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The 1891 census shows the family at Burnside of Mulloch and young James at nine years of age still with the name James Mckinnon, described as a boarder and a scholar.

In 1892 Mr. Coutts apparently died as a result of a horse and carriage accident. Mrs Coutts died a few years later leaving young James to be raised by their daughter Lizzie, who was in her late 20's at the time.

The 1901 census shows a 34 year old Elizabeth living in Cannongate, Edinburgh with the 19 year old brother James M Coutts whose occupation is shown as commercial traveller.

He immigrated to Montreal in 1903, at the age of 21, and later moved to Hamilton where he secured employment in the wholesale grocery business . In the spring of 1904 he moved to Winnipeg and became associated with Campbell Bros. & Wilson wholesale grocers as a junior clerk. He rose to the position of secretary-treasurer of the company in the early 1930's and remained with the firm  for a total of 42 years.

On October 2, 1906 he married Kate Maria Course in Winnipeg. They had four children: Frederick James July 12, 1907 - July 31, 1982, Marjorie Florence September 22, 1908 - May 14, 1909, Edna May October 3, 1909 - February 9, 1933 and Elizabeth Kate born December 1, 1915.

He was a former counsellor of the Rural Municipality of St Andrews and later Secretary-Treasurer of the Village of Donottar. Described by those who new him as a kind and very generous man he died December 1, 1971.