 James had emigrated from Bailieborough, County Cavan, Ireland around 1789, and amassed a vast fortune from business dealings in upstate New York State, primarily in Albany real estate, money lending, and his involvement with the building of the Erie Canal.William James also owned a salt company, a tobacco factory and a Hudson River shipping operation.In 1814, Devereux returned to Utica and went into partnership with his brother in a firm that after his brother retired in 1816, became "Devereux & Co".