had were so interesting and important to me that I will venture to
speak of them in a later chapter.




CHAPTER IV

SOME EXPERIENCES IN THE OIL BUSINESS


During the years when I was just coming to man's estate, the produce
business of Clark & Rockefeller went on prosperously, and in the early
sixties we organized a firm to refine and deal in oil. It was composed
of Messrs. James and Richard Clark, Mr. Samuel Andrews, and the firm
of Clark & Rockefeller, who were the company. It was my first direct
connection with the oil trade. As the new concern grew the firm of
Clark & Rockefeller was called upon to supply a large special capital.
Mr. Samuel Andrews was the manufacturing man of the concern, and he
had learned the process of cleansing the crude oil by the use of
sulphuric acid.

In 1865 the partnership was dissolved; it was decided that the cash
assets should be collected and the debts paid, but this left the plant
and the good-will to be disposed of. It was suggested that they should
go to the highest bidder among ourselves. This seemed a just
settlement to me, and the question came up as to when the sale should
be held and who would conduct it. My partners had a lawyer in the room
to represent them, though I had not considered having a legal
representative; I thought I could take care of so simple a