J. N. Holsonback
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Deputy U.S. Marshal

J. N. Holsonback

Felonious
End of Watch January 11, 1902
Age 55
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Marshal J.N. Holsonback was shot and killed by ambush after he and his son had arrested a man for operating an illegal distillery near Boaz, Alabama. As they returned to the jail, they were ambushed along the road and shot. Deputy Marshal Holsonback was killed instantly, and his son was wounded. The suspect was arrested and charged with the shooting. On October 28, 1905, he was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 10 years in prison.

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Holsonback served with the United States Department of Justice.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy U.S. Marshal Holsonback.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usms.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 11, 1902
Age 55
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Shotgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

J. is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1902, 104 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 49th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

J. was 55. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 7% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service has at least 120 officers remembered here, J. among them.

Across the years

Deputy U.S. Marshal J. N. Holsonback

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service · End of Watch January 11, 1902

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 48-W

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