The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1914-07-24
JOHN D. HOPES TO
Be CENTENARIAN
Oil King Wins at Golf on SeV-
0nty-flfth Birthday.
MAKES MANY HARD SHOTS.

Shakes Hands With Workmen on His
Estate Who Offer Their CongratuIa-
tions-Apparentiy Rugged and Well.
His Spirits Run High During Game.
Mrs. Rockefeller an Invalid.
"Well, 1t takes us young boys to winw
exclaimed John ID. Rockefeller as he
and Frank G. Folger, president of the
Standard Oil Company Of New York,
defeated Elias Johnson Of New York
and A. L. Clifford Of Tarrytown In
fOursome game of golf.
Mr.. Rockefeller was extremely hap
py, because he won the game on his
seventy-ffth birthday.
A beautiful day greeted him when
he arose at $50. He had breakfast at
7 and then spent an hour reading the
newspapers. Soon after 8 kilograms
Of congratulations began to pour in.
try. More than hundred were re-
ceived.
Reading these messages from old
friends put Mr.. Rockefeller In partic-
ularly good spirits, and at 9:30 he start
ed to dress for his game of golf. At
10 Mr.. Folger and Mr.. Johnson arrived
at Tarrytown from New York. A little
later Mr.. Clifford and the Rev. Arthur
L. Brooks and the Rev. Gordon Lang,
Mr.. ROckefeller's pastors, reached the
house.
Mr. Rockefeller was waiting. When
they offered congratulations he said:
Boys, Folger and I are going to beat
you today. We will pair the ministers
In a twosome and let them fight 1t out.
any one foozles."
Wins Birthday Game.
Mr. Rockefeller never played better
game. His whole interest was in win
ming, and he often made difficult shots
that We're needed to win hole. Aft
er the party had been playing an hour
Mr.. Rockefeller complained Of the heat
and had one Of the caddy boys run to
his house and get an umbrella. During
the rest Of the play the boy held the
umbrella over his head. The game was
over about 1890 When 1t was an
nounced that Mr.. Rockefeller and Mr..
FOlger had won both smiled seraphi-
cally
Mr.. Brooks beat Mr.. Lang 8 up.
Gentlemen. I'm sorry we had to de-
feat two such good players, but on my
birthday this Is excusable." said Mr..
Rockefeller. 81 want you to come into
my golf room, and we will have golf
ers' lunch"
Mr. Rockefeller then escorted the
party into his mansion. Ice cold U,ilk,
fresh the same day; chicken sand.
wiches and crackers formed part Of
the luncheon.
Mr. Rockefeller did not mention his
birthday during the talk at luncheon,
except to say that he hoped to play as
well when he was hundred.
Although Mr.. Rockefeller's score was
not given out. II was said he played an
exceedingly fine game. He looked rug
ged and well. and his spirits ran high
Workmen Congratulate Him.
After his guests departed he went to
bed and took short nap. At 3 o'clock
he was out again In his car driving
around the estate, experimenting new
roads and particularly the work of a
new lake which he is building in the
Buttermilll hill section. This lake is
needed for his new fountain. A fifty
ton stone for the fountain has just
been put in place. Mr.. Rockefeller
now has 800 men at work on his es-
tate.
AS he passed the workmen they Of
fered congratulations Mr.. Rockefel-
Ter shook hands with many that he
knew.
There was no celebration at night. as
Mrs. Rockefeller is ill and has to be
wheeled around. Her sister is also in
disposed.
"As long as can play as good a
game Of golf as did today will new
err get any older" was Mr.. Rockefel-
ler's reply to one of the friends who
called to congratulate him.