ROCKEFELLER, John Davison, Amer ican capitalist: b. Richford, Tioga County, N. Y., 8 July 1839. After an education in the public schools of Cleveland, he there entered a mercantile establishment as clerk, and subse quently was made cashier and bookkeeper. In 1858 he became a member of the firm of Clark and Rockefeller, and in 1860 the concern en tered the oil business as Andrews, Clark and Company.. ,The firm, its ..,style having been changed to William Rockefeller and Company, built the Standard Oil Works at Cleveland in 1865, and in 1867 the various interests with which John and his brother William were con nected were consolidated into one corporation. In 1870 the Standard Oil Company was incor porated, with John D. Rockefeller as president; and a capitalization of $1,000,000. Thus at 31 he had already attained a commanding position in business, with ample resources. Then began that development and absorption which have been the wonder of the age and the subject of rare discussion, criticism and admiration. Grad ually rivals in business were either taken into the Standard or driven out of the field. Within two years the Standard Oil Company's capital was $2,500,000, and in 1874 was $3,500,Q00. From that date the wealth of the company and of John D. Rockefeller grew by leaps and bounds and cannot be adequately figured. By 1881 it became necessary to better consolidate the enormous enterprises and the Standard Oil Company was made a trust under the guidance of the shrewdest lawyers of the country. It
continued to make money so fast and to be so unpopular a monopoly that it was dissolved by the courts in 1892. By this time Mr. Rocke feller's wealth was variantly estimated as be tween $500,000,000 and $1,000,000,000. He was the world's only billionaire. About 1900 Mr. Rockefeller began to turn his great business over more and more to his partners, and to take an interest in establishing and supporting charitable and useful works. His chief gifts have been to the University of Chicago, which has received from him about $23,000,000; the General Education Board, $50000,000; the Rockefeller Foundation, $100,325,000; Rocke feller Institute of Medical Research, $4,000,000. He has given to a vast number of educational institutions, and the total is estimated, 1918, as about $300,000,000. He presented also to Cleve land real estate and cash to the value of a600, 000; to Vassar College a $100,000 building and 3,000 volumes on Greek art and literature; to Tarrytown, N. Y., $50,000 for a high-service water tower; to the American Baptist Mission ary Union, $400,000; and to Barnard College, $1,375,000.