James M. Guffey of Pittsburgh, to whom, jointly with Hon. George C. Sturgiss of Morgantown, the West Virginia University is indebted for the fine pipe organ that graces Commencement Hall and adds so much to Chapel exercises and all public entertainments, was born in Westmoreland County, PA., January 19th, 1839, of Scotch parentage, the youngest but one of a family of six children. He passed his boyhood upon the ancestral farm and received a good practical and commercial education. At eighteen he entered the service of the Louisville and Nashville R.R. Co., at Louisville, as clerk to the superintendent. He resigned after several years to accept a more responsible and lucrative position with the Adams Southern Express Company at Nashville. In 1872, attracted by the wonderful development in oil production in his native State, he returned to Pennsylvania, and with the dash and energy which have always characterized him, soon became a prominent actor in drilling and producing oil. He was soon identified with every oil field in Pennsylvania, started development in Kansas, took a large part in developing the oil and gas fields of Ohio and West Virginia, piping gas to Pittsburgh, Johnstown, Wheeling, Indianapolis, and hundreds of smaller towns. He was the pioneer operator in the Texas fields and is the owner of large interests there. The Texas gushers are producing at a rate of 70000 bbls. Per day. He is today the largest individual oil producer and operator in America, has immense holdings of coal land and gas lease holds in West Virginia, as well as in his own state, and is the owner of gold and silver mining interests in Idaho and Colorado, in California and Nova Scotia. He is associated with many manufacturing and banking corporations; his advice and co-operation are much sought and highly valued in many business enterprises, including railway and other transportation lines. He is the officially recognized leader of the Democratic party in his State, and a member of the National committee. He stands for ballot reform and good government. He is a trustee of Washington and Jefferson College, and his interest in education and the younger generation is shown by the fact that when the University was in need of a Chapel Organ, in a moment and without hesitation he promised his contribution for one half the sum required.
