Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-08-23
RockEFeLLER's eoYHooD.
Was Great Snapper and Away
Good to Fills Mother.

Was Great Snapper and Always
Good to Ills Mother.
John ID. Rockefeller was good to
his mother and heaven knows she dc.
served ii. for the poor woman was all
the time half dead from weeping over
the behavior OF her husband
1t was Richard Rockefeller, cousin
OF the famous millionaire, who made
The foregoing declarations He resides
on farm near Neville, Iowa, 90 miles
southeast of Sioux City
John was different from other
boys" he continued. "IIc did not seem
to relish orr sports. Instead OF Join
| ing MS in swimming and like cxpedi.
tons he would remain home perform.
| ing chores OF various kinds or helping
| his mother about her household duties.
| There was one trait that was partic,l-
| larly noticeable in him, and that was
] his disposition to trade AMI dclicr TIc
was cternally swapping with the boys.
| Anything from Il jack knife To Il horse
| that John might happen tO have was
| open to trade. He seemed to have
innnia tor ii. ana invariably rot the
best of he bargain. Il was not al.
ways apparent M the time the trade
was made. but future developments al.
ways showed the wisdom of Johns
course.
but I'll say his for John He was
always ionrSt--0r al least no one
| ever charge him with dishonesty. His
parents We're Prrsbylcrans, or rather
his mother was. ana John was q rcsu.
| lar church gocr He seemed to take
everything seriously. and didn't he.
come very popular with other boys.
They respected him. but didn't enjoy
his company"
| Richard Rockefeller is a perfect
image of John d., save for little chin
beard OF the eoatcr order He has Il
son who promises Ia become Il second
John d., for hc has become cashier
OF the Bank of Movilic and is rapidly
winning Il reputation as IL nnuncicr.
! Richard has ever been noted inr ScrrIp-
'lnns honesty and puhlic spirit. There
WAS time. 10 years ago, when he an
pcarcd To he about To lose his farm
by foreclosure of Il mort gage when
crops failed badly But he and his
cstimablc Wife stintcd AMI worked I'M
I'll they paid off the mortgage and thcy
| NOW find themselves absolute owners
of an excellent farm ana first class i'm
provcmcnts. But in their dircst need
they never asked for nor received n
cent from their rich relative
Mrs. Rockefeller has as accurate n
recollection OF John ID. and his father
as has her husband William Rookie.
Teller. Johns father" said she. was
a big fellow. sullcn ana ugly. Although
lie was given Ia laughter and songs
much OF the time, particularly the lat
ter, his appearance was so terrifying
to the average woman that they gave
him wide berth. He was n great
story teller. but his jokes ana stories
were generally coarse.
Il VOL remember when was n
little girls. John and my husband and
attended the same school back In
TioGa county, New York My father
anu ! were passing blacksmith shop
which was kept by my husbands
father | saw n big fellow leaning I'M
against the door oi he shop AMI asked
my father who il was He told me II
was VIM Rockefeller, father of John.
FROM that day never forgot the man.
| l'llt we have lost all track uf him now.
Several years ago when we were back
III New York on Il visit, we were told
that he had died. You see, We moved
down South, whore we resided for n
Time. and then We came To Iowa. Since
We came here we have had no cnmmu-
nicalinn with Williams branch of the
| i'Hiily. iic may nc IN Inc Nest and
may even he in Dakota or Iowa. hl, if
he is we 10 not know it, lie must be
an old man of 90 years or such Il mat
ter by this time
| William was a powerfully built.
handsomely proportioncd fellow. and
would have been attractive hut for his;
lorhlddlng micn. But he was !, had
man. No one seemed 10 know What
became of him when he disappeared
Tor days nj time. but he always seem
cd To have enough money Ii was
common talk among all the ncigbhors
though. that he treated his poor wife
ontragconsly She was one of the
most unhappy women ever knew.
Her son John was tho light of her
life. No one can convince me that he
is the bad man he is alleged to he To.
DAY. lie was too thoroughly good as
II boy and was too much of a Christian
to turn out bad. lie has acquired his
wealth honestly AMI is generous with
1t. Sioux City Qowa Cor Philalcl-
phia Record