Eldest son of Thomas McCreath and Elizabeth Dunlop, James Ferguson McCreath graduated from Glasgow University and became Minister of Mertoun Parish near Kelso. He married Marjorie Dennistoun Riach in Edinburgh in 1917. James served in the Army in World War 1. At Mertoun, he was Parish Minister to Earl Haig. They corresponded throughout the war. On retiral he settled at Whithorn, where he died (age 74) on 26 March 1958. He was predeceased by Marjorie.