James Cowan

James Cowan, a farmer from Cramilt, in the Lowlands of Scotland, settled in Waterloo Township in August 1834, and became one of the County’s most distinguished agricultural authorities. From the 1860s to the 1880s his farm “Clochmhor” was well-known for its sales of purebred Leicester sheep and Shorthorn cattle.

Cowan was the first vice-president of the Agricultural Society of Waterloo County when it was founded in 1853 and was the first president when it became the South Waterloo Agricultural Society.

He was a representative of Waterloo Township on the District Council of Wellington from 1842-1849.

In 1853 he bought an interest in Lutz, Cook and Company, of Galt, manufacturers of woodworking machinery, which eventually became Cowan and Company in 1879.

Cowan served as a Reform member of Parliament for South Waterloo from 1861 to 1867 and was a member of the Federal Board of Official Arbitrators from 1869 to 1888.