James Clement was one of seven children born to William H. Davis and Mary Francis (Petty) Davis. He married Sarah Callie Knox on November 20, 1887, in Johnson County, Texas. They had seven children (J.H., born October 29, 1888; George W., born August 12, 1893; William C., born September 06, 1895; Mary, born November 21, 1897; Anna Ophelia, born March 21, 1899; Sallie Mae, born August 10, 1905; and Clarence Lee, born February 06, 1907.)