James Showers was one of the three founding brothers of the Showers Brothers Furniture Factory in Bloomington in 1869. Showers Furniture was one of the largest employers in the community and an early employer of African Americans and women. Word of the company's success brought additional new businesses to town, which helped Indiana University to flourish. The later philanthropic acts of the Showers family encouraged the town's continued development for many years. As a community activist and philanthropist, James served as a member of the Bloomington City Council for 14 years; he was a member of the School Board for 17 years; and was also the President of Citizens Loan & Trust Company.