent troop," Dean said. "We'd like to see a membership card or other memorabilia showing proof of the troop's existence."

A new council was organized in 1931.

People with information about the troop may contact Dean at 334-7864 or Ray Owen.

B. Ray Owen is the Southeast Missourian's communidy news editor. Contact him at P.O. Box 699; Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63702, by phone at (573) 335-6611, ext. 133, or by e-mail at rowen@semissourian.com.