James M. Rowan
Agency patch
Deputy U.S. Marshal

James M. Rowan

Felonious
End of Watch January 31, 1898
Age 33
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
The Vigil Panel 14 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Location: Alaska Weapon: Gun; Unknown type Offender: Aquitted

Deputy Marshal James Rowan was shot and killed while responding to a disturbance at a bar in Skagway in the Pacific Northwest Territory (modern-day Alaska).

A patron at the bar felt that he had been short-changed and reported the incident to Deputy Marshal Rowan, who accompanied him back to the bar. As the two entered the bar they were immediately fired upon by the other subject. Deputy Marshal Rowan and the patron both died from their wounds.

The man who shot both men was acquitted on grounds of self defense.

Deputy Marshal Rowan had served with the United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service for two years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and son, who was born one hour prior to Deputy Marshal Rowan's murder.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

128 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Rowan gave the United States Department of Justice 2 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usms.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 31, 1898
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Age 33
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type

The Sacrifice · Felonious

James is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1898, 89 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 69th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

James was 33. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. James had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun; unknown type, in 9.5% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service has at least 120 officers remembered here, James among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Deputy U.S. Marshal James M. Rowan

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service · End of Watch January 31, 1898

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 46-E

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