Private John J. Cowan was born at Pike County, Georgia on March 19th, 1821. He came to Florida in October, 1842.

He enlisted in Davidson’s Company on May 14th, 1862 at Rico’s Bluff, Liberty County, Florida. He was present with the company from his enlistment until October 28th, 1862 when he was reported sick in the hospital at Knoxville, Tennessee. He returned to the company prior November 12th, 1862. He was reported to been on guard duty at Knoxville, Tennessee on August 16th-17th, and again on August 22nd-23rd, 1863. He was wounded in the left leg at the Battle of Chickamauga, Georgia on September 22nd, 1863. On October 15th, 1863 he was granted a furlough of 60 days at Forsythe, Georgia. He was absent sick in a hospital at Tallahassee, Florida from December 19th, 1863 until sometime after February 23rd, 1864. He did rejoin the company; he was with what remained of the Florida Brigade when it surrendered at Durham Station, North Carolina on April 26, 1865 and was paroled at Greensboro, North Carolina on May 1st, 1865.

He married Sarah Colvin on October 9th, 1878 at Gadsden County, Florida. Private Cowan applied for and was awarded a Florida Confederate Pension.

He died on February 22nd, 1912 at Manatee County, Florida. He was interred at the expense of Manatee County; his interment location is unknown.

John J Cowan