Source Text:

Name: Benjamin Franklin “Ben” Bourn Sr.
Birth Date: 26 Sep 1841
Birth Location:
Death Date: 10 Apr 1907 (aged 65)
Death Location:
Burial: Memphis Cemetery
City: Jefferson Township
County: Scotland County
State: Missouri
Country: USA
Memorial ID: 73782834

Married Victoria "Alice" Colvin on 10 Mar 1872 in Scotland County, Missouri, George W. Conaway, Minister of the Gospel, performed the ceremony.----------------------
Benjamin F. Bourn was born in this county September 26, 1841, the son of John D. and Nancy (Higbee) Bourn, natives of Virginia and Kentucky. The father came to this State about 1825, and in 1839 located in the northwest part of this county, where he followed farming until his death in October 1877. The mother died in July 1868. Their children are William, Joseph S., John J. and Benjamin F.; four are deceased. Our subject was trained as a farmer, and spent six years in the far west when a young man. He also worked at the carpenter's trade. In 1876 he was elected county judge for a term of six years. He served but two years, however, when the new law made it necessary for him to be re-elected for four years. He was president of the county court, and in 1882 became tax collector. In 1883 he came to Memphis, and for the last two years been one of the firm of Smith, Bourn & Co., grocers and dealers in stone, glass, and queensware. The other members of the firm are T. M. Smith and T. McAllister. They have a fine stock, and do a large business. Our subject has also an estate of 280 acres of improved land. He married in 1872 to Victoria A., the daughter of the late William Colvin. By his marriage with Nancy (sic) Arnett (sic) his children are Byron, Arthur, Maud, Benjamin and Culvin. Our subject was elected by his party, the Democracy, to his positions of public trust. He is a Royal Arch Mason.History of Lewis, Clark, Knox and Scotland Counties Missouri, V.2 Biographical Appendix. Goodspeed Publishing, 1887, p. 1151 (Obviously an error in naming Nancy Arnett as mother of his children, she was his mother-in-law).
FUNERAL OF JUDGE B. F. BOURNMan Who Was Widely Known Over the State Buried FridayTHE DEMOCRAT last week made brief mention of the death of Judge Ben. F. Bourn, which occurred at his home in the south part of the city, Wednesday morning, April 10th.In the death of Judge Bourn the city and county loses a well known and prominent citizen. There is no man in Scotland county who has more friends or who is more widely known over the state of Missouri than was Judge Bourn. He had traveled extensively over the state, and by his activity in politics for so many years, he was known in every county in the state. No matter where one would go in Missouri, if the fact was known that you were from Scotland county, generally the first question was "How is Judge Bourn?"' and outside of the county, by the older democrats of the state, Scotland county is known as "Judge Ben Bourn's county," so wide was his reputation and his acquaintance with Missourians.Judge Bourn was a native Missourian and a native of this county. He was born in Miller township September 26, 1841. His early boyhood days were spent on his father's farm in that township. The winters of 1859- 60 and 1860-61 he attended college at LaGrange, Missouri. In the spring of 1862 he started overland to Idaho. He spent about five years at Boise City and Idaho City. The following year he spent in Oregon. In the fall of 1867 he started home, by way of Portland, Seattle and San Francisco and the Isthmus of Panama. While on this journey he was ship-wrecked, and landed at Savannah, Georgia.After a tour of the east, he returned to Scotland county by way of Niagara Falls and Chicago, arriving here February 28, 1868.On March 10, 1872, he was married to Miss Alice Colvin. The widow and six children survive him. The children are Judge Byron Bourn, of Joplin, Mo.: Dr. C. A. Bourn, Mattoon, Ill.: Mrs. Dr. B. E. Mankopf, New Haven, Mo.; Ben F. Bourn, Jr., Culvin F. Bourn and Miss Ferol Bourn, of this city.Judge Bourn's political life began in 1876, although he always took an active part in politics. He met with political successes and reverses, but notwithstanding this, he remained loyal always to the party that had honored him, and never shirked a duty when his party called, whether he was enjoying the emoluments of office or not.It was in the year 1876 he was elect ed county judge. He served one term of two years, and at the end of this term was elected presiding judge of the county court for a term of four years. In 1881, when the federal court ordered the county court to levy a tax to pay the railroad bonded indebtedness, a mass meeting was held, by the citizens of Scotland county and the judges asked to refuse to make the levy. A mandamus was served on the judges, who were then Bourn, Sparks and Gale. They were arrested and imprisoned in the four courts at St. Louis from the 21st of May to the 8th of August, they having been released on three-fourths time for good behavior.In November 1882, Judge Bourn was elected county collector, and on February 26, 1873, moved to Memphis to the place where he resided until his death. From 1885 to 1889 he was connected with the grocery firm of Smith, Bourn & Co., and in 1889 was again elected county collector and served two years. At the expiration of his term he went into the grain and implement business.He was elected representative of the county in 1894, and served in the 38th General Assembly. He retired from active business in 1897.Judge Bourn was a well read man. He had a craving for knowledge and was well posted on every subject. His memory for details was remarkable --- once read, always remembered. He was a companionable man and enjoyed the company of his friends. During his last illness, which has extended over a period of several months, he has been in good spirits and never seemed discouraged. He passed peacefully away. He was sitting in a chair at his home the morning he died. He had been reading, when his head fell forward on his breast. Mrs. Bourn noticed him and supposed he had fallen asleep. She went to him to arouse him, but he was unconscious. She called to Chas. Cox, who lives near the Bourn home, and Mr. Cox came over and assisted in laying him on the bed. He never regained consciousness.He lived the life of an honest citizen. Honest first to his friends, second to his country and last to himself.He was loved by his family, adored by his friends and respected by all.The funeral took place from the family residence Friday afternoon at 2:30, a short service being conducted by Rev. V. O. White, pastor of the M. E. Church South. A quartett from the choir of that church furnished the music.The details of the funeral were under the auspices of the Masonic fraternity, of which order Judge Bourn had been a loyal member for a great many years.The casket was literally covered with floral offerings of beautiful design.The pall bearers were Major R. D. Cramer, Colonel C. F. Sanders, H. H. Saling, S. A. Hammond, D. Secord and J. E. Mount. The service was an impressive one and was attended by a large concourse of friends, notwithstanding the fact that a fierce wind storm was on at the time. The popularity of the deceased among all of our citizens is thus attested by the large turn out at the last sad rites.At the close of the service, the remains, in charge of officers of the Masonic lodge, were conveyed to Masonic cemetery, where they were buried. Judge Bourn will be greatly missed by all of our people..The Memphis Democrat, Memphis, Missouri • Thu, Apr 18, 1907, Page 1, Columns 1 & 2

Family Members
Parents
John Davis Bourne 1794–1877
Nancy Higbee Bourne 1797–1868
Spouse
Victoria Alice Colvin Bourn 1851–1921
(m. 1872)
Siblings
William Bourn 1820–1887
Joseph Stultz Bourn 1823–1896
Frances Jane Bourn Mudd 1825–1859
John James Bourn 1836–1917
Children
Byron O. Bourne 1872–1945
Infant Child Bourn 1874–1874
Chester Arthur Bourn 1875–1940
Maude B. Bourn Mankopf 1877–1939
Benjamin Franklin "Ben" Bourn Jr 1882–1928
Culvin Ford Bourne 1885–1953
Ferol Bourn Hudson 1889–1988