James C. Voris was born around 1840 in Pennsylvania to Gilbert Voris and Catherine Ashenferder. His father died around 1850. Voris grew up and attended school in Northumberland, Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the Union army on July 25, 1861, and mustered in as a corporal in Company B of the 5th Pennsylvania Reserve Infantry, which became the 34th Pennsylvania Infantry. He was captured sometime in 1862, and Confederates imprisoned him in Richmond, Virginia. He returned to his regiment later that year, and he was killed in action in the Battle of Fredericksburg on December 13, 1862.