The Breakup of Standard Oil Trust
Standard Oil started in Ohio, and that’s where the government first became suspicious of Rockefeller’s power and took steps to demolish it. With the enforcement of the state’s antitrust laws, Standard Oil of Ohio was forced to separate from the oil giant’s empire in 1892. Standard Oil Ohio survived almost another century and is familiar to locals in Ohio, where gas stations still bear that name.
John D. Rockefeller Sr. and Jr. circa 1915. Photo by Everett Collection / Shutterstock
Rockefeller also led Standard Oil into the iron ore industry, especially to transporting unrefined ore using the railroad assets he accumulated through the years. Venturing into the iron ore business led to more conflicts with steel industry tycoons, like Andrew Carnegie.