Richard West Bourne Jr. was born in Kentucky, March 7, 1820. He graduated, in 1845, from Jefferson Medical College. The College was founded 1824 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. An infirmary to treat the poor was opened in 1825, and by 1844, Jefferso n was providing patient beds over a shop at 10th and Sansom Streets. More than likely as a student, Richard would have interned at this infirmary.
In December 1848 he married Sarah Ann Graves. She was the daughter of Thomas and Gabriella Graves and was born in Georgetown (or Midway), Kentucky on April 2, 1831. Richard and his wife Sarah moved to Mexico, Missouri about 1854, where he became a prominently known physician in Mexico and the surrounding countryside.
Richard was a democrat and about a year after his and Sarah's arrival in Mexico, on March 5, 1855 the Missouri State Legislature passed an incorporation act for "The Town of Mexico". In January of 1856 a seven member Board of Trustees was elected. One of those trustees was Dr. R. W. Bourn. Dr. Bourn was then elected Chairman of the Board and thus became Mexico's first mayor.
In 1859 Sarah gave birth to her first and only child Annette "Nettie" who later married William W. Fry, a prominent attorney in Mexico, Mo. On April 7, 1863 Sarah died at the age of 32, leaving Richard with a small 4 year old daughter. Richard neve r remarried.
Richard remained publicly active throughout his life. He became a Director on the first Board of Trustees of the Mexico Savings Bank, organized under the state laws in 1867. He is listed on the roster of school directors as having served in 1870 as a school director during the first decade of the public school system, 1870 to 1880. He was a member of the Methodist church and at one time in his life, was reputed to be the "Oldest Living Sunday School Teacher in the World".
He spent a lifetime in public service and lived to an advanced age of 97 years. He passed away November 23, 1917 and is buried in Elmwood Cemetery in Mexico, in the Bourn-Fry plot, near his daughter Annette and his brother, Dr. William D. Bourn. 18 September 2007 -Jane
William E. Ward in his manuscript states the following; "His obituary in the Mexico Ledger of November 23, 1917 lists his date of birth as March 7, 1820. We also have some correspondence of Nellie Ward Lobdell's which gives his date of birth as Nov ember 25, 1818 which would have made him 99 years old at his death instead of 97. The obituary record is probably more accurate as the correspondence date was given from memory by a cousin while the obituary date was probably provided by his immedi ate family."
In addition to the obituary record we have a digital image of his headstone which shows the birth and death years 1820 – 1917. There is also an obituary in the book “Medical Record” by George Frederick Shrady, Thomas Lathrop Stedman, Joseph M eredith Toner Collection (Library of Congress), which states; “Dr. RICHARD WEST BOURNE died at his home in Mexico, Mo., on November 21, aged 97 years. He was a graduate of Jefferson Medical College in 1845. He continued in active practice until a year ago.” With the collected evidence we have placed his years of birth and death at 1820 – 1917.
Note
PUBLICATIONS
"CIVIL WAR REMINISCENCES" Extracted from the MEXICO WEEKLY LEDGER, Mar. 25, 1937 p 6/5 & 6
...Many amusing incidents occurred in the town during the time the (Union) soldiers were encamped in the city and some that were anything but amusing. The writer heard Dr. Bourn, father of Mrs. W. W. Fry and grandfather of Judge Wallace Fry, tell the following story several times. It seems the doctor had been out in the country calling on a patient. It was a bitterly cold day in mid-winter and as he journeyed back to town on horseback, he arrived at the outskirts of Mexico just after dark and a sentry who was guarding the road entrance called out "Whoa, halt, who goes there?" The doctor stated he halted with positive quickness and replied"p hysician". The sentry shouted back "Fishing, h--l, this is no kind of a day to go fishing."...
________________________________________________________ Mexico Intelligencer (weekly) 1889 March 7, 1889
"Clara Ward, niece of Dr. R.W. Bourn of this city, died at Ramsey, Ill. Feb. 27. p6 c1"
________________________________________________________ Book Excerpt
"Dr. Richard West Bourne died at his home in Mexico, MO., on November 21, aged 97 years old. He was a graduate of Jefferson Medical College in 1845. He continued in active practice until a year ago."
Jefferson Medical College Founded 1824 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. Thomas Jefferson University, an academic health center, was founded as Jefferson Medical College in 1824. An infirmary to treat the poor was opened in 1825, and by 1844, Jefferson was providing patient beds over a shop at 10th and Sansom Streets. _____________________________
Note
13 January 1952, Richard W. "Bourn" & his wife Sarah Graves are listed as the parents on the death certificate of their daughter Annette.
Note
OCCUPATIONS
Physician 1845 - 1916 1856 Trustee on first Board of Trustees for the Town of Mexico Chairman of the board on Board of Trustees for the Town of Mexico First Mayor of the Town of Mexico 1867 Director of the first Board of Trustees for the Mexico Savings Bank 1870 School Director Sunday School Teacher
Note
EDUCATION
1845 at the age of 24 became a Graduate of Jefferson Medical College Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
Burial
Richard is buried in the Bourn Fry plot, near his daughter Annette and his brother, Dr. William D. Bourn. -Jane
Birth21 November 184652 La Grange, Kentucky, U.S.A. Death7 September 1935 (Age 88)Age:"88 years, 8 months, 16 days" Cleveland Township, Callaway County, Missouri, U.S.A.
KINDRED TAPESTRY
26
(Birth)
-4 years