A Portrait of
John D. Rockefeller, Sr.
by Christian

John D. Rockefeller was born on July 8, 1839. He lived in Richford, New York. He had 5 brothers and sisters. His parents were named William Avery Rockefeller and Eliza Davison. When John was seven years old he sold turkeys. He gave some money to charity and spent the rest wisely. His family moved to Cleveland, Ohio. He got his first job at Hewitt and Tuttle in 1855. He built his first oil refinery in 1863. John D. married Laura Celestia Spelman in 1864. He gave $5,000 to a school for black women then he gave $600,000 to a small school in Chicago. He gave even more money to more schools and to charities all over the world. John saw land in Pocantico Hills in the fall of 1893. He ended up buying almost 4,000 acres. In 1895, John gave land for a school in Pocantico. John took secret golf lessons in 1911. John beat Laura in golf and he did not know how to play golf. He won! Laura died in 1915. John died on May 23, 1937. He died before his 98th birthday.

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