The father (John Davis Bourn) came to this State (Missouri) 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.

History of Lewis, Clark, Knox and Scotland Counties Missouri, V.2 Biographical Appendix. Goodspeed Publishing, 1887, p. 1151