Columbia County OR Archives Biographies.....Bourne, J. B. E. May 26, 1858 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/orfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com June 26, 2010, 7:05 pm Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 426 - 429 Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company J. B. E. BOURNE, of Rainier, Oregon, was for many years very active in the business affairs of this section of the valley, in which he met with a measure of success that enabled him to retire, and he is now enjoying the fruits of his former years of well directed effort. Mr. Bourne was born in Dudley, Worcestershire, England, on the 26th of May, 1858, and is a son of James Samuel and Ellen Grace (Yates) Bourne. His father, also a native of Dudley, died in 1912, and his mother, who was born in Wales, passed away in 1906. James S. Bourne, who came from a prominent family of Worcestershire, was a lawyer by, profession and was influential and highly respected in his community. To him and his wife were born nine children, of which number, three survive, namely: J. Kenyon, of Portland, Oregon; J. B. E., of this review; and Thomas Yates, who still resides in England. J. B. E. Bourne received his early education in private schools and at Shrewsbury, after which he entered a law school in London. On the completion of his studies, in 1881, he was admitted to the bar and entered upon the practice of his profession in his native town of Dudley, where he remained five years, being of the fifth generation of his family to practice law in the same building. He took an active interest in local affairs and was for four years a lieutenant of the Warwickshire volunteers, and for one year was lieutenant and later for three years captain of the Queen's Own Worcestershire Yeomanry Cavalry. In 1886 Mr. Bourne came to the United States, settling at Rainier, Columbia county, Oregon, at Cedar Landing, where he conducted a general merchandise store for a year, and then returned to England and closed up his law business. On his return to Rainier he continued in the mercantile business for two years, when he sold his store to Dean Blanchard, a pioneer of that locality, and bought a farm at West Rainier. He devoted his attention to the operation of that place until 1898, when he sold out and bought a business property in Rainier, also engaging in freighting for two years. He then took up the life insurance business, in which he continued for twenty years, and in 1926 retired from active business. In 1908 he was admitted to the bar of Oregon, but never practiced his profession here to any considerable extent. He also, for about six years, edited and managed the "Senator," the official organ of the Knights of Pythias in Oregon, Washington and Idaho. In 1907 Mr. Bourne erected a fine business block in Rainier, which he still owns, and is also the owner of forty-two acres of land well located on the highway one and a half miles southwest of Rainier, which is ideally situated for home sites, being well wooded and overlooking the Columbia river. He also owns twenty-six acres adjoining the city limits of Rainier, admirably located for acreage lots. In 1916 he built a nice summer home on this property, his house standing on a promontory above the river, while the grounds surrounding it are nicely laid out and ornamented with flowers and shrubbery, making of it an ideal country home, which he has appropriately named "Bourneville." Mr. Bourne is a member of the Knights of Pythias, in which he has passed through the chairs and in the work of which he has always maintained a deep interest. He was captain of the uniform rank of the Knights of Pythias for two years and colonel of the state of Oregon, Knights of Pythias for four years. He was superintendent of the insurance department of the order and traveled extensively over the state of Oregon for four years. In his political views he is a republican and he has shown a commendable interest in public affairs. In 1910 he was police judge for the city of Rainier and the following year served as justice of the peace. He has been intensely loyal to the spirit and institutions of his adopted country and is regarded as one of his community's best citizens, commanding the uniform respect and confidence of all who know him. Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/columbia/photos/bios/bourne1161gbs.jpg 104 Kb File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/columbia/bios/bourne1161gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/ File size: 4.8 Kb