Craigie and his family landed in Dunedin, where he remained for several years after completing an apprenticeship as a painter and decorator.

Craigie married Catherine Orr from County Donegal, Ireland and they had six daughters and one son.

As his business success grew, Craigie purchased a large farm in Kingsdown, about 5 km south of Timaru, where he built a substantial house, Craigielea.

Craigie provided funds for the erection in the Timaru Botanic Gardens of a statute of Robert Burns.

James Craigie died at his home Craigilea in Kingsdown, South Canterbury on 17 August 1935 due to “heart weakness”.

This was initially hung in the Chief Post Office but in 1933 it was moved to the Timaru Council Building, which had been constructed during Craigie's tenure as Mayor.

He also donated ten pounds for the building of the Catholic Sacred Heart Basilica, also located in Craigie Avenue, on 8 February 1910, the day the foundation stone for the church was laid.

In 1914 Craigie presented the renowned painting “The Mother” by Thomas Kennington to the South Canterbury Art Society.