Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1922-06-24


liam Rockefeller. oil magnate. brother Of
John -. Rockefeller, ST., died here to-
day Of pneumonia.
William Rockefeller had been in i'll
health for many years. The state of ms
health, in fact, and his whereabouts, be-
came a matter Of intense public cur
iosity in 1928 when the Congressional
committee investigating the money
trust J." desired him as witness. lie
could not be found. For months the
sergeant alarms Of the House Of Rep
resentatives led search which was
fruitless. The financier's Fifth avenue
house in New York was besicged by sub
peona services, detectives, reporters and
an ideal throng for days; his residence
al Tarrytown, n. u, the Standard Oil
offices on Broadway and his clubs, were
watched without avail.
When attorneys representing him fin
ally captitulated by accepting the sub
peona for him, il was disclosed that he
was in his southern cottage on Jekyl
Island near Brunswick. but his physician
emphatically maintained that IA ask
Mr.. Rockefeller to answer questions on
a witness stand was to invite his death.
lie was subject to such spasms of cough
ing. that speech above whisper was
likely to stranglc him.
The Pujo committee. still determined
10 get his testimony concerning an al
legged manipulation of the copper mar
ket with Ii. II. Rogers several years
previously, arranged special sitting in
the financier's cottage ut Jekyl Island,
but had proceeded with less than doz-
en- questions when the witness was
seized with laryngeal spasms and palsy.
The committee was unable 10 continue
without fear Of causing his death.
Ii was then that his physicians ad-
mitted he was suffering from u cancer
of the throat.
The ubpocna-serviccr's search for Mr..
Rockefeller, which. it was estimated.
cost the government thousands of dol
lars, wah the most conspicuous feature in
newspaper history Of his latter life. Al
though the active head Of the Standard
Oil Company Of New York from its es-
tablishment in 1865 to 1911 and one of
the richest men in America, his promin-
ence was overshadowed by that Of his
elder brother. John ID. Rockefeller, the
founder Of the Rockefeller interests
in oil, and for many years the head of
the parent company.
They were both born at Richford, Ii
oga, Co. New York, on their fathers
farm; William on May 81, 1871, two
years after the birth of John. In
Cleveland o., 10 which the family re-
moved while the brothers were boys, Will
liam began his mercantile career in the
produce commission business. as did his
brother, and joined the latter soon af-
ter he became interested in oil, about
1862. The establishment. soon after
ward, Of a branch office in New York.
led TO the removal of William Rocke-
feller TO that city TO take charge of ii.
From that time until his retirement in
1911 he was the active head Of the New
York company.
In almost every respect except his
success as an oil magnate, William
Rockefeller differed from his brother
Tie was a club man; his brother belong
Cd TO none. lie was Interested but
slightly in philanthropic work Of any
/ kind. or religious activity. Along side
the blocks Of millions his brother gave
William Rockefeller's largest known gift
was 100000 to Wellesley College. lie
was an enthusiastic motorst. and saw
nothing in golf, of which his brother
was such "A devotce. lie did not enjoy
the latter's rugged health. Although
there was no known estrangement and
they both had summer residences at
Tarrytown, n. T., the brothers were sci.
dom seen together.
William Rockefeller departed further
afield from the oil industry than did his
brother. He was large factor in the
railway world, having succeeded Corn
elius Vanderbilt as a director Of the
New York Contal railroad and having
been officer or director of a score OF
other important transportation lines, and
as many more miscellaneous enterprises
| including large interests in copper, in
, surance and public utilities.
| On May 25. 1864, he was married 10
Almira Geraldine Goodsell of Fairfield
Conn. lie had two sons and two daugh-
tiers. William G.. Percy A.. Ethel G.,
wife Of Marcellus II. Dodge and Emma,
wife of DR.. David ii. McAlpin, Jr.