The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1906-02-14
FROM THREE BARRELS OF OIL.
How LockharI Built Up a Fortune Of
$500, 900, 900.


veloped the estate of the late
Charles LocKart, which is now
said to amount to $l90,0o0,000,
and to have grown to that size
from three ba rels of crude pc.
troleum bought in 1852.
Mr.. Lockhart, says the New
York Herald, was a man of simple
but cultured tastes. While he
had a remarkable talent Tor max
ing money, he was devotee OF
art. 1t is said he was one of the
few Pittsburg men of wealth who
mad not at some time or another
been imposed upon with a crude
copy. His Pallery contains the
best private collection of paint
ings in Plttsburg. His gallery
was never opened to the public,
though he enjoyed showing his
pictures to his guests.
He was an ardent United Pres
oyterlan, and the Sixth United
Presbyterian Church, near his
home, was practically built and
supported by him He was char
liable, but was afraid of appear.
ing ostentatious. 1t is told of
him that when a committee of
women waited upon him to secure
contribution to charity Mr..
Lockhart would perhaps put his
name down for $50. Then the
com mittee would seek Mrs. Lock
hart to secure her mite.
Glancing over the list, Mrs.
Lockhart would come to the Item
"Charles Lockhart, $50" There
is some mistake here" Mrs Lock-
hart would say. "Mr. Lockhart
meant $500, not $50. l viii cor
rect it," Then she would sub
scrine her "mite" probably $3.50.
When the list was returned to
Mr.. Lockhart for the two sub
scriptious he would make no pro-
test, but with {. smile draw his
check for $3.50.
Mr.. Lockhart's great fortune
grew from the purchase of three
barrels of crude petroleum. He
was born on farm in Scotland
in 1918. His parents were, for
the time and place, we'll to do.
When Z years old he went to live
with his uncle, merchant at
Garllestowp, Scotch seaport.
In 1886 the Lockharts emlgrated
to this country. Charles Lock
hart came to Pittsburg, securing
employment with the wholesale
grocery firm of James McCully &
Co. In 1855 he became a mem
ber of the firm.
1t was while still clerk, in
1852, that Lockhart made his ven-
ture in oil. This was the pur-
chase of three barrels from Isaac
Huff, who was part owner in q
salt we'll in Westmo-eland Coun-
ty, from which the McCully com.
pany obtained the salt it sold.
Disposing of this OIL at consider
able profit, Lockhart purchased
a controlling interest in the salt
we'll. From that tlme-April,
l853-until his death, he was an
oil producer.
After the discovery of oil at
OIL Creek, IN 1859, by Colonel
Drake, Lockhart sent arepresent-
atlve TO investigate the field. Phil
Ups, Frew & Co. was organized,
Lockhart beng a member. In
March, 1860, oil was struck, and
sixty.four barrels were shipped
by water to Pittsburg. In May,
1860, MIR. Lockhart went fo Eu.
rope with samples OF crule and
refined petroleum and opened up
the Eu! opean market for Ameri-
can oil.
In the same year Lockhart,
with others, built the first refin-
cry IN Pittsburg. and later, with
William G, Warden, established a
commission house in Philadel.
pima and built the Atlantic Retr-
cry there. Upon the organiza.
ton of the Standard OH Company
Ia 1874, all Mr.. Lockhart's oil in
terests were merged into it and
he became an active factor in this
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