When Mary Elliott was born on 23 January 1886, in Darling, Lanark, Ontario, Canada, her father, William Elliott, was 40 and her mother, Catherine Matthie, was 28. She married John J James on 25 December 1901, in Poland, Lanark Highlands, Lanark, Ontario, Canada. They were the parents of at least 2 sons and 4 daughters. She lived in Lanark, Ontario, Canada for about 10 years. She died on 7 March 1964, in Hinton, Yellowhead County, Alberta, Canada, at the age of 78, and was buried in Division No. 14, Alberta, Canada.