When James Newton Lancaster was born on 15 October 1858, in Scotland, Missouri, United States, his father, Reuben Lancaster, was 42 and his mother, Martha Hook, was 35. He married Mary A. Gundy on 6 January 1881, in Scotland, Jasper, Missouri, United States. They were the parents of at least 1 daughter. He lived in Jefferson Township, Scotland, Missouri, United States in 1910 and Union Township, Scotland, Missouri, United States in 1920. He died on 25 October 1950, in Kirksville, Adair, Missouri, United States, at the age of 92, and was buried in Friendship Cemetery, Vest Township, Scotland, Missouri, United States.