Sebastian-Franklin County ArArchives Biographies.....Bourland, James V. 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ar/arfiles.html
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Robert Sanchez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00027.html#0006574 July 18, 2009, 2:56 pm

Author: S. J. Clarke (Publisher, 1922)

JUDGE JAMES V. BOURLAND.
    Judge Jrmes V. Bourland, presiding over the chancery court at Fort Smith,
was born near Ozark, in Franklin county, Arkansas, July 30, 1855. and is a
representative of an old Virginia family. His grandfather, Dubart Lee Bourland,
was born in Virginia, whence he removed to Tennessee and eventually came to
Arkansas, where he served as the first county treasurer of Franklin county and
carried the public moneys in his saddlebags—a fact which plainly indicates the
pioneer condition of the country. He married Malinda Robinson, of a prominent
Virginia family, she being related to General Robert E. Lee. Their son, Ebenezer
Bourland, was born in Tennessee in 1834 and his life record covered the
intervening years to 1911. He was a merchant and farmer but at the time of the
Civil war put aside business and personal considerations and joined the
Confederate army. His last days were spent in Ozark, where he was engaged in
merchandising at the time of his death In connection with bis mercantile and
agricultural pursuits he also worked as a blacksmith. He was a well-read man for
his day and kept thoroughly informed concerning vital public questions and
issues. His political support was given to the democratic party and he belonged
to the Masonic fraternity. while both he and his wife held membership in the
Presbyterian church. In early manhood he had wedded Rebecca Bruton, who was born
in Pope county, Arkansas, and was a daughter of John Bruton, one of the early
ministers of the Baptist church in this state. settling in Pope county when it
was a frontier district. The death of Mrs. Bourland occurred in 1865. Mr. and
Mrs. Ebenezer Bonrland became parents of five children, three of whom are
living: James V. of this review; Mrs. Belle Erwin, living at Long Beach,
California: and Dr. F. M. Bourland of Houston, Texas.

    James V. Bourland pursued his education in the schools of Ozark and in
Canehill College, after which he pursued his law course in Cumberland University
at Lebanon, Tennessee, being graduated from the law department there in 1876.
The same year he was admitted to practice by the supreme court and opened an
office in Ozark, where he remained until 1903. Under appointment he served as
chancellor of the tenth district of Arkansas for four years and was then elected
for a six years' term, at the close of which period he was reelected for another
six years. He took up the duties of judge of the chancery court in that term but
resigned in the fall of 1913 and was appointed United States district attorney
through the influence of Governor Clarke and Senator Jeff Davis. He filled the
position for four years, after which he practiced his profession in Fort Smith
for about a year and then again became a candidate for the office of chancellor,
being elected over his opponent by a majority of one thousand votes. He is still
filling this position and doubtless can continue in the office as long as he
desires, for he is making a most competent, successful and popular chancery
judge. As chancellor he is strict in the enforcement of divorce statutes and his
position on this question is known throughout the state. He has been
continuously in the office of chancery judge since 1903, save for the period
when he acted as district attorney and the one year of his law practice at Fort
Smith.

    On the 29th of April, 1891, Judge Bourland was married to Miss Bonnie Jean
Carter, who was born in Ozark, Arkansas, and is a daughter of Dr. W. A. Carter,
an early physician of Ozark, who practiced there for a number of years. He was
related to the Lee family of Virginia and to the Taylor family of Tennessee.
Judge and Mrs. Bourland are parents of four children: Annie Marr, who was
educated in the high school at Fort Smith; Mary Rebecca, who has also completed
her education in the high school of Fort Smith; Wallace Carter, who is studying
law under the direction of his father; and James V., who is a traveling
salesman, representing an Atlanta (Ga.) house. The elder son was graduated from
the high school of Fort Smith and became chief clerk to his father in the office
of the United States attorney. In November, 1916, he resigned his clerkship and
volunteered his services to his country. He served in the One Hundred and
Forty-second Field Artillery during the World war, being stationed at Camp
Beauregard and at Camp Logan H. Roots, receiving his discharge on the 29th of
November, 1918.

    Judge Bourland has always been a democrat in politics but not an aspirant
for office outside of the strict path of his profession. He is a member of the
Society of Applied Psychology of New York and is interested in many broad
scientific questions. His reading is comprehensive, he delves to the root of all
matters and by reason of his splendid mental development association with him
means expansion and elevation. Judge and Mrs. Bourland and their two daughters
are members of the First Methodist Episcopal church, South, of Fort Smith.

    Judge Bourland for some time has been preparing manuscript for a treatise
soon to go to press, The Science of the Christian Religion. His conception is
that fundamentally, pure truth nowhere incongruous, therefore to organize
scientific knowledge, so that the several separate sciences may fit their cogs
properly into the cogs of other wheels; and on in succession, until the entire
category be fitted out as a "set up" mechanism; that thus common ground of
agreement may assuredly be found; since, with the several parts assembled and
adjusted, all one has to do in proof of the efficiency of the mechanism as an
entirety, is to observe directions for engaging the Power, and then to turn it on.


Additional Comments:
Citation:
Centennial History of Arkansas
Volume II
Chicago-Little Rock: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
1922


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ar/sebastian/bios/bourland254bs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/arfiles/

File size: 6.4 Kb