Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1902-12-25
JOHN ROCKEFELLER
a STORY OF HIS EARLY START
IN OIL.
When he Actually Fell Into Oil While
Looking Over the Field
With a Friend.

immersed to the waist in a mixture as
black as coal tar and smelling as
strongly as the numerous refineries of
petroleum that Mr.. Rockefeller has
since been instrumental in scattering
throughout the United States.
Prior to making this visit to the
Pennsylvania fields Mr.. Rockefeller had
dabbled little in oil. but he was not
thoroughly convinced that it had a
great future.
He departed for his home in Cleve-
land profoundly impressed by what he
had seen, and began at once to enter
actively into the oil market
His companion of that day, who re-
Gently died at gainesville, O., attributed
it to the fact of Mr. Rockefeller's anus
ing mishap.
HE simply got into oil and he
couldn't get OUT was the manner in
which Mr. Rockefeller's first visit to an
oil well was referred to.
Franklin Breed, now deceased, well
known in the early days Of the oil ex-
element in western Pennsylvania, and
for the last few years enjoying wide
acquaintance in northern Ohio, took
the worlds oil king to see his first oil
we'll
At that time Mr.. Rockefeller was the
junior partner in a Cleveland commits
sion house, with which Mr.. Breed, who
was miller at Titusville, Pa, had bus
/ mess dealings.
When oil first began to be ''struck"
in western Pennsylvania, Mr.. Breed,
who was thoroughly conversant with
the country, decided to invest in
well. e
"And 1 wish" said he in later years
when telling the story, that I had de-
cided to purchase wells for as much
| money as could borrow"
One day, while in Cleveland on
business errand, Mr.. Breed met Mr..
Rockefeller face to face.
The latter grasped his visitor by the
hand and said: Breed, you are just
the man I want to see."
What do you think of this oil bust
ness down in Pennsylvania?
1--WE been doing little in oil myself,
but 1 would like to get some informa-
ton from man of experience as to the
probability of the flow being permanent
and the business a future success.
"Do you think there is money in it?''
Eyes, Mr.. Rockefeller, do, most as
suredly,'' was the reply. 81 think there
are barrels of money in Pennsylvania
at this day in return for barrels OF
OIL"
"You have formed that opinion, I
imagine, from your own experience in
Pennsylvania"
81 have" replied Mr. Breed. But,
say, why don't you come out and look
over the field yourself?'
ST don't know but what 1 will" was
the reply. 81 never have seen an oil
we'll in operation and 1 will arrange
to meet you in Titusville at your con-
yenience."
So a day was set for the journey.
Conditions were rather wild and print
tive in those days
Travel from Cleveland to Titusville
was slow, behind the putting wood
burning locomotives, and parlor cars
did not provide any comforts en- route
to the oil country.
But Mr.. Rockefeller arrived at Titus
vile and found his host, who had pre-
pared two saddle horses for 2O-m1le
ride through snow an upon roads little
better than trails.
To have attempted to use vehicle
of any kind would have been imprac-
ticable.
Petroleum Center, where the wells at
! that time were in operation, was little
| better than a wilderness.
The ride was long and dreary, but
| the destination of the future oil king
and his companion was finally reached.
Thy alighted from their horses where
tie road became impossible and pre-
pared to take the fOOtpath for the last
quarter of mile.
Just before they reached the wells a
gully lay before them, across which
was narrow log for footbridge.
Beneath this, filing the bottom of
the gully, was the refuse from the
wells, and it consisted of everything
that goes to make petroleum unpleas-
ant to the sense of smell, as well as
that of touch
'sMr. Rockefeller told me- said Mr.
Breed when relating the story, that he
never could cross that log in the world.
Isn't there some other way to get
over?' he asked me.
That's the only way, Mr.. Rookie
feller,' 1 replied, and I'll go first to
show you how I crossed over and
turned around to help him, only to see
| him fall and become immersed in the
greasy mass below.
He took it rather good-naturedly
I'll say that. He looked up to me and
remarked, very dryly, Breed, I guess
! you have got me in the oil business,
head and feet"
After Mr.. Rockefeller had been help
ed to the solid ground Mr. Breed pro-
| cured some barrel slaves and scraped
of as much of the tarry mixture as he
| could.
However, Mr.. Rockefeller's clothing
and the light overcoat that he wore
were ruined.
Notwithstanding the accident, Mr..
Rockefeller insisted upon seeing every
thing in connection with the wells He
was abundantly satisfied, and in the
1 course of an hour Lney set out upon
their return journey, Mr.. Rockefeller
purchasing new clothing at Titusville
before he returned to Cleveland.
ct was only day or two after that"
so Mr.. Breed used to conclude the story,
that / got an order from Mr.. Rookie
Teller for carload of oil, and got
more after that He always maintain
! ed every time that / met him that I
was responsible for making him an oil