When James Earl Arant was born on 10 February 1880, in Elmore, Alabama, United States, his father, William Burdett Arant, was 44 and his mother, Amanda Ann O'Neal, was 35. He married Cora Elizabeth Thompson on 20 December 1903, in Elmore, Alabama, United States. They were the parents of at least 3 sons and 1 daughter. He lived in Buyck, Elmore, Alabama, United States in 1920 and Election Precinct 7 Buyck, Elmore, Alabama, United States for about 10 years. He died on 15 August 1961, in Titus, Elmore, Alabama, United States, at the age of 81, and was buried in Titus, Elmore, Alabama, United States.