Biography of James E. Gowan M.D.  Massac County, Illinois

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This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by:
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Source: "The Biographical Review of Johnson, Massac, Pope & Hardin
Counties, Illinois" Published in 1893 

Page 362 & 363 


JAMES E. GOWAN, M. D., was born in Madison County, Tenn., October 31, 1836.
His father, William Granville Gowan, was born in South Carolina, and his 
father, William Gowan, was a native of Edinburgh, Scotland. William and his 
brother John were the only children of this family that came to America, and
they both settled in South Carolina. William Gowan learned the trade of
Hatter in his native land, and it was soon after finishing his 
apprenticeship that he came to this country. He followed his trade in South
Carolina some years, and then joined a colony, emigrated with it to Madison
County, Tenn., and became one of the pioneer settlers there. He bought a 
tract of timber and prairie laud, and erected a block house as a protection
against the Indians, of whom there were plenty in those days. The nearest
mill and depot of supplies was seventy-five miles away, but there was a 
millwright with the colony, and as soon as possible Mr. Gowan erected a mill,
getting the stone from the quarry and the timber from the woods, which when
completed was operated by oxen. William Gowan cleared his farm and resided
upon it until his death, which occurred when he was of the great age of one
hundred and fifteen years, three months and six days.
The maiden name of his wife was Judith Adkisson. She was born in Scotland
and came to this country with her parents, who settled near Charleston, S.C.
She died on the home farm in Madison County,Tenn.,at the age of ninety-seven
years.

William Granville Gowan was reared in South Carolina and went with his parents
to Tennessee, where he inherited a large tract of land and added to it by 
purchase. Before the war he operated this farm with slave labor, raising and
dealing in cotton, and he still resides on the same farm, aged ninety-two 
years, and is a hale and hearty old man. The maiden name of his wife was
Eveline Wood. She was born in South Carolina, and was the daughter of John 
and Sophia Wood, natives also of South Carolina and of Scotch-Irish ancestry.
She is now in her eighty-first year,and has been the mother of seven children,
viz: James E., F. Marcellus, George, Luther, Mary E., Martha J. and Eva. 

James E. Gowan received his early education in the subscription schools, and
afterward attended Jackson Academy, at Jackson, Tenn. In 1847 he entered
McKendree (Tennessee) College, and graduated in the Class of '49, after which
he began the study of medicine with Dr. Branick, of Jackson, Tenn. In 1860 he
graduated from the Ohio Medical College, at Cincinnati, Ohio, and commenced
practicing medicine at Metropolis, Illinois. On March 6, 1862, he enlisted as
a private soldier in Company B, Fourteenth Indiana Infantry, and served two
years, being honorably discharged in May, 1864. In 1866 he graduated from the 
Rush Medical College, at Chicago, and then resumed the practice of medicine 
in Massac County, after which he located on his farm, which he purchased
nine miles from Metropolis, and superintended, at the same time practicing
medicine in the country until 1880. At this time he removed lo Metropolis
and opened a drug store, continuing in business until 1892, when he again 
followed his profession, and has so continued up to the present time. 

Our subject was married in 1863 to Harriet Yates, who was born in Ohio, and
is the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Wallbright) Yates. To this marriage 
there have been born the following children: Eveline E., John G., Annie,
Minnonetta, James E.Jr., and Charles G. Dr. Gowan has been a member of the
Southern Illinois Medical Association from its organization, and is also a
member of Gethsemane Commandery No. 41, K. T., of Massac Lodge No. 442, 
I. O. O. F., and of Egyptian Encampment. He has served as Steward of the
Eighth Regimentl Illinois National Guards.
 
It should be stated in closing this brief memoir, that the name of the
ancestors of Dr.Gowan was McGowen,and that the grandfather of the Doctor and
his brother had the name changed by act of the South Carolina Legislature.

Our subject is a man of great intellect, is honest to a fault, and 
has a wide reputation as being a reliable and sympathetic physician.