After he bought their refinery, he would make improvements, making the refinery more efficient and profitable. One by one he began to buy out his competitors. He wanted to take over the oil refinery business. Rockefeller formed another company called Standard Oil in 1870.

He soon had the largest oil refinery business in Cleveland and one of the biggest in the United States. He controlled costs and reinvested the money he made back into his business. Rockefeller used his business expertise to grow his oil business and to keep it making money. In 1865, Rockefeller bought out Clark for $72,500 and formed an oil company called Rockefeller and Andrews. Rockefeller and Clark started their own oil refinery business. Kerosene was made in a refinery from oil that was drilled out of the Earth. Rockefeller decided to invest in a new type of fuel for lamps called kerosene. However, whales were getting overhunted and whale oil was getting more and more expensive to get. Back then, oil was used in lamps to light up rooms at night. In 1863, Rockefeller decided to enter a new business. With John's sharp eye for numbers and making a profit, the business was a success in the first year. In 1859, he started a produce business with his friend Maurice Clark. John soon decided that he knew enough to start his own business. He enjoyed the job and tried to learn all he could about the business.

To prepare himself, John took a short business course in bookkeeping at the local commercial college.Īt the age of sixteen, John took his first full-time job as a bookkeeper. He had planned to attend college upon graduation, but his father insisted that he get a job to help support the family. John attended high school in Cleveland where he excelled in math, music, and debate. In 1853, the family moved to Cleveland, Ohio. From his mother, John learned about discipline and hard work. Being the oldest son, he took it upon himself to help his mother while his father was traveling. John was closer to his mother, Eliza, who took care of the family's six children. His father, William, (also known as 'Big Bill') traveled a lot and was known to be involved in shady business deals. John Davison Rockefeller was born on a farm in Richford, New York on July 8, 1839.

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