When John Akers was born on 6 April 1878, in Wyoming, West Virginia, United States, his father, Luke Akers, was 38 and his mother, Susan Stanley, was 36. He married Mary Jane Stanley on 13 March 1908, in McDowell, West Virginia, United States. They were the parents of at least 1 son and 1 daughter. He lived in Barkers Ridge Magisterial District, Wyoming, West Virginia, United States in 1900. He died on 20 November 1956, in Welch, McDowell, West Virginia, United States, at the age of 78, and was buried in West Virginia, United States.