James Troutman was born in Fulton County, Indiana.
Afterwards he studied law and after his admission to the bar he began to practice as an attorney.
He joined the Republican Party and in 1893 he was elected to the Kansas Legislature.
In 1894 Troutman was elected to the office of the Lieutenant Governor of Kansas.
Later he was a four term mayor of the no longer existing village Potwin Place in Shawnee County, Kansas.