The brothers were the sons of Amanda and John Wesley Magowan along with two sisters, Susan and Emily and brother James. Born John Wesley Brooks, their father was born a slave in 1842 in Montgomery County, Kentucky on the Magowan Farm. In 1864, Brooks and seven others traveled to Louisville, Kentucky and joined the 109th Regiment Company A of the United States Colored Infantry to fight in the Civil War. Brooks later returned to Montgomery County, Kentucky where he adopted the Magowan last name. Later after marrying Amanda, Noah Magowan was born on October 26, 1868 in Mt. Sterling, Kentucky. A few years later, John D. Magowan was born in Montgomery, Kentucky on April 26, 1877.
The children received their education at the Academy at Berea.
Noah later became a teacher in early 1887 and eventually became a teacher at the Colored Western School in Paris, Kentucky in 1890. The State Central Committee elected him as a member in 1892. The committee was formed to defeat the Separate Coach Bill in Kentucky.
John became a member and officer of the Colored Knights of Pythias in Mt. Sterling, Kentucky.