James Bruce Bourgett, of Augusta, Kans., has been identified with newspaper work in southern Kansas for a number of years. Mr. Bourgett is a native of Indiana, born in Bartholomew county, in 1865. He is a son of Jacob B. and Anna M. (Thomas) Bourgett, natives of Ohio. Jacob B. Bourgett was left an orphan at an early age, his parents both dying of cholera at Cincinnati, Ohio, in the forties. Jacob was reared by an aunt, Anna Schive, who brought him to Indiana, where he grew to manhood and died in 1870. James Bruce Bourgett was one of a family of three children, as follows: Ella R. Dougherty, Hollywood, Cal.; Ida, died at Greenfield, Ind., at the age of nine, and James B., whose name introduces this sketch.

James B. Bourgett received his education in the public schools of Greenfield, Ind., where in early life he acquired an ambition for newspaper work. He served an apprenticeship at the printer's trade on the "Hartford City News," his uncle, John M. Ruckman, being the publisher of that paper. In 1887, Mr. Bourgett came to Kansas, locating at Wichita, where he was employed by the Wichita "Eagle" and other papers, and later accepted a position in the Wichita postoffice as mailing clerk. Later, he came to Augusta, and for several years, was local editor of the Augusta "Gazette."

Mr. Bourgett was married October 14, 1896, to Miss Mayme Lee Guthrie, a daughter of John W. Guthrie, a sketch of whom appears in this volume. Mrs. Bourgett died in 1906. To Mr. and Mrs. Bourgett were born three children, as follows: Ernestine, resides at home at Augusta, and is a student in the high school; Ruth Hope, died in infancy, and John, attending the graded school.

Mr. Bourgett is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Modern Woodmen of America and Anti-Horse Thief Association.

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