Stoddard, William Osborn

William Osborn (1835-), an American writer and journalist. He was born at Homer, New York, and was a graduate of the University of Rochester in 1857. Stoddard tried farming and reporting. In 1861 he served three months in the United States volunteers. He served President Lincoln in the capacity of private secretary 1861-4. Stoddard has written a number of interesting books of adventure and stories for boys. Named in order of their appearance, the more important are Life of Abraham Lincoln, The Talking Leaves, The Red Mustang, The Lost Gold of the Montezumas, and the Errand Boy or Andrew Jackson. His stories throw no little light on the manners and customs of the Indians of the Southwest.