About the time we went into the oil business Mr.Flagler established himself as a commission merchant in the same building with Mr.Clark, who took over and succeeded the firm of Clark & Rockefeller.

A little later he bought out Mr.Clark and combined his trade with his own.
Naturally, I came to see more of him.

The business relations which began with the handling of produce he consigned to our old firm grew into a business friendship, because people who lived in a comparatively small place, as Cleveland was then, were thrown together much more often than in such a place as New York.

When the oil business was developing and we needed more help, I at once thought of Mr.Flagler as a possible partner, and made him an offer to come with us and give up his commission business.

This offer he accepted, and so began that life-long friendship which has never had a moment's interruption.