Rev. James Calfee represented Mercer County as a delegate to the West Virginia Constitutional Convention in 1872. He was an itinerant preacher who carried the gospel to isolated settlements of south-western Virginia. Rev. Calfee organized numerous congregations, baptised the newly born and faithful, presided over numerous weddings and funerals, shared his home with relatives, farmed the land and served as an estate appraiser when called upon.

Eulogy given by reknown minister Dr. Chester Bullard:

"Reverend James Calfee has been called to rest after a life of nearly three score and ten years...He joined the church [Disciples of Christ Church] at the age of twenty-one and very soon commenced preaching; thus employing some 48 years of his life in the ministry of the Word. The hill country of the Virginias has produced no superior to him in zeal, industry and courage. Brother Calfee was born on Big Reed Island Creek, two miles from its junction from New River. His mother was a Godly woman. His father a God-fearing man... While quite a young man, James had charge of a store near the old Baptist meeting house. Afther he joined the Disciples' Church, he preached for a while in the neighborhood of his nativity. But God designed him more specially for a new field where he prosecuted his labors almost alone. And so it occured that Mercer had a half-dozen counties around which was blessed with one of the most sensible, earnest, zealous and useful men of that period of their history. Eloquence was not his fort. What is better, he rarely failed to reach the heart and conscience. And few were more successful in winning souls to Christ. And we certainly never knew a man who could contrive more ways of doing good.

"In 1884, he married Elizabeth Bailey and settled on a farm near Mercer Court House. The neighborhood was destitute of doctors and ere long he had acquired considerable knowledge of the healing art. And now in his visits by night and day, his medicines, his Bible reading, conversations and prayers were widely diffused. His sermons climbed the mountains and resounded in the valleys, and all a gratuity... And that in all this bustle, his loveliest features were reserved for home. No wonder his wife and children were so devoted to him; that his mother-in-law loved him so dearly... Never have I known a man marrying into so large a relationship so trustingly and affectionally loved."

J.T. Taylor wrote: "Brother Calfee was a very homely man, very red complexioned, wore a red wig, and yet he was very handsome and lovely, his face beaming with the light of heaven. I expect to meet him when the storms of life are over in that bright world, where all of God's children dwell together in peace."

James was the son of William Calfee and Nancy Davis. He married Elizabeth Virginia Bailey and Jane A. Williams Calfee.