 With his successful reputation, he would be known by his business peers as "The Prince of the Pines" and "The Father of Industrial Texas".Kirbyville, Texas in Jasper County is named after him, as is Kirby Drive and Upper Kirby in Houston.He was born unto John Thomas and Sarah (Payne) Kirby on November 16, 1860 in Tyler County, and brought up on the family's homestead which is now Camp Ta-Ku-La.