Family:David Bourie and Teressa Driver (1)

Dr. David Proctor Bourie

David Bourie, son of Mary Francoise Meloche and Louis B. Bourie, was born in 1811 in the Detroit area which would become the State of Michigan in 1837. In 1811, our county’s fourth president, James Madison was in office and the US was busy with a war with the Indians (Native Americans) at the Battle of Tippecanoe in the nearby Indiana Territory which would become a State in 1816. Detroit and upper Indiana would be the home of the Bourie family for the next century.

Teressa Driver

Teressa Driver was the daughter of Thankful Davis and Thomas Driver. She was the fifth child of six known children. Her father moved the family first from Ohio to Noble County, Indiana by 1824. Thomas Driver and his wife and their two sons, Samuel and Isaac, moved along the Oregon Trail in August 1853 to Oregon where he and the two sons later died. Teressa's mother died somewhere on the Oregon Trail during the family trip.

1889 Descriptions of the Marriage and Family

Teressa Driver Bourie's obituary, in January 1889 describes the family as: "In October 1836, Noble County was organized and the county seat located at a place called Sparta, situated on the Fort Wayne and Goshen Road about four miles southeast of Ligonier, and it was there that Dr. Bourie procured his marriage license on March 1, 1837 from Mr. Wesley White, who at that time was clerk of the court. The marriage took place at her father’s residence, the ceremony being performed by Mr. Knowles, a justice of the peace. Dr. Bourie at this time kept a store at a point just below the forks of the Elkhart River, two and a half miles east of Ligonier. About one mile east of there, John Knight, a local Methodist preacher, kept a "tavern", and at his house the infare or wedding festivities were held. There were seventy-five couples present, and the entertainment comprised everything that was good to eat and drink and that at that day was obtainable. After the feasting came the dancing, which was continued without intermission until daylight dispersed the merrymakers. The venerable Mr. Gideon Schlotterback furnished the music for the party, he being at the time the best performer on the violin in this part of the county, and it is worthy of note that he is still hale and hearty and only a couple of weeks ago was one of the nimblest dancers at the Old Settlers’ Ball. Dr. Bourie and his wife then settled down to business, and for half a century continued to live at the location above mentioned. About fourteen years ago they moved to Ligonier. They had four boys and ten girls. One of the boys, William, keeps a grocery store in Ligonier; the other one, Wesley, is a clerk for Messrs. Sheets & Wertheimer. Of the daughters, one, Addie, is married to Mr. John Biddle, a stonemason; the other one, Della, the youngest, is the wife of Mr. John B. Hoff, photographer now residing in Angola. Heavy, Dr. Bourie says, was the loss of the ten children he buried, "it was but a drop in the bucket" as compared with the great affliction he has now met with in losing his spouse."

David Proctor Bourie's obituary in 1889, describes the family as: "He (David Bourie) was married in 1837 to Miss Teressa Driver, who, until the time of her death a few months ago, remained his lifelong companion. They were the parents of thirteen children, only four of whom survive, viz: Mrs. John Biddle of Ligonier, Mrs. John B. Hoff of Angola, and William and Wesley of Ligonier. At the time of his death, it is believed that he was the oldest settler in Noble County... He was a resident of this county for over fifty years and one of its most widely known and respected citizens. From his intimate business relations with the Indians he gleaned a good knowledge of their peculiar method of treating disease and adopted their style of practice by roots and herbs, and for thirty years pursued it with eminent success. He also leaves one sister, Mrs. L. P. Perry who lives at Fort Wayne."

The Family

Of the fourteen children noted in Teressa's obituaries above, all but one have been identified by recent researchers. David's obituary states that there were only thirteen children which may be the actual number. Much credit is due the late Jim Biddle and Annette Hoff, descendants of the two daughters mentioned above.

1) John B.E. Bourie

The oldest know child was John B.E. Bourie was listed as a 12 year old in the 21 August 1850 US census of the family in Perry Township, Noble County, Indiana. This would indicate the birth in early 1838.

2) Hester A. Bourie

The second child was Hester A. Bourie who was born about 1841 or 1842 in Indiana per the 1850 US Census. Nothing further is known about this daughter at this time.

