James E. was born in November 1884 in WV. James E.'s father was Ahas A. Hix Jr and his mother was Mary A Jordan. His paternal grandparents were Ahas Hix Sr and Rebecca Latheman. He had three brothers and a sister, named William, Benjamin F, Oscar Lee and Annie. He was the second youngest of the five children. He died at the age of 21 on December 30th, 1905.