John E. Bousman is a practical and enterprising agriculturist, occupying one of the oldest farms of Miami county, the place having been settled about 1801 by John and Michael Williams, who came to Ohio from Greenbrier county, Virginia. Our subject was born in Elizabeth township, September 18, 1860, on the farm now owned by John Missigman, and is a son of William J. and Ann Rebecca (Beard) Bousrman. The father was born and reared on the same farm, but the mother's birth occurred at Enon, Clark county, Ohio. The paternal grandparents were Leonard and Elizabeth (Jackson) Bousman. The parents of our subject were married October 21, 1858, and when their son, John Elmer, was about nineteen years of age they removed to the farm upon which he now makes his home, and which had been under cultivation from the first year of the century. As stated, that became the home of John and Michael Williams. The latter left Greenbrier county, Virginia, with the intention of going to Indian Prairie, on the Stillwater, near Pleasant Hill. While en route he stopped at a fort in Staunton held by the ancestors of the Knoops, Carvers, Blues and Girards. In 1804 Henry Williams, brother of Michael, came from Greenbrier county and remained for a year on the farm with his brother John, after which he settled on Long Prairie, in Clark county, Ohio. John, however, lived and died on the old homestead now occupied by Mr. Bousman. William J. Bousman took possession of the place when it was in rather a dilapidated condition. The fields were not very productive, little attention having been paid to the rotation of crops, and the buildings were sadly in need of repair. His energetic efforts, however, soon wrought wonderful transformation, and he made it one of the valuable properties of the community. Here his death occurred April 14, 1892, and his wife passed away on the 12th of June, of the same year. In politics he was a Democrat, and was an early member of the Grange. His wife belonged to the Lutheran church. In their family were two children, J. Elmer and Margaret Elizabeth, the latter now the wife of Charles Fry, who is living near New Carlisle, Clark county.

John Elmer Bousman spent his boyhood days under the parental roof and early became familiar with the labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. Practical experience well qualified him for his present business career, and five years before his father's death he assumed the management of the home farm, which he has since operated successfully. In 1899 he tore down the old brick building which had been erected by the Williams brothers, and which was the first brick house in the county. He then erected a new and commodious residence in modern style of architecture, and it is one of the attractive homes of the community.

On the 18th of October, 1888, Mr. Bousman was united in marriage to Miss Mertie Roberts, daughter of G. W. and Diantha (Corbly) Roberts. She was born in Christiansburg, Ohio, where she lived until her marriage. She has a brother, F. C. Roberts, who is engaged in the undertaking business in Troy. Mr. and Mrs. Bousman have a daughter, Maud Ella, and they lost a son, who died in infancy. Mrs. Bousman is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Addison, and is highly esteemed by a large circle of friends. Mr. Bousman gives his political support to the Republican party, takes an active interest in its work, keeps well informed on the issues of the day and has often served as a delegate to its conventions. The cause of education finds in him a warm friend, and for four years he has been a member of the school board, doing effective service in its interests. He believes in procuring good teachers and in paying good prices. He has always advocated having a township superintendent, and his labors have been untiring for the promotion of the interests and welfare of schools. His entire life has been spent in this locality. He is widely known, and the fact that many of his friends are numbered among those who have known him from boyhood is an indication that his career has been an upright and worthy one.