The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-08-19

ROCkEFElLERS ALL
SHREWD TRADERS
More Information on Parentage Of
Standard Oil Magnate Mis-
take by Miss Tarbell. !,
Washington, Pa, Aug. le.-Interest in
the Rockefeller family has been awak-
ened here by the presentation Of the
portrait of Nathan Rockefeller Of this
county to the Washington County His
| torical society. Nathan Rockefeller
was brother Of Samuel Rockefeller,
grandfather of John D. Rockefeller of
Standard Oil fame The records Of the
Jacob Large Hockey, superintendent Of
the children IS home Of this county,
who presents the portrait. This infor-
nation and family tradition does not
agree in all respects with the informa-
tion furnished by Ida Tarbell, the au-
thor Of the history Of Standard Oil and
the character sketch of John D. Rookie
l. i
further than the history given by Miss
Tarbell.
Mr.. Hockey, who presents the por-
trait of his grandfather to the histor-
ical society," is one of the best-known
residents Of Washington county. When
he became of age he dropped the !" fell
Ter" and called himself Rocky There
be direct descendants of the Rookie
Teller family. The presentation of the
Rockefeller portrait brings to the at
tention many facts and traditions.
i Settled at Braddock.
The great-grandfather Of Jacob I,
lander, who is also the great grand
, father Of John D. Rockefeller. He
came from New York at the close of
the eighteenth century and located at
Braddock s field, now Braddock. Peter
Rockefeller married Abigail Large, an
Irish girl. They had three sons, Sam
uel, Nathan and William. Peter, ac-
+ cording to the traditions of the family,
: was murdered early in the last century
) and his widow afterward married a
: Mr.. Lovejoy, by whom she had one
daughter. {. e.. ,s-as .-.-a... . -.
The children Of Peter Rockefeller
were raised by their grandfather Large.
e Samuel, the oldest brother, was for
: many years captain on boat on the
s. Ohio river. Family tradition has it
t that he was a very strong man, one
4 of whose exploits was to lift barrel
9 of whisky and drink out Of the bung-
= hole. His physical construction was
Q grown together as to make solid bone.
e He had four nipples, double elbows and
9 two caps on each knee. William Rookie
e Teller, the youngest son of old Peter
: Rockefeller, located near Portsmouth,
9 Ohio: Nathan Rockefeller came to
IL Washington county and located on what
is now the Moniiger homestead, near
II ington. He married Rachel Marthen
e of Canonsburg, with whose uncle, Rob
d ert Marthen, Rockefeller learned the
k fulling business. He worked for some
g time at Amity, Washington county, and
II afterwards purchased about 900 acres
n of land in the southwestern part of the
IN county. He was born in 1883 and dice
l. was appointed justice of the peace by
y Governor Ritner and served twenty
% years.
l. Spelled Name Rockefeller
10 The deeds to him and those from
10 him to others are all spelled with the
g. name of Rockefeller. His commission
DIS JuoI!Cc u Vic peace, Ills Will dH(
- Inscription on his tombstone at Yves
N Finley all follow the same spelling.> The
IN tables and adopted the name of Hockey
y Jacob Large Rockey, who has the picture
"a Of his grandfather in his possession, ant
l. with whom he lived for many years, wa
~ "a years old when his grandfather died
~ Nathan Rockefeller, the Washington
So county part of the family, was a power
IA full man. He was six feet three inche
10 tall and we'll proportional. He was !;
~ man Of education and had the most com
- plete library in that section of tn
. country. At the time of his death i
u. was said that it required four-hors
10 team to haul away the books Rookie
Teller had accumulated. He was grea
student of SHAKESPEARE and could quot
whole acts from this author and fror
many others as well. AS fnancie
Nathan Rockefeller had those qualitie
which are characteristic Of the grea
I Standard Oil magnate. During his lif
n he gave farm to each of his childre
Il and left fortune, Of over $4,000 whe
he died-a large sum in those day
He took leading part in every matte
IN of public interest. He was a Presbyt'
rian and early in life democrat in pc
itics. He later became whig and the
a republican, being strong abolition
list. His fame as a speller was widel
known. A story is told that at a gres
match at one of the West Finley schoo
houses fifty years ago he spelled correc
~ Of the district school. 49,
IN, Drove Keen Bargains.