When James Hoskins was born on 29 August 1861, in Spring Creek, Clay, Kentucky, United States, his father, William Keller Hoskins, was 31 and his mother, Mary Polly Roberts, was 33. He married Sylvania Bowling on 9 September 1884, in Clay, Kentucky, United States. They were the parents of at least 6 sons and 7 daughters. He lived in Madison, Arkansas, United States in 1920 and Boston Township, Newton, Arkansas, United States in 1930. He died on 17 July 1948, in Witter, Madison, Arkansas, United States, at the age of 86, and was buried in Captain Smiths Cemetery, Witter, Madison, Arkansas, United States.