BIOGRAPHY: James D. Bourne
From the A.T. Andreas Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Iowa, 1875

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JAMES D. BOURNE, a prominent and well known citizen of Clinton County, was 
born in Prince William County, Virginia, December 27, 1811.  The following sketch of 
his life will show how and with what success he has since struggled for the mastery of 
circumstances.  In the Spring of 1813 his parents emigrated to Shelby County, Kentucky, 
where they remained until April, 1824, at which time his father placed the family and 
their entire stock of worldly goods into an old-fashioned "keel" boat, and set out for 
Missouri.  He landed at Hannibal in that state on the 24th of August, 1824, and from there 
proceeded to Lewis County, where he permanently located.  James D. remained at this 
home with his father till the Spring of 1832, when he procured a pony, saddle, bridle, etc., 
and with $40 in his pockets started for the Galena lead mines.  This was the year of the 
"Black Hawk War," and young Bourne, after a day's travel, learning that the Indians were 
taking scalps in Northwestern Illinois, he concluded that "discretion was the better part of 
valor," and so returned home where he remained until the Fall of that year, when he again 
struck out for the lead mines.  His route lay along the east bank of the Mississippi River.  
He arrived at Galena just in time to cast his first vote for the great statesman, Henry Clay.  
Mr. Bourne was one among others who built the first log furnace for smelting lead ore 
that was constructed in "Snake Hollow" (now Potosi) Grant County, Wisconsin.  It was 
built in the Winter of 1832-33.
     In June, 1833, he crossed the river into Iowa, and begun mining operations in the hills 
back of the present site of the City of Dubuque.
     Under the treaty of peace made at Rock Island, in the Fall of 1832, emigrants were 
prohibited from settling on any lands of the "Black Hawk Purchase," until June 1, 1833.  
Then Iowa first became open for legal settlement.  It was attached to Michigan for 
judicial purposes.
     Mr. Bourne continued mining until September, 1836, when he quit the business and 
settled on section 6T.  So R. 5 now in Eden Township, Clinton County.  There had been a 
trading post kept by the American Fur Company at this point, but was deserted at the 
time of which we write.  He remained at this place until the location of the county seat 
was made at DeWitt, when he took up his residence in the village, where he has since 
resided.  Mr. B. has been the owner of many thousands of acres of land in Clinton, Cedar, 
Marshall, and other counties of the state; he has, at present, one of the finest stock farms 
in Clinton County.  Was married to Christiana Dennis, at DeWitt, Iowa, in the year 1842, 
and has raised and educated a family of nine children.
     Mr. Bourne was the first settler in Clinton County, also the first postmaster and 
sheriff.  The latter office he held for four terms.  He has also held the offices of recorder 
and treasurer of the county, and represented it in the Lower House of the General 
Assembly in the Winter of 1838-39.  He was admitted to the bar by Judge Dillon among 
the last acts of his authority as Judge of the District Court.