Kirby Lumber Company stock certificate c1901 (Texas)

Texas lumber company! Awesome vignette of lumberjacks sawing down a tree. Unissued and not cancelled. Circa 1901 from company records. Measures approximately 12 x 8 inches.  

The Kirby Lumber Company was a major early 20th-century Texas timber enterprise, founded 1901 by entrepreneur John Henry Kirby, known for its large sawmills, extensive logging operations using railroads, and its pivotal role in a famous Supreme Court tax case (United States v. Kirby Lumber Co.) that established a key tax principle on debt forgiveness as income. Although the original company declined, its legacy is tied to Texas forestry history, John Henry Kirby, and foundational tax law.

Founder:
John Henry Kirby, nicknamed "The Prince of the Pines," was a prominent Texas businessman who organized the company around 1901.

Operations:
The company owned and operated large sawmills, like the significant one at Bessmay, and used extensive rail systems to transport timber from vast timberlands in East Texas.

Historical Significance:
It was a major player in the Texas lumber industry during its peak, employing many workers and contributing significantly to the region's economy.

United States v. Kirby Lumber Co. (1931):
This landmark Supreme Court case involved Kirby Lumber purchasing its own bonds for less than face value. The Court ruled that this difference was taxable income, a principle still important in tax law today.

Decline & Legacy:
After John Henry Kirby's bankruptcy and death, the company eventually came under the control of the Santa Fe Railroad by the 1950s, marking the end of its independent era.

Product descriptions and images
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