When James Thornton Hull was born in 1842, in Hampshire, Virginia, United States, his father, Stephen Hull, was 53 and his mother, Catharine Utta, was 42. He married Mary E Sutton on 25 January 1866, in DeWitt, Illinois, United States. They were the parents of at least 3 sons and 4 daughters. He lived in Western District, Scott, Virginia, United States in 1860 and De Witt, DeWitt, Illinois, United States in 1870. He registered for military service in 1865. In 1904, at the age of 62, his occupation is listed as retired in Estherville, Emmet, Iowa, United States. He died on 16 April 1905, in Estherville, Emmet, Iowa, United States, at the age of 63, and was buried in Saybrook, McLean, Illinois, United States.