1891 census reports his parents were born in Scotland.
Family religion Presbyterian.

There is a record of James Baxter, born about 1826 in Scotland, having been a widower when he married Mary Laurie (nee Smith) in Hamilton, Ontario 1887 August 1. If this is the same James Baxter, his parents would be James Baxter and Betty.

She may have died in the mid 1880’s as it appears her husband remarried in 1887.