James Honan (born in County Clare, Ireland) was a farmer, a businessman, a soldier who served in the 50th Indiana Infantry Regiment during the Civil War, and a saloon owner who is speculated to have had connections to the infamous Reno Gang.
[2][3] After completing his education at Shields High School, Honan began attending Hanover College.
[2][3] Honan, a Democrat, served three terms as the prosecuting attorney of Indiana's forty-second judicial district (comprising the counties of Jackson, Washington, and Orange).
[2][4][3][5][6][7] When his service as Attorney General concluded, Honan returned to Seymour and resumed practicing law there.
[3] Honan was a Catholic, an Elk, a member of Phi Delta Theta, and a trustee of Indiana University Bloomington.