The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-06-24
Extended Illness Of Brother of
John D., Oil King, Re-
suits in Death.

TARRYTOWN,5 N. r, June 24.-
William Rockefeller, oil magnate
and brother OF John d. Rockefeller,
died here today from pneumonia,
shortly before7 o'clock
Mr.. Rockefeller had been Ill at
This home. lockwood Hall in North
iTarrytown. since Sunday, but word
of his condition was not made pub
ilic.
Mr.. Rockefeller began to sink
rapidly yesterday morning. In the
ievening, came another sinking
spell. Physicians fortified with all
the resources of science, kept a
night watch, but it was obviously a
losing fight.
Joan D. Rockefeller remained at
his home in Pocantico Hills but was
kept constantly informed of his
lockwood Hall, a few minutes after
the end came. At the death bed
were Mr.. Rockefeller,s two daugh-
tiers and two sons. Mrs. Rockefel-
Ter died about two years ago.
Long Illness
William Rockefeller had been
in i'll health for many years. The
state of his health, in fact, and his
whereabouts, became a matter of
intense public curiosity in 1912
13 when the congressional COM
mittee investigating the money
trust" desired him as witness.
He could not be found. For
months the ergeant-at-arms of
the House of Representative led
a search which was fruitless. The
financier's Fifth avenue house in
New York was besieged by sub
poena servers, detectives, report
ers and an idle throng for days;
his residence at Tarrytown, N Y,
the Standard Oil Offices on Broad
way and his clubs, were watched
without avail.
When attorneys representing
him finally capitulated by accept
ing the subpoena for. him, it was
disclosed that he was in his SOU
thern cottage on Jekyl Island,
near Brunswick, Ga, but his ply
stefan emphatically maintained
that to ask Mr.. Rockefeller to
answer questions on witness
stand was to invite his DEATH He
was subject to such spasms Of
coughing, that speech above a
whisper was likely to strangle
him.
The Pujo committee, stir deter
mined to get his testimony con-
corning an alleged manipulation
of the copper market with H. II.
Rogers several years previously.
arranged a special sitting in the
fnancier's cottage at Jekyl Island,
but had proceeded with less than
"a dozen questions when the wit
ness was seized with laryngeaf
Espasms and palsy. The committee
was unable to continue without
fear of causing his death.
It was then that his physicians
admitted he was suffering from a
cancer Of the throat.
Costly Search Made
The subpoena-servers' search
for Mr. Rockefeller, which, 1T was
estimated, cost the government
many thousands of dollars, was
the most conspicuous feature in
newspaper history. of his latter
life. Although the active head of.
the Standard Oil Co., of New York
from it's establishment in LIST to
1911 and one of the richest men
in America, his prominence was
oyershadowed by that of his elder
brother, John D. Rockefeller, the
founder Of the Rockefeller inter
ests in oil, and for many years the
head of the parent company.
They were both born at Rich
ford, Tioga, County, New York,
ON their fathers farm; William
on May 81, 1871, two years after
the birth of John. In Cleveland,
Ohio to which the family remov-
ed while the brothers were boys,
William began his mercantile
career.in the produce commission
bushes, as did his brother. and
Joined the latter soon after he be-
came interested in oil, about 8 81
The establishment, soon after
ward, of a branch office in New
York, led to the removal of Will
liam Rockefeller to that city to
take charge of it. From that time
until his retirement in 1911 he
was the active head OF the New
York company.
Seldom Seen Together
In almost every respect except
his success as an oil maGnate.
William Rockefeller differed from
his brother. He was club man;
his brother belonged to none. He
was interested but slightly in
phiIanthropic work of any kind
or religious activity. Along side
the blocks of millions his brother
gave away William Rockefel1er's
largest known gift was 100000
to Wellesley College. He was an
L -. II -Nrrr