The Oil Refining Era: 1863–1869

Abstract

The Oil Refining era began in Cleveland, Ohio where Standard Oil founder John D. Rockefeller, Sr. formed his company, not to refine gasoline or petrol as it is referred to in other parts of the world, but kerosene. Motor vehicles requiring gasoline would not appear until well into the 20th century. Refining crude oil into kerosene required access to crude oil supplies and access to a transportation method. In these early years of the oil industry, refining companies had to rely on railroads which were continually expanding throughout the United States. Rockefeller made secret deals with the railroads forming what today we would call a cartel between oil refiners and railroads.