James Gideon, son of James Isham Gideon and Martha "Patty" Mills, was born 21 Aug 1793 in Wilkes Co, NC. He died before 1850 in Pope Co, Arkansas. He was married sometime before 1816 to Susan (unknown). She was born in GA in 1800 and was a widow living in Pope Co, Arkansas in 1850.

James served in the War of 1812 with his brothers, Edward and William. They were in the battle of New Orleans with Andrew Jackson. The war records in Wash DC show that James Gideon(Gidden) of Hawkins Co, TN enlisted 10 Dec 1812 for one year, and re-enlisted in Dec 1813 as a private in Capt Benjamin Hewitt's Co. commanded by Col. Johnson, then joined Capt Isaiah Renshaw's Co of East Tenn. Volunteers, later Capt Powell's Co. The application for back pay states: "On May 10 1815, James Giddens, Pvt in Capt Powell's Co, appointed Nicholas Fain to collect such sums due me for the last tour of duty." The pay was $8.00 per month.