The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-07-08
SOME OF THE PRINCIPLES WHICH
JOHN D. USED TO GAIN
SUCCESS.
Autobiography of Man Who Started
Penniless and Is Now Richest
of All Men.

birthday. The following photographic
review of the personal characteristics
and career of the oil king is based
largely on his own statements:
John Dawson Rockefeller was born
in Richford, N. Y, July 8, 1889, son of
William A Rockefeller, a farmer, and
Eliza Davis Rockefeller.
He says he MIXED cows at eight
years of age
AT nine, he bought cord wood for the
home, and knew how to select the good
pieces.
AT II he supervised the construction
of a brick house for his father. He
says that it was a splendid experience.
He went to Cleveland, Ohio, when he
was 10.
He left school at 16.
His first position was as a clerk and
booklleeper in 1855. He got $50 for
four months work
He declared that he didn't mind the
amount of salary. 1t was the position
he wanted-the chance to prove him
self
Was raised to $25 a month after he
had worked one year.
Paid for his board and laundry from
his first job-and saved a little money
Always gave something of his saw
ings to the church.
Always carefully kept note of his
earnings and expenses.
Worked early and late; says his
work was always a pleasure.
When he was 10 years old he asked
for $500 year salaL'y-and was re-
fused.
Left his position, borrowed $4,000
without security, to commence a pro-
Iduce commission business with a
young Englishman.
His first years profits were $4,000.
Borrowed more money and backed
one Samuel Andrews, who had devised
a new process to improve the quality of
oil, in a refinery.
His keenness and persistence rapid
ly increased his business. Started an
other refinery, and opened an oil-sell
ing house in New York
1t is asserted that he obtained his
first years advantages over competi-
tors by getting regular rebates from
railroads.
BY combining with other interests
he forced or bought out many smaller
companies so that in 1872 he became
master of one fifth of the refining bust
ness of the United States.
1t is claimed that his business meth
DDS with those who stood in his way
were pitiless and crushing, but those
who did as he wished invariably made
His wd'd in business or in private
is absolutely to be relied upon.
His gifts to his church grew greater
in proportion to his earning capacity.
When the Independents pumped oil
over the mountains, he faced a new
problem. He tried to crush them; but,
he entered into an alliance.
In 1876 he combined all of his COM
bined all of his companies into one,
and called it the Standard Oil COM
pany. 1t was capitalized at $1,OOO,O0O.
In 1882 he organized the Standard
Oil Trust, which was dissolved in 1892
and since then various companies have
been operated separately, but under
identical control.
At Is he had $40; at II, 800; at 10,
$500; at %, $500; at 26, $4,000; at 81,
$500, 900; at "a, s1,2OO,OO0; at A, $685.
Ooo 900; at "a, s15O,oOO,OoO; and at the
present time his fortune is estimated
at more than s7OO,0OO,OOO.
He says that his success is due to the
training he had at home and his will
ingness to work.
He says his business associates al
ways implicitly trusted him.
He claims that the greatest happi-
ness that has come to him has been |
Identifying himself with Christianity
He has given millions to the church.
He has. given sS5.OoO,OOo to educa-
ton, science and charity.
He gave sS5,OOO,Ooo to the New York
board, the largest single
gift ever made.
He is frugal almost to penuriousness
in his personal expenditures.
He Is accessible, transformations ana
friendly at his church; he will speak
to or shake the hand Of anyone. In his
office he is as difficult to see as is the
of japan.
His houses are unostentat1ous, MS
habits are truly simple. He lives IKE
anv welI-to-do middle-class man.
His income is larger than the COM
bined incomes of all the sovereigns OF