BOURNE, James C. 1837-1916

BOURNE, MOON

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 9/28/2016 at 11:58:59

Memorial Time Sounds Taps For J. C. Bourne

Pioneer Business Man and Old Soldier Passes Away Early on Memorial Sunday Morning

41 Years A Grundy Merchant

Came to Grundy Center in 1875 and Conducted Hardware Business in Same Store

Taps sounded for J. C. Bourne, an old soldier and the pioneer business man of Grundy Center, if not Grundy county, early on Memorial Sunday morning, the burial service taking place on the morning of Decoration day. Thus the Sunday and the especial day set apart for the old soldiers ushered out the life and remains of one who had responded to the call of his country in her first hour of need in '61 and a man who had faced life all these many years like a soldier.

Coming to Grundy Center before the railroad, and in the infancy of the town, J. C. Bourne has watched it grow into the town of today. And with this development Mr. Bourne grew also, always being willing to further along any real and substantial improvement in the community. Only a couple of years ago Mr. Bourne had plans made for the erection of a new building on his lot but sickness came to him and he seemed to sense the approaching end and abandoned the new building plans, saying to friends that he had only a few years remaining and that he wished to spend them in the same store in which he began business here in 1875, leaving to the younger generation the task that he could not shoulder in his later years.

Mr. Bourne was especially devoted to his family and particularly to Mrs. Bourne, the last few years of whose life have been spent in an invalid's chair. His every thought was for her comfort and this fact was but an added proof to his many friends of the character of the man.

The funeral service was held from the late home on Tuesday morning--Decoration day--and the large crowd present attested the esteem in which Mr. Bourne was held. Rev. J. C. Curry preached the sermon, after which Emerald Lodge No. 334, A.F. & A.M., took charge of the service under the direction of E. K. Greene, of Reinbeck, and H. A. Willoughby, of Grundy Center. Mr. Bourne had long been a member of the Masons and had filled the junior warden's position in the lodge perhaps longer and oftener than any other member.

In the passing of J. C. Bourne, the community lost a good citizen and a good friend, neighbor, brother and comrade went also. The obituary follows:

J. C. Bourne
Mr. James C. Bourne was born August 3, 1837, at Lyons, Wayne county, N.Y., and died at Grundy Center, Iowa, May 28, 1916, at the age of 78 years, 9 months and 25 days. His boyhood and youth were spent at Lyons. In the spring of 1861, he enlisted in Company B, 27th New York Volunteers, serving two years in the army. He was married September 23, 1863, to Miss Carnelia E. Moon, of Clyde, N.Y., their Golden Wedding anniversary being celebrated in the fall of 1913. They lived at Lyons until April of 1875, when they moved to Grundy Center, coming by railroad to Ackley, Iowa, and completing the journey by wagon. At that time there were but forty buildings in Grundy Center.

Mr. Bourne was associated in the hardware business for several years at Grundy Center with J. S. Nye, of Ackley, Iowa, afterward buying out Mr. Nye's share of the business and continuing in the same location and building until his death. He was a member of Emerald Lodge No. 334, A.F. & A.M., and of Wilson Post, G.A.R. He united with the Protestant Episcopal church in boyhood, always retaining his membership in that church.

Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bourne, three of whom, Charles, James and Herbert, died in infancy and one, William W., at the age of eighteen. Mr. Bourne is survived by his widow; three sons, George, of Clear Lake, Iowa; Fred, of Minneapolis, Minn.; and Nye, of Washington, D.C.; two daughters, Nealie L. Bourne and Mrs. C. C. Price, both of Grundy Center; and by four grandchildren.

Mr. Bourne has always been known and respected for his business integrity, and he has always taken a great interest in the social life and development of the community. He was the oldest merchant in Grundy Center at the time of his death.

The relatives from away who came to attend the funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. Geo. T. Bourne and children, of Clear Lake, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Fred J. Bourne, of Minneapolis, Minn.; J. Nye Bourne, of Washington, D.C.; Henry J. Bourne, Lyons, N.Y.; Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Stonebreaker, of Hamptown, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Coffin, of Des Moines, Iowa, and Mr. and Mrs. Charles Burd and children, of Waterloo, Iowa.

--The Grundy Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 1 June 1916, pg 1