Frank Rockefeller

Who was Frank Rockefeller?

Franklin "Frank" Rockefeller was an American businessman. He and his younger twin sister Frances were the youngest children of con artist William Avery "Bill" Rockefeller and Eliza Davison. His two older brothers were Standard Oil co-founders John Davison Rockefeller and William Avery Rockefeller, Jr..

Rockefeller's early years were spent in Richford, New York. With his father, he removed to Cleveland, Ohio, which would be the home base of his business endeavors. Underage, he joined the 7th Ohio Volunteer Infantry in September 1861 and participated as an infantryman in the battles of Winchester, Port Republic, Cedar Mountain, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain, and other battles including Sherman's march to Atlanta. He was wounded in the head by grape shot at Chancellorsville. He held various jobs in Cleveland, eventually becoming involved in his brothers' Standard Oil Co. Frank became one of the principal promoters of the company, and later served as its Vice President. However Rockefeller fell out with his brothers, and left Standard Oil in 1898.