JDR started Standard Oil in the 1860s, and expanded it rapidly through the 1870s and 1880s through a combination of bribery, industrial espionage, rebates to railroads who carried his and only his oil (buying out and/or intimidating competitors who couldn't get their products shipped as a result of the railroads' complicity with JDR, though to be "fair" about it, they were often only too happy to be bought out as they were paid in stock in the new company, which appreciated in value quite nicely) and a ruthless cleverness and focus of purpose.
His company was indeed broken up by Roosevelt, but you got the wrong one, it was Teddy not Franklin who did it. Actually, he started the attacks on the "trusts" (as the monopolies were then usually called, reflecting their legal status) of the day, but I don't think Standard Oil was officially broken up until he was out of office around 1912 or so, but it's been awhile since I studied this stuff, so may be wrong about the year.
FWIW. s. |