James McClurg Guffey, a leading operator in the oil and gas fields of Western Pennsylvania, and the promoter of kindred industries, having their rise from the development of the great natural resources of the state, was born in Sewickley township, Westmoreland county, January 19, 1839, is recognized as the largest individual oil, gas and coal land owner in the world.

James McClurg Guffey attended the public schools, then pursued a course in a commercial school, and at the age of eighteen years accepted a clerical position in the office of superintendent of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, at Louisville, Kentucky, where he remained for several years. He next filled a responsible position with the Adams Express Company, at Nashville, Tennessee, and in 1872 returned to Pennsylvania. Locating in the oil regions, he engaged in the production of petroleum, of which industry he has since been one of the most active and successful representatives. He became probably the largest individual producer and operator in America, interested in all the fields of northwestern Pennsylvania and through the district extending to Pittsburgh. The famous Mathews well was drilled, and most of the phenomenal McDonald field was owned by him and a few others. In addition to the production of oil he also extended his labors to the development of the natural gas resources of the state, and with his business associates he developed the enormous gas fields of Western and Allegheny counties, and became largely interested in the transportation of natural gas. He became the vice-president of the Westmoreland and Cambria Natural Gas Company, which supplies Johnstown, Pennsylvania; is president of the Southwest Natural Gas Company, which supplies the Connellsville coke region; vice-president of the Wheeling (West Virginia) Natural Gas Company; and president of the United Fuel Gas Company, whose pipe lines extend from Washington county, Pennsylvania, to Pittsburgh. He is an indefatigable and resourceful business man, and has made it his plan to give personal supervision and executive ability to his large concerns. Mr. Guffey's investments are also represented by vast coal properties in Pennsylvan1a and West Virginia, and by gold and silver mine interests in Idaho. He is the president of the Trade Dollar Mining and Milling Company, at Silver City, Idaho, and is one of the principal owners and an officer of the Florida Mountain Mining and Milling Company of the same locality. The town of Guffey, thirty miles from Cripple Creek, was named in his honor. He is likewise interested in the production of petroleum in four states, and is connected with the financial circles of Pittsburgh as a director of the Columbia National Bank. Mr. Guffey gives his political support to the Democracy, and has ever been active in politics, recognized for many years as the leader of his party in Pennsylvania, serving as representative from his state on the Democratic national committee. He is a prominent member of the Duquesne Club of Pittsburgh, a trustee of Washington and Jefferson College, a member of the Manhattan Club of New York, and of other organizations.
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Established the Gulf Oil Corporation, of which he sold his intrests to the Mellons.

Original bios by KB Stewart
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James McClurg Guffey, a leading operator in the oil and gas fields of Western Pennsylvania, and the promoter of kindred industries, having their rise from the development of the great natural resources of the state, was born in Sewickley township, Westmoreland county, January 19, 1839, is recognized as the largest individual oil, gas and coal land owner in the world.

James McClurg Guffey attended the public schools, then pursued a course in a commercial school, and at the age of eighteen years accepted a clerical position in the office of superintendent of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, at Louisville, Kentucky, where he remained for several years. He next filled a responsible position with the Adams Express Company, at Nashville, Tennessee, and in 1872 returned to Pennsylvania. Locating in the oil regions, he engaged in the production of petroleum, of which industry he has since been one of the most active and successful representatives. He became probably the largest individual producer and operator in America, interested in all the fields of northwestern Pennsylvania and through the district extending to Pittsburgh. The famous Mathews well was drilled, and most of the phenomenal McDonald field was owned by him and a few others. In addition to the production of oil he also extended his labors to the development of the natural gas resources of the state, and with his business associates he developed the enormous gas fields of Western and Allegheny counties, and became largely interested in the transportation of natural gas. He became the vice-president of the Westmoreland and Cambria Natural Gas Company, which supplies Johnstown, Pennsylvania; is president of the Southwest Natural Gas Company, which supplies the Connellsville coke region; vice-president of the Wheeling (West Virginia) Natural Gas Company; and president of the United Fuel Gas Company, whose pipe lines extend from Washington county, Pennsylvania, to Pittsburgh. He is an indefatigable and resourceful business man, and has made it his plan to give personal supervision and executive ability to his large concerns. Mr. Guffey's investments are also represented by vast coal properties in Pennsylvan1a and West Virginia, and by gold and silver mine interests in Idaho. He is the president of the Trade Dollar Mining and Milling Company, at Silver City, Idaho, and is one of the principal owners and an officer of the Florida Mountain Mining and Milling Company of the same locality. The town of Guffey, thirty miles from Cripple Creek, was named in his honor. He is likewise interested in the production of petroleum in four states, and is connected with the financial circles of Pittsburgh as a director of the Columbia National Bank. Mr. Guffey gives his political support to the Democracy, and has ever been active in politics, recognized for many years as the leader of his party in Pennsylvania, serving as representative from his state on the Democratic national committee. He is a prominent member of the Duquesne Club of Pittsburgh, a trustee of Washington and Jefferson College, a member of the Manhattan Club of New York, and of other organizations.
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Established the Gulf Oil Corporation, of which he sold his intrests to the Mellons.

Original bios by KB Stewart
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