When John Ellis McCollam was born on 11 August 1885, in Barbour, West Virginia, United States, his father, James Robert McCollam, was 34 and his mother, Mary Jane Simmons, was 36. He married Ora Bess Teter on 15 August 1910, in Belington, Barbour, West Virginia, United States. They were the parents of at least 2 daughters. He lived in Belington, Barbour, West Virginia, United States in 1930 and Barker District, Barbour, West Virginia, United States in 1940. He died on 4 October 1950, in Randolph, West Virginia, United States, at the age of 65, and was buried in Belington, Barbour, West Virginia, United States.