James McKay

James McKay (1830–1906) was an Irish-born American industrialist in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The founder and owner of James McKay & Co of Pittsburgh, a manufacturer of metal chains, he was also active in oil and gas development, with one of the earliest producing properties in Pennsylvania. In addition, he was part owner of one of the largest silver mines in the state of Colorado. Early career James McKay was born in Ireland in 1830, and he was the first of his family to come to the shores of the United States. He arrived there in 1848, and for a short time made his home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The year after his arrival, he moved to Pittsburgh. He found employment with Robert Watson, the owner of a wholesale grocery house. Later, he succeeded Watson in this business and organized the firm of McKay & Philips. After a while, he purchased the interest of Philips and formed the firm of McKay & Brothers, who carried on this business very successfully. Oil Interests Mr. McKay became identified with the oil industry in 1876, and took a small interest in a company which was formed in Pittsburgh, and which had a lease on some oil fields in Butler county, known as the "Jenkins" oil farm. Before oil was struck Mr. McKay bought out the interests of all the others concerned in this company, and shortly afterwards was successful in making a decided oil strike. This produced about three thousand dollars per day, but owing to the inadequate facilities of the time and the incompetency in handling the outflow, the greater part of this was lost. Mr. McKay, continued in this field for a number of years, and finally disposed of his interests in 1895. Mining Interests He then, in conjunction with W. J. Hammond, purchased in Colorado what was known as the Yankee Girl Silver Mine, which was one of the largest mines ever worked in that region of Colorado. It contained rich deposits, and Mr. McKay continued in gold and silver mining until his death.