James H. Fair was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, in 1853, son of Thomas and Mary Ann Fair, natives of Ireland, and descendants of Scotch ancestry. At the age of 20, he came to America. He settled in Delaware County, Iowa, in 1873.
In 1877, Mr. Fair was united in marriage to Miss Lindsay, a native of Ireland, who came to America that same year. Her parents, James and Sarah (Irwin) Lindsay, remained in Ireland.
For 3 years they lived in Section 18 of Silver Creek Township, Ida County, Ia., and then moved to Section 32 and opened up a farm. This part of the County was a wild stretch of prairie, without a tree or fence, and wolves and deer abounded in great numbers upon it.
Mr. and Mrs. Fair had eight children: Thomas, Edward, Sarah Ann, Lillie Jane, Margaret Maud, James Graham, William Andrew, and Martha Theresse.