Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-11-25
HEAD OF STANDARD COMPANY
TEsTlFIEs IN COURT AS oRDl-
NARY WITNESS.
TELLS STORY OF THE BUILDING
OF GREAT PETROLEUM
MONOPOLY.


suit to dissolve the socalled OIL trust,
Yesterday Judge Franklin Ferris,
master OF the proceedings, had or
dered that no spectators be permitted
TO enter the chamber. and policemen
posted at the door turned back an in
sistent th7ong that besieged the room
where the testimony was being taken.
Mr. Rockefeller had scarcely en-
tered when his counsel motioned him
TO take the witness chair. The pres
ident of the Standard Oil company
gave his testimony in a clear, resD-
nant voice. which could be heard all
over the courtroom.
MIR. Rockefeller, what Is your full
name?" asked Mr.. Milburn.
John y. Rockefeller
Where do you live?'
My Legal residence is this city. a,
No 4 West F.tty 20 "th street"
What was your frs connection in
the oil business?''
About 1860 or 1862. not earlier
than 1860. nor later later than 1862.
1 wa QulAC AOuAIS MAJ AAAoN44
younger than I am now"
RecH.es Early History.
In reply TO the question as to who
were associated with him in the oil
business in the beginning. the witness
gave the names of Morris. James and
Richard Clark and Samuel Andrews.
"A co-partnership was formed said
Mr.. Rockefeller. known as Andrews,
Clark & Co. which operated at Cleve-
land, o.
Mr.. Rockefeller said that the rein
cry was a small one and his co-part-
nership with Andrews, Clark & Co.
continued until 1865. when it dis.
solved
bought the business and proper
" and l organized the firm of Rookie
Teller & Andrews, he said.
Did you continue in refinery bust
ness?"
Yes"
Did your buiness inerease?'
Yes" said Mr.. Rockefeller 1T
increased steadily"
what developments or change in
the company took place later?'
well, in 1866 there was a change.
The firm was William Rockefeller &
Co The Rockefeller was William, my
brother. and the company was Rookie
Teller and Andrews
Mr.. Rockefeller said the refinery Of
this company was in Cleveland and
that afterwards another company uu.
der the name Of William Rockefeller
& Co. was organized in New York
The same firm members that com
posed the Cleveland company made up
the New York company.
Enjoyed Steady Growth
Asked what had been the course OF
the oil business up to the time of the
organization of the STANDARD Oh
~ompany of Ohio, Mr.. Rockefeller re-
piled:
We had had a steady growth and
increase from the organization of the
first firm in 1860 or 1862. until that
time. replied the witness.
Mr.. Rockefeller said that every
member of the firm devoted his en-
tire time and attention to promoting
the company's growth and that none
of them had any other business.
Mr.. Rockefeller said the company
refining and warehouse business
and that his brother. William Rookie
Teller took up his residence in New
York to develop the business herr
and to save expenses.
When did the next change take
place."
In 1867 all the properties o. Rookie
Teller and Andrews, William Rookie
Teller & Co, and Rockefeller & Co
We're taken over under the firm name
OF Rockefeller, Andrews & Flagler.
Mr.. F7agler was a man of large
business experience and was a valua-
lie addition to the firm. A large
amount Of capital was put into the
firm.
Sold Oil Abroad.
Mr.. Rockefeller said that this com
pany engaged in the refining Of oil
which was sold in this country and
abroad
What was the next changer
I think that three years later, in
1870 the Standard Oil company OF
Ohio was organized with a capital OF
ST 600 400 and we enlisted much cap
ital in the company.
The first field for the production OF
crude oil was Venango county. in the
western part OF Penn. ylyania" said
Mr. Rockefeller. He looked 70 Ohio
TO obtain the crude oil and the refia-
ing plants OF the company were at
Cleveland PTttsburg, Parkersburg
Baltimore and New York
What were the refining points in
the oil region ?
"Titusville was an important point
and Oil City. too. and there were 9th
er refneries up and down Oil creek.
How did YOU get the crude oil?'
We'll we brought it over the rail
road to Cleveland
What had been the course Of the
development Of the industry at that
time?g
There had been rapid development
il, the cleansing and refining OF oil