James Gowans was born in Tooele, Utah Territory, on 21 November 1860 to Hugh S. Gowans and Betsy Gowans. He married Alice DeLaMare in 1885. He was a lumber yard manager and postmaster; he served two terms on the Tooele City Council and one term as city marshal. He died on 15 February 1930 in Tooele.[1]