Cameron was born in Springfield, Ontario, on May 6, 1856, to Charles and Jennie (Bell) Cameron. After a builders' apprenticeship in Toronto, Ontario, he decided to move west in 1878. He first went to Manitoba, spending time in Emerson and Brandon. In Brandon, he worked in the lumber business. Here he met Elizabeth Parrish (b. 1860 Brock, Ontario) and in 1882 they were married, Elizabeth's brother was Manitoba MLA William Parrish. Cameron would serve in the Riel rebellion, and in 1886, they moved to Medicine Hat, Alberta.