The History of Hendricks County (Chicago: Interstate Publishing, 1885)--Clay Township, page 551
James N. Bourne is one of the wide-awake, enterprising businessmen of Coatesville, where he has lived since 1876. For a time after coming here he was engaged in the livery business, but since December, 1877, has been engaged in the drug business, in which he has built up a large trade. His father, William S. Bourne, was a native of Garrard County, Ky., and one of the pioneers of Putnam County, Ind., where he died, in Jefferson Township in September, 1872, and where his wife still lives. They had a family of eight children. James N. is the only one living in Hendricks County. He was born in Jefferson Township, Putnam Co., Ind., in 1847. He remained with his parents till after the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion, when he enlisted, in March, 1864, in Company A, Twenty-seventh Indiana Infantry. He participated in some of the most important battles of the last years of war, including the Atlanta Campaign and Sherman's march to the sea; thence to Washington, where he was in line at the grand review of the army. He married Sarilda J. Hill, a native of Putnam County, Ind., daughter of Andrew J. Hill. They have had five children--Everett, Maggie, Bertha, James A., and Ralfo. Bertha is deceased.