James H. Echols (born c. 1794) was a rope maker active in Lynchburg, Virginia, and Boone County, Missouri.

During the War of 1812, James H. Echols served as a private in Captain Walter Otey's Company in the 10th Regiment of Virginia Militia for 6 months. In recognition of his service in the conflict, his widow was granted 80 acres of land in Palmyra, Missouri in 1854.

On February 1, 1817, in Bedford County, VA, James married Rhoda Cundiff.

On October 20, 1836, James H. Echols, of Lynchburg, Virginia was granted US Patent No. 60 for

"... having invented a new and useful mode of pulling up hand-spun rope yarn spun at the ropewalk, of any size suitable for rope or twine on bobbins or spools as it is spun by means of an overhead track."

Following his move to Boone County, Missouri sometime between his 1836 patent application and the 1840 census, James H. Echols continued his trade of rope making.

His obituary appeared in the Lynchburg Virginian's January 27, 1851 issue:

"DIED - At his residence near Nashville, on the 25th of December, JAMES H. ECHOLS, in the 56th year of his age; after an illness of about 2 months."