Chapters 1-2 Summary and Analysis

When in his seventies John D. Rockefeller is interviewed by William O. Inglis over a three year period, at the request of his son, who wants to clear the family name over what has been reported previously.

Chapter 1 traces the name of Rockefeller to Europe and in 1723 Johann Peter Rockefeller immigrates to America and settles in New Jersey. Descendants Godfrey and Lucy immigrate to sparsely settled territory around Ithaca, New York in the 1830s. They have a son, William Avery Rockefeller who is born in Granger, New York in 1810. The family ekes out a living off of their seventy acres of land.

William Avery Rockefeller leads the life of a vagabond in his younger years. He disappears for months at a time and is involved in numerous schemes. He does not accompany his family to Richford when they move...