The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-29
ROCKEFELLER'S BOYHOOD
INCIDENTS IN THE EARLY LIFE OF
THE STANDARD OIL MAGNATE.
His BOyish Ambition Was to BE Worth
S1O0,OOO-The Methods by which He
Has Amassesd Millions.
New York World.


old his father moved from a small farm of
ninety acres near Owasso lake. just north
OF Moravia. He was a poor farmer, this
elder Rockefeller. He was rarely at home,
and a hired man did all the work of the
farm. Everybody liked his wife, who, as
Hiss Davidson, had been a popular young
lady, but few of his neighbors had acquaint
ance with Mr.. Rockefeller. He was the
great mystery of the country side. The gos-
sip of him may be heard to this day in
Owego. Returning home only at infrequent
intervals, his own children knew him not as
we'll as they knew many another man in the
neighborhood
John D. Rockefeller grew up like the
country boys he played with He was like
his mother, and he learned his thrift from
her. The house he lived In was one of the
hUmblest in that neighborhood. 1t stands
new exactly as when the young Rockefel-
lers used to tumble down the steep back
stairway or Chamber over the low roof,
story and a half building, painted brown,
with no porch and no wings, and almost too
small to furnish elbow room for family
of six. The upper chamber, which the boys
occupied was a low room, with sloping
side, and even when he was fifteen John
Rockefeller must have bumped his head if
he jumped out of bed too suddenly.
But though the cottage was small 1t had
a pleasant location. The land in front
soped gracefully to the smooth waters of
the Susquehanna. Hiawatha island is in the
middle of the river at this point and it is
an ideal situation for swimming, coasting,
skating and all the healthy outdoor occu-
pationS in which boys delight.
The young Rockefellers grew up among
these surroundings, under the guidance of
their mother. She was an invalid when the
family came to Owego, and for several
years afterward was unable to go outside
the house But she was woman of strong
character and ambitious for her boys She
kept them in school and taught them to
be Industrious and saving. Their tasks at
the family wood pile and in the little garden
were not many, but the mother saw to 1t
that each boys work was regularly per-
formed.
She ruled them with stern but kindly
hand. If one of them disobeyed her ne felt
the sting of a birch whip. One of the
brOtherS-there were three of them, John
William and Frank-was sent out for the
rod while the culprit stood by her chair.
Needless to say, no effort was spared on
these excursions to select the StouteSt rouS
they could find. But though their mother
was severe. she was as kind and helpful
as mother could be, and they all grew up
with the greatest love for her -.
OF their father, as / have said, the boys
knew little. He would disappear Tor TOUR
or five months at time. Then some morn
ing he would be at home and remain there
another season He supported the famliy,
paid the rent Of the little cottage regularly.
and when he returned from his trips was
well supplied with money. He was pleas
ant but taciturn man who shared no con-
fidences.
A FAMILY MYSTERY.
None of the neighbors knew what his oc-
cupation was, nor did his own family, ex-
cept perhaps the mother. There was
mystery about his long absences and his
reticence on the occasion of his infrequent
visits home that caused the good people
of Owego to shake their heads.
Some of them said that Mr.. Rockefeller
must be in a queer business since he did
not care to make known what it was. But
there was nohing more than gossip to give
color to any of their stories.
Although the mystery regarding the head
of the family caused some of the older peo-
pie to look askance at the Rocketellers this
did not trouble the boys.
There are a number of men about Owego
now who went to the district school with
John Rockefeller and his brothers. These
men agree in describing the three as good
boys, fairly popular but in no way remark
able. They did not stand at the head OF
their classes nor were they leaders among
the bows of the school William was the
most popular among his playmates and
with the older men who knew the brothers.
He was brighter, quicker and more enthu-
siastic in work or play than John.
One of the farmers, for whom the young
ROckefellers occasionally worked on sat
urday, said: I'VE always looked on VIII
Rockefeller as smarter than John, and liked
him better too. If Will had piece of work
to do he'd pitch right in and get through
n &c oIiick as he could but John would sit
down and spend half the time hgurlng out
the easiest way before he began. we al
ways thought he was little TOO lazy 10
make much of farmer.
II don't know that it was exactly laziness
either. When he tackled thing he always
stuck to it until 1t was hnSned. II WaS
more case of counting the chickens oeIore
they Matched with him. We reckoneo II ne
was to be a farmer he'd spend SO much
time figuring up his yield of wheat that the
season would pass before he got 1t soWed.
John D. Rockefeller was SLOW but sure;
He never went into th M go u1 f for that that
end, steadily and with dogged perslstency,
until it was accomplished. Years later ne
said TO one who knew him We'll:
1T always has been my rule in business
m make everything count something never
go into an enterprise unless feel sure Chat
It is coming out right. For instance, prom
Using scheme may be proposed TO me IL
don't altogether satisfy me and | reject II.
My brother. WILL would Prooa0y go 1rnn ro
Using scheme comes along. He goes INTO that
and loses $4,000. The result is he hasn
made any advancement and he has Deen
losing time Meanwhile in some surer en-
terprise l have made, say SoiVUO IN the Same
time the other fellow has made and lost
twice that amount. But mine counts and his
doesn't / believe that the only way TO sue
coed is to keep getting ahead all the time.
Another early characteristic Oh Iie future
multi-millionaire is described by the man
who knows him better than any other per-
son in the country.
'Tn the district school which the Rookie
Teller boys attended it was customary TO
play tag hide-and-seek and such games
during the noon hour and the recesses. If
John suggested a game OF tag ana the
others agreed to play that Well and good.
But if John proposed tag and the others De
cided to play fox and geese, he wouldn't
have ANYTHING to do with 1t. He didn't ny
into q rage and he would stand by and
look on while the others played 1t. But ne
would never take part unless they agreed
to his plans.
JOHN D. HAD A WILL.
The Rockefellers were poor; not poor with
the poverty of the city tenements-they had
enough to eat and clothes to wear-but
there were few luxuries in their little home.
The boys were glad to do a days work for
one of the neighboring farmers when they
got the opportunity. For this they received
the prevailing pay for boy labor-25 cents
day.
At present Mr.. Rockefeller's income is not
less than $4,000 per day. From . cents to
$4,000 is a long jump, but John Rockefeller
probably got more enjoyment out of the
quarters earned by hoeing potatoes or husk-
irg corn than he does out of his coupons
and dividends That was pocket money,
and he could spend 1t as he pleased. Now
his income piles up faster than he can spend
II and he is robbed of the joy of careful
planning how the greatest enjoyment is to
IrAN