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== Biography ==

== Biography ==

===Early life===

===Early life===

John was born at Richford, New York, the son of William Avery Rockefeller and Eliza (Davison) Rockefeller. His father, a travelling salesman of dubious medical cures, was supporting a bigamous second family and was seldom home. John was of [[Scots]], [[Yankee]] and [[German Americans|German]] ancestry. His mother was a devoutly religious Baptist, strait-laced, and austere. John was the second of six children and the oldest of three sons. The family moved around a great deal and he attended public schools haphazardly in several towns until he received a good education in Owego, New York and then attended the excellent Cleveland High School in 1853-55; he now studied hard, and did well in mathematics.  He never attended college, but three months at a local business school gave him the basics of bookkeeping and commercial and banking practice.  

John was born at Richford, New York, the son of William Avery Rockefeller and Eliza (Davison) Rockefeller. His father, a travelling salesman of dubious medical cures, was supporting a bigamous second family and was seldom home. John was of [[Scots]], [[Yankee]] and [[German Americans|German]] ancestry. His mother was a devoutly religious Baptist, strait-laced, and austere. John was the second of six children and the oldest of three sons. The family moved around a great deal and he attended public schools haphazardly in several towns until he received a good education in Owego, New York and then attended the excellent Cleveland High School in 1853–55; he now studied hard, and did well in mathematics.  He never attended college, but three months at a local business school gave him the basics of bookkeeping and commercial and banking practice.  

==Business career==

==Business career==

===First business===

===First business===

Boom and bust was the story of oil, as too many wells were drilled and too many refineries opened. Rockefeller realized that Cleveland's closeness to the oil fields and its superb transportation system by rail and steamboats on the Great Lakes gave it a competitive advantage over other cities. In 1863 he, three Clark brothers, and chemist Samuel Andrews, an expert in refining methods, built the Excelsior refinery. In February 1865, he paid $72,500 to buy out the Clarks and partner only with Andrews.  That marked his full-time entry into the oil business and, he wrote later, "was the day that determined my career."  

Boom and bust was the story of oil, as too many wells were drilled and too many refineries opened. Rockefeller realized that Cleveland's closeness to the oil fields and its superb transportation system by rail and steamboats on the Great Lakes gave it a competitive advantage over other cities. In 1863 he, three Clark brothers, and chemist Samuel Andrews, an expert in refining methods, built the Excelsior refinery. In February 1865, he paid $72,500 to buy out the Clarks and partner only with Andrews.  That marked his full-time entry into the oil business and, he wrote later, "was the day that determined my career."  

By November his refinery was the largest of the 30 in Cleveland. Its sales in 1865 reached $1,200,000; its capacity of 500 barrels a day was double that of the nearest competitor. Rockefeller built a second refinery, the Standard Works, and send his brother William, now a partner too, to New York to organize the export and eastern trade.  The leading Cleveland bankers funded the firm. "I was always a great borrower in those days," he recalled. Unlike most oilmen he was methodical, systematic and thorough in his planning, avoiding the speculation, waste, and guesswork that characterized most of his get-rich-quick competitors. Oil prices were high in 1865-66 and now there were fifty rival refineries in Cleveland and 80 in Pittsburgh. Overproduction resulted, ending prices down in 1867-68. Bankruptcy engulfed both well-owners and small refineries that had over-expanded on borrowed money they could not repay. The strength, efficiency, and foresight of the Rockefeller firm kept it profitable.

By November his refinery was the largest of the 30 in Cleveland. Its sales in 1865 reached $1,200,000; its capacity of 500 barrels a day was double that of the nearest competitor. Rockefeller built a second refinery, the Standard Works, and send his brother William, now a partner too, to New York to organize the export and eastern trade.  The leading Cleveland bankers funded the firm. "I was always a great borrower in those days," he recalled. Unlike most oilmen he was methodical, systematic and thorough in his planning, avoiding the speculation, waste, and guesswork that characterized most of his get-rich-quick competitors. Oil prices were high in 1865-66 and now there were fifty rival refineries in Cleveland and 80 in Pittsburgh. Overproduction resulted, ending prices down in 1867–68. Bankruptcy engulfed both well-owners and small refineries that had over-expanded on borrowed money they could not repay. The strength, efficiency, and foresight of the Rockefeller firm kept it profitable.

Predeceased by his wife Laura Spelman Rockefeller, the Rockefellers had four daughters and one son ([[John D. Rockefeller, Jr.]]).  "Junior" was largely entrusted with supervision of the foundations.  

Predeceased by his wife Laura Spelman Rockefeller, the Rockefellers had four daughters and one son ([[John D. Rockefeller, Jr.]]).  "Junior" was largely entrusted with supervision of the foundations.  

*Morris, Charles R. ''The Tycoons: How Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, Jay Gould, and J. P. Morgan Invented the American Supereconomy ''. (2006), conservative interpretation.  

*Morris, Charles R. ''The Tycoons: How Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, Jay Gould, and J. P. Morgan Invented the American Supereconomy ''. (2006), conservative interpretation.  

*Nevins, Allan. ''John D. Rockefeller: The Heroic Age of American Enterprise''. (2 vols. 1940) revised as Allan Nevins, ''Study in Power: John D. Rockefeller, Industrialist and Philanthropist''. (2 vols. 1953). A favorable scholarly biography

*Nevins, Allan. ''John D. Rockefeller: The Heroic Age of American Enterprise''. (2 vols. 1940) revised as Allan Nevins, ''Study in Power: John D. Rockefeller, Industrialist and Philanthropist''. (2 vols. 1953). A favorable scholarly biography

*Rose, Kenneth W. and Stapleton, Darwin H. "Toward a "Universal Heritage": Education and the Development of Rockefeller Philanthropy, 1884-1913." ''Teachers College Record''" 1992/93(3): 536-555.  

*Rose, Kenneth W. and Stapleton, Darwin H. "Toward a "Universal Heritage": Education and the Development of Rockefeller Philanthropy, 1884–1913." ''Teachers College Record''" 1992/93(3): 536–555.  

*Stasz, Clarice. ''The Rockefeller Women: Dynasty of Piety, Privacy, and Service''. (1995).

*Stasz, Clarice. ''The Rockefeller Women: Dynasty of Piety, Privacy, and Service''. (1995).

*Tarbell, Ida M. ''The History of the Standard Oil Company,'' 2 vols, (1904). [http://www.history.rochester.edu/fuels/tarbell/MAIN.HTM online edition], famous muckraking attack

*Tarbell, Ida M. ''The History of the Standard Oil Company,'' 2 vols, (1904). [http://www.history.rochester.edu/fuels/tarbell/MAIN.HTM online edition], famous muckraking attack