Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-03-07
Rock efelIer'S Rich Partners.


One of the originators of the Standard Oil
Company a small salaried book keeper.
The other was porter in Water street COM
mission house. The bookkeeper is now presi.
dent OF the company, while the porter lives in a
$500 900 palace ON the nabob side of the swell
street in this city. John d. Rockefeller presi-
dent of the Standard, is a pleasant man, with
very agreeable manners and heart that is
here and one in New York, where he resides
each winter. His rural resort is short distance
from the eastern outskirts of this city and is
one OF the most beautiful places in Ohio. The
Rockefeller family came from some little town
in central New York, where the fatherpracticed
medicine. They took up their residence here
in 1858. John D. was then a little shaver OF
fourteen. He went to school for two or three
years and afterward became a bookkeeper for
W men ne was nlneteen, or IN 1857, he and a
man named NJ. B. Clark went into the pro-
duee business on their own account
when Rockefeller sold his interest and
went into Oil-refning. Three years before, how
ever, he, with Clark, his partner and one or two
others, had built a little petroleum refinery up
the river: ROckefellers and Clark's invest
ment in this enterprise was $4,000. 1t gave
promise OF doing u big business and Rockefeller
determined, therefore, to devote his entire at
tention to it. Clark bought his interest in the
commission house, and Rockefeller and Samuel
Andrews became sole owners of the refinery.
When Rockefeller was bookkeeper Andrews
was porter in another produce store further
down the street They became acquainted,
and as Andrews had accumulated a few hum
dred dollars and was q practical fellow Rookie
teller invited h him to BECOME partner In the
Andrews a year or two younger. Their property
could not have been worth much more than
$4,000, and was probably not all paid for. From
this humble beginning has grown the Standard
Oil company with its hundreds of offshots and
its S7O,OOO,OOO of capital. A year or two after
Rockefeller and Andrews had Joined fortunes,
they, in connection with William Rockefeller,
q brother of John D., established another re.
finery. The colossal transactions of the con-
a m m ia ior i-f,
Payne, took stock. He is now vice president
S12 600, 900 at a low estimate. He and man
named Clark-nOt the one mentioned preyi.
| ously-and John Huntington owned a refinery
in this city. The Standard, in accordance with
its policy, bought them out. Clark accepted
money, while Payne and Huntington were sat
isfied with stock: Huntington, like Andrews,
had been an English peasant. He worked here
at day labor, built fences, drove horses, wheeled
sand and mixed mortar. Finally he put on a
tar roof for some one and made good wages. He
followed that occupation for several years and
until he had accumulated enough to branch
over the Union depot, and his profits, added to
his accumulations, purchased him q small in
terest in the refinery with Col. Payne. Today
he has mansion In Prospect street that cost
100000 He keeps sixteen horses in his sta
Bile, and draws $4,000 every three months in
dividends. John d. Rockefeller is still the
presiding genius of the entire establishment
from the trust company down. He and his
brother, "BilI' Rockefeller, as he is called by
PCopIc wiz hhoW hliA cdDouIs, own S4O,-
900, 600 worth of stock, and are, therefore, the
cocks of the Standard walk. Col. Payne's in
terest is S1O,OOO,OOO and Mr.. Flaglers Is about
the same.
Seven or eight years ago Mr.. Andrews, who
still remained at the refineries in the capacity
of superintendent of the practical part of the
business, became dissatisfied for some reason
and offered to sell his interest Andrews claims
to be a common man, while Rockefeller right
fully considers himself very uncommon one.
This probably was the foundation Of the trou-
hle. At any rate, Andrews complained, and
Rockefeller, quick as a flash, asked him how
much money he wanted for his share. Andrews
was already rich, and, being somewhat excited
picked up a piece of paper and hastily writing
thereon lone million dollars" handed 1t to
Rockefeller. The offer was accepted, although
Andrews afterward hesitated about selling and
the transfer was made accordingly. A week
later Rockefeller sold the Andrews stock to w
H Vanderbilt and made $3.50, 900 on the deal.
After Andrews sold out he began the erection
Of the finest mansion In Cleveland 1t was four
or five years in building. Workmen were
brought here from Rome and the richest mate
| rial that could be purchased was used in con-
| struction. The place has been occupied by Mr..
Andrews for several years, and Is proudly
pointed out by boastful Clevelanders as one Of
the most magnificent private buildings in
America. Mr. Andrews has $500, 0OO in q per
cent government bonds, q great deal OF real
estate, stocks in some of the largest naanufac-
turing establishments in Cleveland and any
amount OF other property. All this has been
gotten together within twenty years by q poor
English lad, who worked as q porter In q com
mission house on the river.