Background:

John D. Rockefeller, Sr. is remembered as one of the foremost capitalists in American history. Rockefeller was rare in that he had two qualities that are almost never found in one person. He was the entrepreneurial salesmen who started a company, and an arduous bookkeeper who grew and extended the company. Recalling some of the great names from the turn of this century - Andrew Carnegie, J.P. Morgan, William Hearst and Henry Ford - the name Rockefeller is always required to complete the roll call. Rockefeller, in his lifetime, was both the most admired and most hated businessman in America. Considered one of the Great Robber Barons, the name Rockefeller has changed from very negative connotations at the turn of this century to a mostly positive one by the end of it. The John D.Rockefeller, Sr. story is really the story of the American oil industry. From an unused commodity in the early 1800's to the major global economic industry it is today, the story of oil is the story of Standard Oil and a man named Rockefeller and it continues till today.

Rockefeller dropped out of high school at age 15 and went to a 2 year business college. At this college he learned the skill of double entry accounting. He was a meticulous and adept bookkeeper. After graduation Rockefeller began looking for his first job. He had little interest in thinking small. He made a list of the biggest businesses in Pennsylvania and started going door to door. He’d walk into the business and up to the receptionist and get straight to the point. “I’d like to speak with whoever is in charge.” The receptionist would usually say they were busy. “I’ll get straight to the point, and I’d like to offer my services to you as a book keeper and inquire about a job.” He was met with NO many times. In fact after 6 weeks of soliciting every single business said NO to him. He started at the beginning