John was the second born son of Charles Linton and Ethel Wimhurst, though his older brother died soon after birth. John was raised on a family farm east of Englehart in Northern Ontario.

Born in World War 1, he married during World War 2 to Uarda MacPherson. They had 7 children, all of which are still alive as of 2019.

John farmed the same property that his grandparents had settled as immigrants to Canada. After Uarda died, he married his daughter-in-law's mother, Ida Badger, and move into Englehart. He died in 2012, at the age of 94 and is buried in the Ingram Township cemetery next to Uarda.