New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-06
Mr.. ArchboId's Career

JOnn dustin AtCupOlu HAo wv
Leesburg. Carroll County, Ohio, on
July 26, 184S. His father, Israel Arcn.
bold, was a native OF virginia. OF
North of-lreland Protestant ancestry,
whose grandparents had come TO THIS
country in 1886. His mother was
daughter OF Colonel William Dana, or
Marietta, Ohio. member OF the
Massachusetts family of that name
who had gone over the Alleghenies
with a wagon train in the carly plo-
neer days. The boy was educated in
the public school of his native place
until he was thirteen years old. Then
he began business life as a boy Of al
work and clerk in a country general
store" whore no remained for two
years
Grew Up With Oil Business
In the spring OF 1854 tho course
OF his future life was determined by
tho removal of his parents with their
family to Titusville. Penn, then the
centre OF the oil region. There he was
at first employed in various successive
capacities in tho oil business, .particu-
larly as the representative OF the Acme
OIL Company. This concern was nomi-
nally independent and opposed TO the
South Improvement Company, which
was the beginning OF the Standard
Oil Company; but it has been sus-
pected that this independence was
merely e. mask, behind which he was
acquiring wells and lands in the IN
terest of the concern which he ap-
parently antagonized.
In 1875, however, he became openly
associated with the Rockefeller inter
ests. and when the Standard Oil Trust
was organized in 1882 with the taking
in of thirty-nine other companies he
was chosen as one OF the nine .irec-
tors. and was one OF only three OF
them who had not been in the South
Improvement Company.
Standard Oils Fighting Man
Archbold at once became a member
Of the innermost council which directed
all the operations of the corporation,
and there he remained, with continu-
ally increasing power From the be-
ginning he was the FIRST class hghting
man" OF the combination.
He was from 1875 to 1911 not only
director but also a vice-president OF
Standard Oil. and was as such in Rocke-
feller's absence the storm centre or the
various legal and political campaigns
against the trust. In 1906 he under
went notable examination at the
hands of Mr.. Hadley, Attorney General
of the State of Missouri, in this city,
i'm the proceedings brought by that
state against the Standard Oil trust.
In 1908 and again in 1912 he was
savagely attacked by William X.
Hearst, in political campaigns, and a
number OF confidential letters which
had passed between him and Senator
Foraker, OF Ohio, Governor Stone OF
Pennsylvania and others were ex-
plotted on the stump and in the press.
These, he averred, had been stolen
from his files and sold TO Dir. Hearst
or his agents. In 1912, also, his rela-
tons with President Roosevelt and
with various leaders OF the Republican
party were made the subject Of Sena-
torial investigation. Archbold declared
that Standard OIL through him, had
contributed 500 900 to the Republican
national campaign fund, and he con-
sidered it ungrateful for men 10 prose
cute the trust as an illegal thing after
they had gladly accepted It's aid.
Elected Rockefeller's Successor
An epoch was marked in the history
Of the Standard Oil Corporation on
December 4, 1911. On that date John
d. Rockefeller retired from its presi-
dency because OF desire 10 gain re-
lief from labor and business cares,
and John ID. Archbold was elected his
successor. As president Of the Stand
ard Oil Company OF New Jersey-the
legal name of the great eoncern-he
continued the policy which had long
prevailed, and remained in the closest
touch and sympathy with the prede-
cessor whose chief lieutenant he had
SO long been.
To various philanthropic enterprises
Mr.. Archbold gave much attention and
much money. Syracuse University
was his favorite, and he gave to 1t
100000 on one occasion and other
large sums at other times; and since
1893 he was president Of its board of
trustees. The chancellor Of that in
stitution, DR.. Day, frequently on the
platform and in print defended thu
business methods OF Mr. Archbold and
the Standard oil, and holly resented
the imputation that Mr.. Archbold'.
gifts 10 Syracuse we're tainted money"
He was a benefactor, also, Of the
Post Graduate Medical School and Hos
pital, OF this city, and Of ST. Christie
piers Home and 0rphsnage. OF the
Methodist Episcopal Church. Of both
OF which institutions he was a direc.
tor. He was a member and generous
supporter OF the Methodist Church.
Mr.. Archbold was married at Titus