James Derrick was born August 25, 1860 in New Brunswick, Canada. He lived in Illinois and Nebraska with his parents until he came to Dakota in 1883. On February 2, 1900 he married Nellie O'Hara. They had three children. In Dakota he took up a claim.
In the 1890's he served as sheriff of Foster County for two terms.
He later became interested in real estate and had a real estate and loan business.
He died January 3, 1970. In 1910 Mrs. Derrick homesteaded in Alberta, Canada.
Source: A History of Foster County 1983 Page 21B