James Holman was born August 27, 1844, in Johnson County, Tennessee, the son of Asa Holman and Myra Bowman. Like many men of his generation, his early adulthood was shaped by the Civil War. He served in Company G of the 12th Tennessee Cavalry, a Union regiment, where he endured the strain and uncertainty of wartime service. Though his record reflects periods of absence, he returned and was ultimately restored, a reminder of the difficult realities many soldiers faced during those years.
After the war, James made his way into the hills of eastern Kentucky, settling in Powell County near Bowen. There he built a life not with grand titles, but with steady hands. He worked as a blacksmith and carpenter—trades that were essential to everyday life— shaping iron, repairing tools, and crafting what his neighbors needed. One account remembered a spring wagon he built in 1879, still spoken of years later, a quiet testament to the quality of his work. “He was known to enjoy sharing stories of his wartime experiences…”
James was married three times—first to Rachel Fraley, with whom he had nine children, then to Bettie Willis, and later to Pattie Cecil, who survived him. Over the years, he became a well-known and respected figure in his community. He was a longtime member of Filson Lodge No. 686, F. & A.M., remaining part of the brotherhood for fifty years. Those who knew him remembered him as an honest and upright man, one who carried himself with quiet dignity and took pride in both his work and his word.
In his later years, James lived at Bowen in Powell County, Kentucky, where he passed away on March 29, 1924, after a period of declining health. He was laid to rest at Frazier Cemetery with Masonic honors, closing out a life that had spanned from the hardships of war to the steady rebuilding of home and community.
He now rests at Frazier Cemetery in Powell County, Kentucky .
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