Devout Baptist Mother
Bill thought he would have more business opportunities in different areas, so he moved the family several times while John was a young child. Eventually, they settled in Strongsville, Ohio. John attended Cleveland high school and then took a business class where he learned the essentials of bookkeeping, giving him a chance for gainful employment.
John D. Rockefeller circa mid-1870s. Photo by Everett Collection / Shutterstock
Even though his education was focused on business, John had a passion for music; he even considered a singing career at one point. He also had a way of expressing his opinions and beliefs and earned a good reputation for debating. He inherited his mother’s religious beliefs (Baptist), which stayed with him for the rest of his life.