David D. Gowan was born in 1840 in Bervie, Kincardineshire, Scotland to Alexander and Jane (Moir) Gowan(s). On the 1920 census he told the census taker that he was born on the Atlantic Ocean but at this time there is no evidence his parents ever left Scotland. In 1900, David was living with his sister Ann's son, David G. Goodfellow and his family on Natural Bridge Road in Gila County, Arizona. The well-known pioneer had been living alone in his cabin where he pursued his lifetime occupation of prospecting. David Gowan died in January 1926. When deputy sheriff Jim Kline on his regular two week's visit, couldn't locate Gowan at his little cabin, he looked around and secured the help of a posse, which found David's body in Deer Creek. The remains were buried just where they were found beside the creek. Today, the grave site is marked and preserved.
|