3) Amarata Bourie

The third child was Amarata Bourie who was born about 1843 or 1844 being enumerated as 16 years old in the 1860 US Census. In the 1850 US Census there is no enumeration of Amarata Bourie. Nothing further is known about this second daughter at this time.

4) Desdemona Bourie

The fourth child was Desdemona Bourie who is shown as 15 years old in the 1860 US Census. She is not enumerated by this name in the 1850 US Census. Desdemona Bourie died 8 February 1920. The death record would indicate that she never married. Nothing further is known about this third daughter at this time.

5) Ann E. Bourie

The fifth child was Ann E Bourie, a 4 year old daughter in the 1850 US Census. she apparently is the same child who was enumerated as 13 year old Adesia Bourie in the 1860 US Census. Nothing further is known about this fourth daughter at this time.

6) William Curren Bourie

The sixth child of Terresa Driver and Dr. David Proctor Bourie was William Curren Bourie, my grandchildren's Great Great Grandfather. William was born in April 1849 in Indiana[[1]]. The 1850 US census show a 1 year old William L Bourie and gives the birth place as Ohio. The 1860 US census shows William as 11 years old and born in Indiana which is believed to be correct.

On 26 February 1872 Edward Richman, Justice of the Peace, married William Bourie and Alice Stevens, daughter of Angeline Shepherd and William Stevens in Albion, Noble County, Indiana.

7) Adaliza Bourie Biddle

The seventh child was Adaliza Bourie born 9 September 1849 and shown as a thirteen year old daughter in the 1860 US Census of Perry Township. Note that the September 1849 birth date is too close to that of William Bourie. Perhaps Adaliza, who was not enumerated by that name in the 1860 Census, was understood as Ann E (Eliza?), the four year old daughter enumerated in the 1860 Census. If so, her birth year may have been 1845 or 1846.

8) Alexander T. Bourie

Alexander Bourie is listed as an eight year old and born in Indiana in the 1860 US Census. This would indicate that Alexander was born about 1851 or 1852. F. A. Sale, "M. of G(?)" married Alexander T. Bourie and Emma M. Walsh on 3 June 1872 in Noble County, Indiana.Alexander Bourie evidently had died before the census date of 5 June 1880. Nothing more is known of this family at this time.

9) Wesley Martin Bourie

Wesley Martin Bourie was born on the family farm near Ligonier in Noble County, Indiana on 30 March 1853. Wesley in enumerated as an 11 year old born in Indiana, in the 1860 US Census of Perry Township, Noble County. On 5 September 1880 J. W. Smith,(V.D.M.(?)) married Wesley Martin Bourie and Margaret Rosetta "Rosa" Spriegel in Noble County. Wesley died April 1929 in Ligonier, Noble County, Indiana.

10) Ruth Bourie

Ruth Bourie is enumerated as a 5 year old (i.e. born about 1854) born in Indiana on the 1860 US Census of Perry Township, Noble County, Indiana. One researcher stated that older brother, "Wesley was the youngest surviving child of the family; the younger siblings either died in infancy or did not reach maturity." Nothing further is known about this sixth daughter at this time.

11) David Bourie

David Bourie is enumerated as a 4 year old (i.e. born about 1856) born in Indiana on the 1860 US Census of Perry Township, Noble County, Indiana. Nothing further is known about this son at this time. One researcher stated that older brother, "Wesley was the youngest surviving child of the family; the younger siblings either died in infancy or did not reach maturity."

12) Harriet Bourie

Harriet Bourie is enumerated as a 2 year old (i.e. born about 1857) born in Indiana on the 1860 US Census of Perry Township, Noble County, Indiana. One researcher stated that older brother, "Wesley was the youngest surviving child of the family; the younger siblings either died in infancy or did not reach maturity." Nothing further is known about this seventh daughter at this time.

13) "Della" F. Bourie

"Della" F. Bourie was born April 4, 1861 in Ligonier, Noble County, Indiana. Della is enumerated in the 1880 US Census as a 19 year old living with her parents in Ligonier. Della Bourie married John B. Hoff on June 26, 1881 in Noble County, Indiana. Della later married John Waldron. Della Bourie Hoff Waldron died January 8, 1939 in Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana and is buried in Circle Hill Cemetery, Angola, Steuben County, Indiana.