Irving Park (and the Irvington neighborhood) got its name from Captain William Irving, a Scottish immigrant who became an early pioneer in steamboat travel. He set up a business delivering lumber and other goods between Oregon and California. A good friend recalled after his death, "his purse was always at the disposal of any one in need, and his generosity was unrestricted by class, faith, or nationality... He was a true gentleman in the true sense of the term."