John Davison Rockefeller was born on July 8, 1839 in the city of Richford, New York. He was the second child of Eliza Davison and William Rockefeller, and his siblings were William, Frank, Francis, Clorinda, Lucy, and Cornelia.
When Rockefeller was sixteen years old, he acquired his first job as an assistant bookkeeper at a small produce commision company, Hewitt and Tuttle. He was very skilled at math and excelled in his job. In the year 1870, however, Rockefeller had the ambitions to start his own business, the Standard Oil Company. It was created in Cleveland and expanded greatly to become one of America's first monopolies.
Rockefeller met the love of his life, Laura Celestia "Cettie" Spelman, and they married in 1864. The two had four daughters and one son. They were: John D. Rockefeller Jr., Edith Rockefeller McCormick, Elizabeth Rockefeller Strong, Alta Rockefeller Prentice, and Alice Rockefeller(who died in infancy).
Throughout his life, Rockefeller was a devoted Baptist and philanthropist and gave away much of his wealth to charities and the community. He helped pay for the creation of the University of Chicago(1892), the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research in New York, and the Rockefeller Foundation. In total, he gave away more than $530 million to various causes.
Rockefeller passed away on May 23, 1937 in Ormond Beach, Florida. He is survived by 2 of his children, John and Alta. His granchildren: John Rockefeller Prentice(Alta), Margaret Rockefeller Strong(Elizabeth), David Rockefeller (John), Nelson Rockefeller(John), John D. Rockefeller III(John), Laurance Rockefeller(John), Winthrop Rockefeller(John), and Abby Rockefeller Mauze(John).
He will be greatly missed by many, and his legacy in America will be forever known as one of the leading business figures during the gilded age and industrial boom who gave away a lot of his wealth to various charities and community projects.
When Rockefeller was sixteen years old, he acquired his first job as an assistant bookkeeper at a small produce commision company, Hewitt and Tuttle. He was very skilled at math and excelled in his job. In the year 1870, however, Rockefeller had the ambitions to start his own business, the Standard Oil Company. It was created in Cleveland and expanded greatly to become one of America's first monopolies.
Rockefeller met the love of his life, Laura Celestia "Cettie" Spelman, and they married in 1864. The two had four daughters and one son. They were: John D. Rockefeller Jr., Edith Rockefeller McCormick, Elizabeth Rockefeller Strong, Alta Rockefeller Prentice, and Alice Rockefeller(who died in infancy).
Throughout his life, Rockefeller was a devoted Baptist and philanthropist and gave away much of his wealth to charities and the community. He helped pay for the creation of the University of Chicago(1892), the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research in New York, and the Rockefeller Foundation. In total, he gave away more than $530 million to various causes.
Rockefeller passed away on May 23, 1937 in Ormond Beach, Florida. He is survived by 2 of his children, John and Alta. His granchildren: John Rockefeller Prentice(Alta), Margaret Rockefeller Strong(Elizabeth), David Rockefeller (John), Nelson Rockefeller(John), John D. Rockefeller III(John), Laurance Rockefeller(John), Winthrop Rockefeller(John), and Abby Rockefeller Mauze(John).
He will be greatly missed by many, and his legacy in America will be forever known as one of the leading business figures during the gilded age and industrial boom who gave away a lot of his wealth to various charities and community projects.