When James Parris Merritt was born on 29 December 1844, in Missouri, United States, his father, George Merritt, was 33 and his mother, Elizabeth Scott, was 29. He married Mary Elizabeth Rohrer on 12 May 1870, in Nodaway, Missouri, United States. They were the parents of at least 6 sons and 6 daughters. He lived in Dallas Township, Harrison, Missouri, United States in 1880 and Center Township, Vanderburgh, Indiana, United States in 1900. He died on 6 April 1904, in Albany, Gentry, Missouri, United States, at the age of 59, and was buried in Albany, Gentry, Missouri, United States.