James was the son of Thomas and Mary (Curran) McNamee, of Inniskillen, Fennimaugh County, Ireland, who immigrated to Quebec, 1830, removed to New York City, thence to Dahlonega, Georgia, about 1833, and to Lafayette, Alabama, about 1843. His education was obtained in the log-house schools of Opelika and Lafayette and his business training was acquired in commercial pursuits. He was a jeweler, as listed in the 1860 census, until about 1870, when he was made president of the Bank of Opelika. He was a private in Co. I, 37th Alabama infantry regiment, C. S. Army. He was a democrat; Mason; Knight of Honor; and a Methodist.²