The Washington times., 1937-05-24
S5OO,OOO,OOO
GIVEN BY HIM
T0HUMANITY

John D. Rockefeller, the mar
who was destined to found thu
Standard Oil Company, mother
of trusts" was born at Richford
Tioga County, New York, on July
8. 1889. to William Avery anc
Eliza CDavison) Rockefeller.
Probably for the first time IN
his life, Rockefeller has failed to
fulfill an ambition. He wanted tc
live to be 100. He died at 81.
Ever since his boyhood on 8
farm in Tioga county, New York
he had a way of getting what he
wanted, sometimes ruthlesSly, al
ways skillfully, and in keeping WIFE
his own credo, which was:
81 believe it is every mans
religious duty to get all he can
honestly and to give all he can"
S7OO,OOO,OOO GIFTS
Rockefeller amassed fortune
that was probably the second
greatest in the world. Once known
as "the most hated man IN
America" he gave away at least
$50 million dollars, alth oug h
neither the fortune nor the bene
factions can be estimated to the
precise million. Together with
those given by his son the granc
total approximateS TOO million dol
lars.
Retired from active business for
wears, Rockefeller gave most OF
his fortune to his heirs before he
died. Close associates said his eS
tate is relatively small and very
LIQUID. Estimates placed its value
around $25, 900.
The financier was the epit-
ONE, the acme of the success
stories of that century in
American history. Rockefeller
cannot happen again any more
than the nineteenth century
can play a return engagement.
He was one of three sons,
born to William Avery Rocke-
feller and Eliza Dawson Rocke-
feller. From his mother he got
his middle name and his sim
cere piety. From his father he
got the shreWdneSS, the trad
ing skill that makes his name
immortal in the annals OF
American business.
Old French Family
Way back, the family was
of Norman French peasant
stock, which is some of the
thriftiest blood on the face OF
the globe. The first Rockefeller
to come to these shores was
Johann, who came from Hol-
land in 1850.
When young John was 8
years old, he was working on
the farm, at Richford. Tioga
county, where he was born on
July 8, 1889. His father used
to have the three sons do the
work, at Is cents a day, while
he went hoSs-tradin' and selling
medicine from the back Of q
wagon.
Even out of a quarter a day,
the future CroeSuS could save
something. He branched out
into the turkey business. He
will always be thought OF as
the "Oil King" But divisions
of his life could be made in
this manner: Cd turkeys: ca
beans: 90 oil.
From the first turkey money
he made his first loan. He
lent $50 to a neighboring
farmer, name unknown to his
tory. A year later he collected
the $50, with $3.50 interest.
Then and there he decided. at
10 years Of age, to make money
work for him. Money proved
to be a willing and powerful.
servant indeed.
He "Kept Moving"
True to the traditions Of the
Yankee trader, young Rocke-
feller's father liked to keep
moving" The family moved to
Cleveland. Young John was then
IA. For a couple of years he went
to business school, but at Is, he
was out on the streets, eagerly
looking for his first job.
He got it as assistant book.
keeper with firm by the fine
old-fashioned name Of Hewitt
and Tuttle." Wages, 81 a week.
There was raise to $25 a month.
Then the chief bookkeeper died,
and the youngster took his place,
at $500 a year. That was a raise
of 5000. John Dawson Rocke-
feller was going places.
But when he asked for $500
a year, after three years service,
Hewitt and Tuttle thought their
bookkeeper was getting a little
on the "graSping SIDE" wanting
SO much money. They refused
and John Dawson quit.
With 81 900 borrowed from his