When James Henry Kelley was born on 23 October 1872, in Lawrence, Ohio, United States, his father, Josephus S Kelley, was 26 and his mother, Margaret J Norris, was 22. He married Lillie Carolyn Jones on 12 October 1896, in Shannon, Missouri, United States. They were the parents of at least 2 sons and 4 daughters. He lived in Eminence, Shannon, Missouri, United States in 1910 and Orchard Mesa, Mesa, Colorado, United States for about 10 years. He died on 25 January 1963, in Grand Junction, Mesa, Colorado, United States, at the age of 90, and was buried in Grand Junction, Mesa, Colorado, United States.