Henry Amos and Francis Osborn

The Canning magnate

Making a fortune in the Harford County's canning industry, Henry Amos Osborn purchased the Blenheim estate from the Sappington family in 1875 after John Sappington's death. The 220 acre estate quickly doubled in size as Osborn purchased more land between "the old post road" and Chapel Road, including the Mount Pleasant estate.

Osborn hired Harford County Master Builder Jacob Bull to build the sprawling mansion.  According to the Maryland Historical Trust Inventory, Blenheim's "size and level of ornamentation is comparable to the many villas built by Harford County's wealthy industrialists at the end of the nineteenth century."  

The Osborn family owned Blenheim for 121 years. Henry and Francis had three children: Henry Amos Jr, Elizabeth, and Inez.  Luther Howard, a family servant, is buried in the Blenheim cemetery.  

To learn more about the canning industry in Harford County, click here