CHAPTER XIX 



DISTINGUISHED LUMBERMEN, ETC. 



Lumber is the great staple of trade in this section 

 of country, and among those most prominent in the 

 business, none stand higher than Guy 0. Irvin. He 

 has been justly called the Napoleon of the lumber 

 business. His name, person and character are 

 known in every large town from Olean to New Or- 

 leans. Coming into the section at an early day with 

 little capital save a vigorous and comprehensive 

 mind and an untiring spirit of enterprise, he has 

 amassed a large fortune, having owned more pine 

 timber lands and sawmills than any other individual 

 upon the Allegany. When the business was driven 

 to its extent in 1836 — 38, he frequently sent to market 

 twenty million feet of lumber in a single season, and 

 both shores for a mile above Pittsburgh are some- 

 times lined with his rafts, waiting a rise of the water. 

 I have been acquainted with him from childhood, 

 and it is in the hope that young men will follow the 

 example thus held up to them, that I record hia 

 character and career. In his business operations he 

 never loses sight of the rights or welfare of the 

 laboring classes. 1 never knew him, upon any pre- 

 text, to pay those running his lumber less than was 



