BORN VT, son of Ira Holden--Alvira Southard; he wed 19 Oct 1879 [PER Crawford Cnty WI]; PER FLOWER left by Nancy his first wife & children are mentioned
Due to her listing, I am including census & marriages from Crawford County, some fit the first family of James

CENSUS-----HOLDEN FAMILYS
1850 WI-Dane-Montrose-465: FAM-685: Ira 49-VT, Benj17, Cyntha 14, Sarah 12, Mary 8, Ellen 4
1860 WI-Dane-Primrose-812: FAM-201: Ira 59, Phibe 39, +Herington children: A 12. David 10, Henry 9, Francis 4, LillienJ 1
1870 WI-Dane-Primrose-514: FAM-141: Ira 70; Living with MartinC Webber 48 &fam: Cynthia 30, Berty10, Orel 9, Rufus 6, James 4, Hanna 2
1850 WI-Dane-Montrose-465: FAM-686: James 25-VT, Clarissa 22-VT, Geo 1mos-WI
1870 WI-Crawfrd-Haney-108: FAM-040: JamesJ 45, Clarissa 42, George 19, Clara 17, HenaraA 10(m), AbrahamB 6, Adelaid 4; land $1200; farmer

HOLDEN WED INDX
V2-1553 on 12 Mar 1880 Holden Clara & Bacon, Edward in Haney
V2-1038 on 24 Dec 1876 Holden, Lenora A & Campbell, Joseph W in Haney
V2-2381 on 17 Jan 1886 Holden, Sarah & Holden, John in Prairie du Chien
V3-0196 on 01 Apr 1891 Holden, Addilage F & Wood, George W in Haney
V4-2775 on 23 Jan 1907 Holden, Bessie J & Infield, William in Haney
V4-2564 on 11 Jul 1905 Holden, Nellie M & Wood, Guy C in Haney
V2-1549 on 07 Mar 1880 Holden, George H & Hamerly, Ann in Utica
V2-1469 on 19 Oct 1879 Holden, James H & Dowling, Mary - nee Taft in Haney
V3-2466 on 25 Dec 1905 Holden, James H & Alderman, Mamie in Bell Center

THANK YOU TO Nancy Duffy for parent info:
AT Familysearch.org (Vermont probate re-cords) enter Holden for Burlington you will see that Ira Holden had filed a probate for Alvira Holden that died in 1849; it names all her children. It says the father to James J Holden is Ira Holden & Alvinah/Alvira (Southard)
Nancy also sent a link to Ira Holden & Clarissa