James Sloan Kuykendall (December 9, 1878 – February 12, 1928) was an American farmer, lawyer, and Democratic politician in the U.S. state of West Virginia.

Kuykendall was twice elected as a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates representing Hampshire County (1907–1908 and 1919–1920).

During World War I, Kuykendall was a member of the Legal Advisory Board of Hampshire County; he also participated in Liberty bond drives and directed sales to raise American Red Cross funds.

James Sloan Kuykendall was born on December 9, 1878, in the Springfield Magisterial District of Hampshire County, West Virginia.

[4][6] Kuykendall argued his first case before the Hampshire County Circuit Court in defense of a Mr. Miller, who had been charged with petit larceny.

[6] According to historian James Morton Callahan, Kuykendall "adhered to his rule to take part only on the side of the defense, and he has a merited reputation or skill and ability in that particular field.

[6] As an attorney for the Hampshire Southern Railroad Company in 1907, Kuykendall worked to acquire the right-of-way for the 38-mile (61 km) rail line through the South Branch Potomac River valley between the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) South Branch line at Romney and Petersburg.

[6] He also served in a county-wide position alongside Robert White and Joshua Soule Zimmerman as a Commissioner in Chancery for the Hampshire County Circuit Court.

[6] He also participated in Liberty bond drives and directed sales to raise funds for the American Red Cross.

[6][20] Kuykendall was also elected as the chairperson of the Executive Committee of West Virginia's 2nd congressional district in 1914 and served for one term.

[6][20] He was also both a delegate and chairperson of the West Virginia Democratic Party's Congressional Convention that nominated William Gay Brown, Jr., as a candidate for the United States House of Representatives.

[24] In 1907, Kuykendall's orchard produced Carman, Champion, Elberta, Salways, Bilyeu, and Heath Cling peach varieties, totaling 5,800 baskets in all.

[26] On 10 February 1928, he suffered a stroke and paralysis in a courtroom of the Winchester courthouse after the delivery of his closing argument in a circuit court criminal case.

[27] On 14 February, Kuykendall's funeral service was held at his Romney residence and it was officiated by the Reverend H. B. Wheeler, presiding elder of the Moorefield District of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.