James Bowen was born February 25, 1808, in New York, New York. Bowen was involved with the New York and Erie Railroad through his connection with James Watson Webb. He was elected a director of the company in 1839 and eventually became the President in 1841. Bowen was appointed Board of Police Commissioner by Governor John King in 1857. During the American Civil War, Bowen was appointed Brigade General of the volunteer regiments he had organized. After the war, Bowen was appointed a Commissioner of Charity and Correction of New York City. Bowen was a friend of William H. Seward and a pall bearer at his funeral in 1872. In 1842, Bowen married Eliza Livingston. Eliza died in 1872 and Bowen married Josephine Oothout in 1874. After Josephine's death, Bowen married Eliza's cousin, Athenia Livingston. Bowen died at his estate in Hastings-on-the-Hudson on September 29, 1886.