Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1932-04-28
The Boyhood .
OF Famous By
| Americans f;x;
Walter c. Teagle

iifSll iliiuS fS ~ Nidl intN notih wv
In the world that seemed so far re-
moved from the campus on the hills
overlooking the little upstate city of
Ithaca. Walter G. Teagle was included
in the group that was about to 90 out
into the "cold, cold world" 10 follow
the words of popular undergraduate
song.
He received word that his professor
Of chemistry would like 10 talk to him.
Young Teagle had specialized in chem
istry during his college course. He
was what his fellow students called
''shark" in the subject Naturally he
was prime favorite with the head
Of the department
He answered the summons prompt
ly. The professor urged him to return
to Cornell the following year to work
for Ph. d. degree The educator Of
fered him an instructorship In chem
istry and held out high hopes that his
prize pupil would eventually be pro-
NOTED to full professorship.
The salary OF an instructor of chem
istry was 5000 a year. Young Teagle
was highly gratified at the offer. He
saw his way clear to work and study
under the most pleasant conditions. A
useful, II not highly lucrative, career
stretched before him.
The young man wrote home to his
father, leader in the oil industry in
Cleveland. telling him the good news.
The letter indicated that he would like
to return to Cornell and TO make
teaching his life work perhaps. His
father. in reply, ordered him to report
at home as soon as possible. making
no comment on the offer OF career
that was evidently rather pleasing to
his son.
The elder Teagle didn't mince words
as to his opinion OF the proposition
when his boy arrived home. He
Walter $1,000 year While he was
getting his education at Cornell. He
added that he didn't feel inclined to
make up the difference between that
amount and the 5000 Of an instructors
pay.
Moreover, the father couldn't sec
any real promising future ahead for
his son in a teaching career. Further
more he needed the hoy In his oil
business. So the young man was or
dered TO get new suit Of overalls and
stand ready to use them as his work
Ing clothes until he knew the oil bust
ness at the bottom.
Walter Teagle was born in Cleve-
land In 1873 and knew a thing or two
about oil even before he went to Cor
nell. As younester he spent much
time around his fathers refinery. He
had served an apprenticeship. from
time TO time. at firing stills and I'M
loading coal. for he was powerfully
built and strong lad
He wasted no time in college AZ Is
shown by the fact that he completed
a fOur-year course in three and stood
UiSH Ills AidHrSS liz WitiC tHC
thesis for his degree on the subject
Of oil. That was a natural enough
topic for him to select. considering the
business his father was In. and that
his maternal grandfather, Morris B.
Clark. was partner OF the senior
John p. Rockefeller in the grain busi-
ness and was later interested with
him in oil ventures.
The first job Mt which his father
put the recent college graduate was at
firing a still. The pay was 10 cents
an hour. The young man earned every
penny Of 1t by the sweat or his brow.
Weighing over 200 pounds and stand
Ing feet inches. he could hold
his own with any man on the shift.
He didn't remain a lahorer long. He
knew too much about the industry to
waste much time in such job.
He inherited his liking for the bust
ness from his father. His progress
was rapid AS soon as his parent con-
WINGED him that the Industry offered
ullu HUGH lubIt iihu a lfaNtilhE Id
reer. But the days as laborer must
have been trying, for all that to the
young man who had been leader
in the student life at Cornell with no
hard work to do beyond studying his
books and working on his experiments.
Fortunately. lie had tie physique to
stand up under his gruelling task
He realized. once he went 10 work,
that there was more TO getting oil
than merely putting down well. He
knew that it took wide knowledge to
determine on a likely location for find
ing the crude product, that refining
and transportation were problems re-
curing much study and wide expert
ence
He made up his mind TO know the
industry from the bottom up. His fa-
theirs concern merged with the Re
public company shortly after the
young man entered the business. He
was made a travelling auditor While
on this job he reached Il country sta
tion and found the agent gone He
hitched up the horses and made the
deliveries until new representative
arrived
After three years with the Republic
hn hncaua 81 Standard OH man I1Q