James V. Echols was born in Marshall County Alabama.  His father was William T. Echols and his mother was Susannah Fulks. His parents didn't own any slaves or servants.  His father was a shoemaker and a farmer while his mother did house work. They owned about 50 acres of land.  Growing up, James helped farm and drive a team and similar work to this. While he was young he lived in a 2-room log house.  The school that James attended was a private subscription school about 2 miles away from his home.
     James joined with the Confederacy in February of 1863 at Shelbyville, TN.  His first unit was the 50th
Alabama Volunteer Infantry; he would eventually join the 25th Alabama Cavalry.  He stayed in Shelbyville until Spring when the Army started to retreat to Chattanooga.  James was enlisted 7 months before he was in a battle.  He was at Missionary Ridge during the battle of Chattanooga.  After the retreat his unit was in winter quarters at Dalton, Georgia.  James participated in the battles around Atlanta.  He surrendered at Huntsville, Alabama on May 11, 1865.
    After the war he settled in Pelham valley at the headwaters of the Elk River.  James continued to farm and blacksmith for a living.  He was a member of the Methodist Church South.  James V. Echols died on November 28, 1923.
He is buried at the Old Baptist Cemetery.