James, the fourth of six children born to John Safley and his second wife, Agnes Hunter Safley, was born on October 24, 1812 in Dalhousie (Midlothian) Scotland.

James came from Scotland to the U.S. in 1835 at the age of 22 1/2. He traveled with his first cousin Andrew Safley and Andrew's widowed mother, Isabella Gilmour/Gilmore Safley. They arrived in New York City on April 14, 1835. James and Andrew then visited the Tait residence in Trumbull, Connecticut.

James went to LaGrange County, Indiana in April, 1835 to join his brother John and settled in Greenfield Township, southeast of the village of Brighton in an area called English Prairie. However, James was plagued by illness and returned east in 1836 to recover his health. James's cousin, John Safley, wrote from Cohoes, New York asking James to come and help him in his blacksmith trade. James moved to Cohoes (Albany County) New York where he worked in a blacksmith shop with his cousin, John Safley. James married his first cousin, Janet Safley, on January 6, 1837 in Cohoes (Albany County) New York.

James and Janet are listed among the founding members of the Dutch Reformed Church of Cohoes (Albany County) New York. This church and the Presbyterian faith in which James was raised in Scotland were similar having their roots in the teachings of the Protestant reformer, John Calvin. James was an ardent Covenanter. Covenanters were Scottish Presbyterians who bound themselves by solemn oaths or covenants to maintain the faith. He insisted on strict observance of the Sabbath. No one could come to or leave the farm on Sunday. A guest would have to come on Saturday and leave on Monday. On Sunday afternoons, James read his Bible or other religious literature.

James and Janet remained in New York until 1840 when they and small sons John and Robert made the trip west to Iowa. They first settled in Linn County north of Mount Vernon where they lived near Andrew Safley until the spring of 1843. Linn Grove Presbyterian Church records show that James and Janet were received as members on January 3, 1841. In 1843, they moved to Cedar County, Iowa. James bought 240 acres of land from the United States government in six 40-acre parcels. He also purchased land from private individuals. Between 1844 and 1879 James made 18 land purchases totaling at least 1,100 acres, mainly in Red Oak and Center Townships of Cedar County.

James and Janet had four (perhaps five) children. The birth of Janet, a daughter, has yet to be verified. Janet died on March 8, 1847 at age 42.

On July 26, 1848, James, then 35 years old, married a 28-year-old widow, Sally Eliza (Tryon) Peet. Her brother, Dr. Socrates Tryon, had married James's sister Frances. At the time of their marriage, James and Eliza had an "instant" family of five boys, ages about 2 to almost 11. James gained two stepsons -- Wilbur Peet going on 5, and Marlin Peet, about 2. Sally acquired three stepsons -- John G. Safley, going on 11, Robert L. Safley, almost 9, and Socrates Tryon Safley, named for Sally's brother, 6. Besides this instant family, James and Eliza had four children of their own.

For the 1850 federal census of Cedar County, Iowa, enumerated in September of that year, James and Sally Eliza were living in Linn Township. James, a farmer, was then 36 and had an estate worth $3000 at that time. Living with them were James's children from his first marriage to his first cousin, Janet [John (12), Robert (11), and Socrates (7)], Sally's children from her first marriage to Daniel Peet [Wilber (6) and Dennis M(arlin) (4)], and James and Sally's first child together, Mary E. Safley, who was just a year old at that time.

Sally died on July 25, 1859 at age 39 1/2. The cause of death is not known, but based on two old letters, she was apparently ill for some time.

For the 1860 federal census enumerated in July of that year, James was listed in Red Oak Township (Cedar County) Iowa. He was then a 47-year-old widowed farmer. The record verified that he had been born in Scotland. Living with him were sons Robert (20) and Socrates (17) from his first marriage, Hulda (9), George (6), and Laura (4) from his second marriage, and Wilber (17) and Marlin (14) Peet, from his wife Sally's first marriage. Also living in the home was Margaret Ritchie, a 22-year-old housekeeper who James would marry later that same year.

In that same year (1860), James was listed in the U.S. Federal Census Non-Population Schedule which recorded information about landowners. In that record it noted that James owned 320 improved acres of land, 380 unimproved acres with a cash value of $12,000 and with $600 worth of farm implements. He then had 14 horses, 20 milk cows, 30 working oxen, 60 swine, and 26 other cattle, said livestock worth $2,400. He then had 1800 bushels of wheat, 3000 bushels of Indian corn, 500 bushels of oats, and 75 pounds of wool.

In September, 1860, about 14 months after the death of Sally, James married again. He was nearly 48; his bride, Margaret Ritchie, was 22. Together they eventually had 8 children.

For the 1870 federal census enumerated in June of that year, James was listed in Red Oak Township (Cedar County) Iowa. He was then a 57-year-old farmer with real estate worth $16,000 and personal property valued at $6700. The record verified that he had been born in Scotland. Living with him was his third wife Margaret. Six of his children were also still living at home: Huldah (18) and Laura (14) from his marriage to Sally Eliza, Clarence (7), Nellie (5), Arthur (3), and Effie (1), children from his marriage to Margaret, and three unrelated farm laborers.

In all, James had sixteen (perhaps seventeen) children: four (perhaps five) with Janet, four with Sally Eliza, and eight with Margaret.

Family tradition handed down is that James attended a farm sale in December, 1879, wearing only a lightweight topcoat because he considered his winter coat not good enough to be seen in public. He contracted pneumonia which was the cause of his death. James died at the age of 67 years, 2 months, and 16 days on January 9, 1880. Eleven hours before his death, his third wife, Margaret Ritchie Safley, gave birth to their youngest child, a daughter who was named Margaret James for her parents. James was survived by his wife Margaret and nine children. He was buried in the Red Oak Grove Cemetery in rural Tipton (Cedar County) Iowa.