James Sloan Kuykendall

Honorable James Sloan Kuykendall
Portrait of James Sloan Kuykendall, c. 1907.
Member of the West Virginia House of Delegates from the Hampshire County district
In office 1907–1908
Preceded by	Garnett Kerr Kump
Succeeded by	Henry Bell Gilkeson
In office 1919–1920
Preceded by	William Warfield Carder
Succeeded by	Joshua Soule Zimmerman
Personal details
Born	(1878-12-09)December 9, 1878 Springfield Magisterial District, Hampshire County, West Virginia, United States
Died	February 28, 1928(1928-02-28) (aged 49)
Resting place	Indian Mound Cemetery, Romney, West Virginia, United States
Political party	Democratic Party
Spouse(s)	Bertha Ray Williams
Relations	William Kuykendall (father) Hannah Pierce Sloan Kuykendall (mother)
Children	Alma Elizabeth Kuykendall Sheehan James Sloan Kuykendall, Jr. Mary Kay Kuykendall Armstrong
Residence	Romney, West Virginia
Alma mater	Hampden–Sydney College Washington and Lee University Cumberland School of Law University of North Carolina School of Law
Profession	farmer, criminal defense lawyer, politician
Religion	Presbyterian

James Sloan Kuykendall (December 9, 1878 – February 28, 1928) was an American farmer, lawyer, and Democratic politician in the U.S. state of West Virginia. Kuykendall was twice elected as a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates representing Hampshire County (1907–1908 and 1919–1920). Kuykendall also served three terms as the mayor of Romney and later fulfilled the position of city attorney.

Kuykendall was born in 1878 in Hampshire County, West Virginia, into one of the oldest families in the county, which was of Dutch descent. He was raised on his family's farm, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits. Kuykendall was educated in Hampshire County's rural public schools and subsequently completed his post-secondary education at Hampden–Sydney College and Washington and Lee University. In 1901, he graduated from the Cumberland School of Law, then completed a course in jurisprudence at the University of North Carolina School of Law.

Kuykendall first practiced law in Greensboro, North Carolina, before establishing a law practice in Romney, West Virginia. He was elected to represent Hampshire County in the West Virginia House of Delegates for one term in 1906 and another term in 1918, each consisting of two years. He was the mayor of Romney for three terms, and in 1922 he served as Romney's city attorney. Kuykendall was elected to three terms as a member of the Hampshire County Board of Education; he also served as a Chancery Commissioner for the county. During World War I, Kuykendall was a member of the Legal Advisory Board of Hampshire County; he also participated in Liberty bond drives and directed sales to raise American Red Cross funds. Kuykendall was engaged in the management of a commercial peach orchard near Romney known as Sherman Orchard. He died in 1928 and was interred at Indian Mound Cemetery in Romney.