On 18 March 1859 – several months before his 20th birthday -- Rockefeller goes into business for himself forming a partnership with a neighbor, Maurice Clark. Each man put up $2000 and formed Clark & Rockefeller – commission merchants in grain, hay, meats, and miscellaneous goods. At the end of the first year of business, they had grossed $450,000 making a profit of $4400 in 1860 and a profit of $17,000 in 1861. The commission merchant business was very competitive and Clark & Rockefeller’s success was …showed first 75 words of 364 total…

…showed last 75 words of 364 total…business for good. The huge elevators on Lake Michigan and the flour-millers of Minneapolis would be the dominant players in the business. Rockefeller came to believe that the future of Cleveland lay in the collection and shipment of raw industrial materials -- not agricultural commodities. This would allow Cleveland to exploit its geographical advantages – mid-way between the Eastern seaboard and Chicago – and access to both rail and water transportation. He saw his chance in 1863 – oil.