John was born in Scotland and came to the US with his parents at the age of 1. He helped his father and brother farm. About 1918 he bought the McCormick Deering Agency in Ayrshire. He also sold Chevrolet, Reno, etc., cars. He kept this for only a short time and then went back to farming. He lived with his mother until she died in 1925. In later years he was a carpenter. He never married.