John heard from trade people that Follansbee was a new town that did not have a funeral director. In September of 1916, John and his brother, Niran, moved their families to Follansbee. The picture to the left is the original picture of John T. James and Niran James at the first location, to the right of or north of the current day Cedar Lodge.
Mr. Humes of Follansbee, WV rented a house he owned on Banfield Avenue to the two James Families. John and Niran started the James Brothers Furniture and Undertaking business. This location was located in the present day building north of the Cedars Lodge on Main Street. At that time, it was customary to hold funerals in the deceased’s home. This was the structure of their business for approximately two years. The next location was approximately in the 700 block of main street near or where Alco Furniture is located. Around the time of April 1918, they each purchased a home on Virginia Ave located right behind the funeral home.
A terrible flu epidemic in 1918 helped to solidify the James Bros. undertaking business. Also in April 1918, Cecelia May James, the eldest child of John T. and Ella James, married George Lee Humes, the youngest child of Richard and Laura Johnson Humes Jr. In 1914, the Bank of Follansbee had been established mostly through the efforts of Richard and George Humes.
Tragedy suddenly entered their lives when Ella died on May 12, 1921. She had been sick for a short time, but it was still a shock as she was only 44 years old. At this point the two brothers split; Niran stayed in Follansbee and started the new location at 756 Main Street, Follansbee. His brother John T. moved to Wellsburg, WV to start a business near present day Presbyterian Church.
In 1933, after the death of his brother, Niran, John T. James moved back to Follansbee. He purchased the location at 1245 Main Street, Follansbee (present day location). The home was rented to the Superintendent of the Follansbee Steel and owned by William Banfield.