UPPER OSCEOLA MILL
1883 History of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg. 1159:
James Fletcher Corbin, one of the earliest settlers of St. Clair County, was
born December 31, 1831. His father, David Corbin, a Virginian by birth, born in
1790, was married in 1813, to Miss Annie Erwin, originally of Kentucky. Their
family consisted of eleven children, of whom James was the youngest. In 1839 the
senior Corbin removed with his family to St. Clair County, Missouri, they being
among the pioneers here. In the fall following his arrival (1839), he erected
his first dwelling of round logs, it being just fourteen feet square, and in
this house of one room, fifteen persons ate and slept for seven months. The next
spring an addition was placed upon it, which when completed, measured 20x18
feet. During this time the meat used by them was procured with the rifle. Mr.
Corbin and his sons built the first frame house erected in Osceola. This
structure was constructed of whipsawed lumber, sawed by them, and after being
finished it was occupied by a Frenchman as a tailor shop. This was located near
the present site of the Upper Osceola Mill. James F. Corbin resided with his
father until 1853, when he was married to Miss Nancy O. Beckley of this county,
and a daughter of John W. Beckley. They have eleven children: Anna L., David F.,
Susan M., John H., James W. Nancy B., Carolina B., Joseph P., William T., Leona
M., and Mary J. Mr. C., through his own industry and good management, has
accumulated a good competency, now owning a farm of 200 acres.