Salt Lake Tribune | 1908-07-15 | Page 11 | Biographical Sketch of James M'Clurg Guffey

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF JAMES M'CLURG GUFFEY James McClurg Guffcy, who Is beating the tomtoms In the anti-Bryan conflict, Is a political warrior whose onslaught oven tho "peerless leader" of the Democratic Demo-cratic hosts can neither lgnoro nor disdain. dis-dain. With Guffcy fighting Is a hobby, a. recreation from the placidity and somnolence of a business life In which he has gathered soma 55.000.000 or more and at Intervals he yearns for a foeman capable of giving and receiving lusty blows, even as another Invader of his ancestor's domains once panted for grips with one Rhoderlck Dhu. The fact that some slxty-nlno- years havo whitened the long locks and bleached tho brigandish mustache of Guffcy has not cooled his fighting blood or lessened his ardor for battle. He has felt the sting of defeat, as he has grasped the palm of victory, but to the Pennsylvanlan It has been the Joy of the fight, not tho result, that mado 11 worth while. For twenty years ho has been a Democratic Demo-cratic leader In the Slate which his ancestors an-cestors helped wrest from Its Indian holders. hold-ers. William Guffcy. a Lanarkshlro Scotchman, accompanied the Forbes expedition ex-pedition which captured Fort Duqucsnc In 1758, and In his old age became 0110 of tho first pennanont white settlers on tho Loyalhanna Creek, in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. Marrying tho sister of a Scotch companion com-panion of the Indian wars. William Guffcy established the line of the Pennsylvania Guffcys, who arc still the largest holders of real estate In the surrounding counties coun-ties and whoso members aro listed In the leading families of tho Stale. Tho family name, but not the forlimo, descended to James Guffcy, who went out and garnerod tho wealth he foil rcquisito to the dignity of the Gnffeys. Today ho Is the largest individual oil producer In the United States, owns inlnos In Idaho, Montana and Colorado, and his business Interests are scattered through a score of States. In business llfo Mr. Guffcy. who has added the honorary tltlo of "Colonel" to his other holdings, has been a whirlwind of energy. Industry, diplomacy, originality and persistency. His combative traits havo been reserved for his pet avocation politics. Chicago Record-Herald.