Heritage \ Writings \

Edward F. Bousfield (1849-?)
Former President of Bousfield & Co., Bay City, MI.

Biography 1892: (Added Jan. 2009)

History of Minneapolis, Gateway to the Northwest; Chicago-Minneapolis, 1923

EDWARD F. BOUSFIELD.
__________

Edward F. Bousfield, president of the Bousfield Woodenware Company, was born in Kirtland, Lake county, Ohio, on the 4th cf September, 1849, a son of John and Sarah (Featherstone) Bousfield, natives of England. They came to the United States about 1835 and located in Ohio. Later they moved to Cleveland and the father was engaged in the woodenware business there until his death in 1888. Mrs. Bousfield died in 1890. To their union four sons and two daughters were born, Edward F. being the third in order of birth. In the acquirement of his early education Edward F. Bousfield attended the public schools of Cleveland and subsequently enrolled in Oberlin College. On the 1st of January, 1867, he started in business with his father in the firm of Bousfield & Poole, and learned the woodenware business from the ground up. In 1875 he determined to engage in the business on his own account and subsequently moved to Bay City, Michigan, where he established the enterprise known as Bousfield & Company. Later that business was incorporated and he was active as president until 1888, when he disposed of his interests. In the spring of 1890 he came to Minneapolis and established the Bousfield Woodenware Company, which he incorporated on the 30th of December, 1903. He is president of this concern and his son, Louis, is secretary. For some time his son, Fayette, was associated with him as secretary, but he resigned his position in 1909 to go west. The Bousfield Woodenware Company was one of the first to manufacture tubs and pails, etc. The company now confines itself to manufacturing packages for food containers. In 1909 Mr. Bousfield established the General Package Manufacturing Company in Aberdeen, Washington, of which he was president up to January 1, 1923, when he was made chairman of the board, and his son became president. Mr. Bousfield has been twice married. In 1872 in Cleveland, Ohio, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Bousfield and Miss Delia B. Weed, a daughter of John H. Weed, a member of one of the old and honored families of Ohio. Mrs. Bousfield died in 1919. On June 3, 1922, Mr. Bousfield married Miss Ann Wise of Minneapolis. To the first union three children were born: Fayette, who married Miss Hannah Dunwoody and who is now living in Aberdeen, Washington; Louis, who married Miss Helen McDougall of Chicago; and Gladys, who resides with her father.

Mr. Bousfield has always given his political allegiance to the republican party and the principles for which it stands He has never been particularly active in party affairs, neither seeking nor desiring political preferment, but he is conversant with all important questions and issues of the day. His religious faith is manifest in his membership in Westminster Presbyterian church, to the support of which he is a generous contributor. Mr. Bousfield is a prominent member of the Minneapolis Civic & Commerce Association and of the Manufacturers Club. Socially he is identified with the Minneapolis Athletic, Minneapolis Automobile and Minneapolis clubs. Mr. Bousfield belongs to that class of representative American citizens who promote the general prosperity, while advancing individual interests. His hobby is traveling.