James Harding Southard (January 20, 1851 – February 20, 1919) was an American lawyer and politician who served six terms as a U.S. Representative from Ohio from 1895 to 1907.

Southard was born near Toledo, Ohio, in Washington Township, Lucas County, Ohio, Southard attended the public schools and was graduated from Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, in 1874.

After studying law, he was admitted to the bar in 1877 and commenced practice in Toledo, Ohio.

He served as chairman of the Committee on Coinage, Weights, and Measures (Fifty-sixth through Fifty-ninth Congresses).

This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress