Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1889-09-06
AN AMERICAN ROMANCE.
Wholesale Capture OF the Aimishty Dollar
| by the Rool<s fcllors.


Wholesale Capture OF the Almighty Dollar
by the Rochsfeiiers.
The Sun makes the startling state
ment that the pinnacle of earthly
wealth Is thought TO have been reached
by John ID. Rockefeller-who must
therefore have displaced the Wander
bilt boys and the Duke OF Westminster
from their post as rival claimants for
the honor Of being accounted the rich
est man on earth. Rockefeller's wealth
has Increased until 1t is said that no Is
now in receipt OF an income OF $50, 0o0.-
900 year. John ID Rockefeller's life
story made him one OF the marvels Of
the new world long before 1t was
dreamed that he would ever reach the
greatest height as millionaire. A
certain Dr. Rockefeller removed from
the central part OF this State less than
forty years ago to establish himself and
family in Cleveland. John ID, and
William were his sons. John ID. fin
ished his boyhood in the Ohio city and
got his schooling there. Then he came
TO New York and was proud TO become
q book-keeper In a little store for the
sale Of farm produce on commission in
Water street in this city. At nineteen
years Of age he and NJ. B. Clark went
into that business on their own account
That was at tho close Of the war. While
a book-keeper Mr.. Rockefeller had in
vested little money in a small oil re-
hnery up the river. The porter in the
same store had put his small savings
into the refinery also.
In time Rockefeller thought he saw
fortune In oil and sold out his interest
In his store to Clark. He and the for
mer porter, now the millionaire Samuel
Andrews, then devoted all their time
to oil-refining. Rockefeller was twenty
six and Andrews was under twenty-five
Their refinery was not worth 1000
and was not paid for They prospered
and Johns brother William became his
partner in another refinery. The two
refneries were presently joined and
store was opened in this city for the
sale OF the oil they refined. They
needed money TO swing their plans
with and set out to find IL Away of
in Saginaw. Mich, was Henry NJ Flag
Ter. sent there by rich father-in-law
to make his fortune In lumber and salt
He was not succeeding. The father-in-
law heard OF the Rockefellers and call
ing Flagler to New York put him and
$50. 900 into the new oil firm. From
this stage in the Rockefeller history
begins the unexampled career Of the
Standard Oil Company. Taking that
name and a capital OF a million. John
d. Rockefeller rapidly contaminated his
plan to control the oil product OF the
nation. The business grew so euor-
nous that II was able to obtain the
lowest freight rates from the railroads.
and these were often such that Com
modore Vanderbilt remarked that
only one man In the world could
dictate to him and that was Rookie
Teller. Refneries were bought right
and left for stock or cash. All who,
like Colonel o. H. Payne. took stock
became rich; the others got a fair price
and that was all The corporation was
a monopoly until 1880. After that the
railroads rebelled and then the Stand
ard built its pipe lines and de6ed the
roads
The company is incorporated in many
States and managed by the Standard
Trust Company in his city, with John
d. and VIM. Rockefeller still at the
head. William owns and lives at the
beautiful Aspinwall estate at larry
town, just above the limits Of this city.
on the Hudson. John d. lives near
Greenwich. on the sound. with coterie
OF business associates who come to
town every day in private car that Is
fitted up like clubhouse on wheels.
Henry M. Flagler. whose income Is now
about $1,000. 900 q year. has grand
house In town. These and the lesser
magnates Of the great oil trust are all
quiet, plain. democratic citizens. not
one of whom puts on the airs OF the
average hotel clerk. IN. Y. Cor. Provl-
dence Or ~ Journal