Industrialist John D. Rockefeller was born on July 8, 1839, in Richford, New York, eventually becoming the wealthiest American in modern history when adjusting for inflation. Guided by a deep sense of personal philosophy, he famously observed: “I believe the power to make money is a gift of God … to be developed and used to the best of our ability for the good of mankind.”
Rockefeller’s legendary focus on precision and efficiency was formed during his impoverished childhood, where his father was a transient salesman who was frequently absent. To help support his mother, a young John earned money by raising turkeys and digging potatoes, keeping track of every single penny in a small paper notebook he called “Ledger A”—a habit of meticulous accounting that he maintained throughout his entire life as he built Standard Oil.
Image: John D. Rockefeller via Wikimedia Commons, public domain
