James P. Hollis is a son of William and Sarah (Moore) Hollis, who were born in Tennessee in 1802 and 1809 respectively. The father was a farmer in Wayne County in 1804. His wife, who bore him four children, died in 1834, and he then wedded Sarah Kilburn, who was born in 1814, and who became the mother of five children. She died in 1854, and his third wife Jane Yaw, bore him five children. He lived in Wayne County until his death in 1875. His father, James Hollis, was was born in 1759, and married his second wife, Sarah Choete, in 1794, she being born in 1772. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and was a prosperous farmer of Wayne County. He died in 1844. Our subject, James P., lived with his father until 1853, when he married Sarah R. Dixon, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Boyd) Dixon. She was born in 1835, and is the mother of fourteen children: John D., Sarah E., (who died in 1856), William P. (who died in 1859), Mary M., Martha F., Nancy P., Joseph B., Columbus F., James M., Ada R., Fountain J., Arthur T., and one infant deceased, not named. Mr. Hollis has a good farm of 170 acres, on which he raises principally corn. he has held the office of deputy sheriff, constable, and in 1870 was elected justice of the peace, and yet holds the office. He is a Mason and Republican, and he and Mrs. Hollis are members of the Baptist Church.