Elnathan Bourne (1820 - 1900)

Born 25 Jul 1820 in Potton, Richelieu, Lower Canada

Husband of Phoebe (Blanchard) Bourne — married 10 Sep 1840 in Potton, Stanstead, Canada East

Died 28 Nov 1900 at age 80 in Wisconsin, United States

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Biography

Elnathan Bourne was born in Potton, Lower Canada in 1820. He was the son of Nathan Bourne and Clarissa Pike. It is said that at the age of 18, he assembled all his earthly possessions in his backpack and headed across Lake Champlain to the Saranac's area.^[1]

Just a note about names - some have written his first name as "Elanthan" but we use "Elnathan" here, since this is what appears in the majority of records. The surname also appears as Bourn, Bourne as well as Bowen. Several instances have been observed in the broader family where the Bourn/Bourne name over time evolved to Bowen.

He married Phoebe Blanchard back in Potton in 1840.^[2]:

"BOURN BLANCHARD - 10 Sep marr Elanthan Bourn of Potton, bach aged 21, & Pheby Blanchard, spins aged 16, by banns."

The two of them were baptized on 14 August 1841.^[3]:

"1841. BOURN. 14 Aug bpt Elnathan Bourn of Potton, aged 22, & Pheby Bourn aged 17."

Soon after marriage (the 1900 census below says 1843; his Obituary below says 1842), the couple migrated to the United States, perhaps to the area in New York state already known to Elnathan. They settled at least for a time in Colton, New York, where they appeared on the 1850 census, with a two-year old son called "Silas R."^[4] Living directly beside them in 1850, was Elanthan's sister Rhoda, with her husband Nathaniel Bruce.

Note that Elnathan and Phoebe never had children of their own - Silas was adopted, as recorded on the 1880 census referenced below. The 1900 census referenced below recorded that Phoebe had zero children in her lifetime.

In about 1857, Elnathan and Phoebe moved to Hancock, Wisconsin. They would spend the rest of their lives in that state, albeit at various locations. On the 1860 census, they were recorded in Plainfield, Wisconsin.^[5] Note that Elnathan's name is mis-spelled as "Ephram", though the family is clearly recognizable through his wife Phoebe, brother-in-law Carly Blanchard, and adopted son Silas.

Elnathan and Phoebe were recorded on the 1870 census in Hancock, Wisconsin.^[6]

After removing to Colby, Wisconsin for a few years, Elnathan and Phoebe returned to Hancock, where they were again recorded on the 1880 census, with their adopted son, by then divorced.^[7]

In their later years, Elnathan and Phoebe moved to Colby, Wisconsin by the time of the 1900 census, where they were living next door to Phoebe's younger brother Horace Blanchard.^[8]

Elanthan passed away in 1900, and was interred in Colby, Wisconsin.^[9] His wife Phoebe would survive nearly 13 additional years, before being interred beside her husband. The following Obituary appeared at the time:

Bourn, Elnathan (25 JUL 1820 - 28 NOV 1900). Died, at his home in this city (Colby, Clark Co., Wis.), Wednesday night, Nov. 28th, 1900, Elnathan Bourn, aged 80 years, 4 months and 3 days. Elnathan Bourn was born at Parton, (sic) Lower Canada, July 25th, 1820; was united in marriage with Miss Phoebe Blanchard, Sept. 14th, 1840; moved to Colton, St. Lawrence Co., N.Y., in 1842; in 1857 they came to Wisconsin, located at Hancock; In 1872 he came to what is now the city of Colby, in charge of a grading crew for the Colby & Phillips Construction Company, who were building the Wisconsin Central Railroad, and made this his home until 1876, except one year that they were on their farm, when they returned to Hancock, where they continued to reside until 1898, when they returned to Colby and have made their home here since. While quite young he united with the Protestant Church, of which he remained a member until his removal to Colton, when he joined the M.E. Church, of which he has been a consistent and conscientious member ever since. He leaves to mourn his demise, the aged wife who has been the partner in his joys and sorrows for more than sixty years, besides other relatives and friends. The funeral was held Friday afternoon, a short service being at the house on account of Mrs. Bourn in her enfeebled condition, being unable to go out, though the main service was held at the M.E. Church, Rev. G.T. Fass of Westfield, assisted by Rev. E.G. Vischer."^[10]

Sources

1. ↑ Recollections of Elnathan Bowen, by Emily A McMasters, 28 Jan. 1987
2. ↑ Potton Methodist Church Records, 1837-1845, Volume I, Extracted and Compiled by Pamela Wood Waugh and Shirley Dean Wood, 1989, Page 5
3. ↑ Potton Methodist Church Records, 1837-1845, Volume I, Extracted and Compiled by Pamela Wood Waugh and Shirley Dean Wood, 1989, Page 7
4. ↑ 1850 United States Federal Census, State of New York, St. Lawrence County, Colton, Page 135, Line 7| 1850 US Census, "Elnathan Bowen, Age 29"
5. ↑ 1860 United States Federal Census, State of Wisconsin, Waushara County, Plainfield, Page 34, Line 4| 1860 US Census, "Ephram Bourn, Age 35"
6. ↑ 1870 United States Federal Census, State of Wisconsin, Waushara County, Hancock, Page 2, Line 14| 1870 US Census, "Elnathan Bowen, Age 49"
7. ↑ 1880 United States Federal Census, State of Wisconsin, Waushara County, Hancock, Page 275A, Line 1| 1880 US Census, "Elnathan Bourn, Age 59"
8. ↑ 1900 United States Federal Census, State of Wisconsin, Marathon County, Colby, Page 1A, Line 33| 1900 US Census, "Elnathan Bourn, Age 80"
9. ↑ FindAGrave| Elnathan Bourne
10. ↑ Colby Phonograph, Colby, Wisconsin, 6 Dec. 1900

Acknowledgments

• Many thanks for Ron and Barbara Bourn (bournready) for sharing their excellent research, including the Obituary, on this individual. Ron is a descendant of Elnathan's brother.