The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1922-06-24
William Rockefeller, Broth
er of John D., Died at
Tarrytown, N. Y.
WAS ILL "A WEEK
WITH PNEUMONIA
He Was Former Head of
the Standard Oil
Company

brother of John ID. Rockefeller, diet
here to-day from pneumonia, shortly
before o'clock.
! Mr. Rockefeller had been i'll at hi
home, Rockwood hall, North Tarry
town. since Sunday, but word Of his
condition was not made public.
! Five doctors. under, the charge Of
Mr.. Rockefeller's personal physician
DIR. Robertson, were in attendance
when the end came. Practically ths
entire Rockefeller family were as
sembled at the dcathbed
Mr.. Rockefeller, who contracted a
heavy cold during the rains OF the last
weekend. had just completed building
"a s250,000 mausoleum in Sleepy Hol
low cemetery The mausoluem was con
structed according to his own plans
and under his personal direction.
Mr., Rockefeller. who was 81 years
old, had not recently been active in
| business. although he was active head
of the Standard Oil company of New
u
until 1911 Although somewhat over
shadowed By his elder brother John
d. Rockefeller, William was one OF the
richest men in America.
William Rockefeller had been in iii
health for many years. The state OF
his health, in fact, and his where
abouts, became matter of intense
public curiosity in l9l2-l3 when the
congressional committee investigating
the money trust desired him as
witness. He could not be found. For
months the sergeant alarms Of the
House of Representatives led a search
which was fruitless. The financier's
Fifth avenue house in New YDk was,
besieged by subpoena servers. detee-
tives, reporters and IN idle throng for
days: his residence at Tarrytown, n.
Y, the Standard Oil offices on Broad
way and his clubs, were watched with
out avail
When attorneys representing him
finally eapitnlated by accepting the
subpoena for him, IL was disclosed that
he was in his southern cottage On
JekyI island, near Brunswick, Ca. but
his physician emphstically maintained
that TO ask Mr.. Rockefeller 10 answer
questions on a witness stand was to
invite bis death. He was subject TO
such spasms Of coughing that speech |
above whisper was likely TO strsn-
gle him.
The Puio committee. still determined !
TO get his testimony concerning an al
legged manipulation Of the copper mar
ket with II. H. Rogers several years
previously, arranged special sitting |
in the financier's cottage at Jekyl Is
land. but had proceeded with less than
a dozen questions when the witness
was seized with laryngeal spssms and
palsy. The committee was unable 20
continue without fear of causing his
death.
II was then that his physicians de-
clsred he was suffering from a cancer
Of the throat
The subpoena-seryers' search for Mr..
which. II 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
IF the Standard oil company Of New
York from its establishment in 1866
10 1911 and one. of the richest men in
America, his prominence was over
.hadowed by that Of his elder brother,
John d. Rockefeller. the founder of the
interests in oil. and for
many years the head Of the parent
They we're both born at Richford.
riogs county. New York. on their ia
hers farm: William on Nav 81. lSfl. J
.wo wears after fsle birth Of John. In
1eseland. O.. TO which the family re- ,
moved while the brothers were hovs. !
William began his mercantile career IN {
he produce commission business. a.
lid his brother, and Joined the latter Z
Don after he became interested in oil,
bout 1882 The establishment. soon
Ifterward. Of branch oflice in New !
FORK, led 10 the removal Of William q
Rockefeller TO that city 20 take charge !
f IT, From that time until his retire :
nent in 1917 he was the active head
I the New York company.
Tn almost eyery respect except his h
uccess as an oil magnate. William 1
rockefeller differed from his brother. /
Ie was a club man. his brother be- \
Dnged to none. He was interested but a
lightly in philanthropic work Of any +
ind. or religious activity. Alongside !
he blocks Of millions his brother gave
way. William Rockefellcr's largest =
nown gift vas 100000 to Wellesley =
ollege. He was an enthusiastic mo- II
orist. and saw nothing in golf, Of Il
'hich his brother was such a devotee !
Ie did not enjoy the latter's rugged
ealth. A
Although there was no known es- n
rangcment and they both had sum =
Ter residences At Tsrrytown. y. Y. r.
be brothers we're seldom seen together.
William Rockefeller departed fur .
her afeid from the oil industry than n
II ms brother he was = large factor y,
the railway world. having succcd- n
! Cornelius Vanderbilt a. a director d
the New York Central railroad ann Il
swing hsen officer or director Of a
nre II other important Transports 4,
IN lines. ard - manv more miscei- 1.
ncous enterprises. including large n
Iterests ia copper. insurance and paa
. ufiiitie-
on Nay Is. 1854. BE- was rarried
Aimira Geraldine Goodsrl 80 PAR