James Russell Vineyard (January 16, 1801 – August 30, 1863) was an American Democratic politician and pioneer.
He served in the California State Senate and Assembly, and earlier was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, the legislature of the Wisconsin Territory and the 7th Michigan Territorial Council (the so-called "Rump Council").
He was infamous for shooting and killing fellow Wisconsin territorial legislator Charles C. P. Arndt on the floor of the legislature.
[1] On February 11, 1842, in the course of a heated debate over the appointment of a sheriff for Grant County, Vineyard clashed with Charles C. P. Arndt.
The State of California awarded them a twenty-year contract to maintain the turnpike and collect tolls.