Sketches in Crude-oil: Some accidents and incidents of the petroleum development in all parts of the globeMcLaurin, John J. (John James)
History
Sketches in Crude-oil: Some accidents and incidents of the petroleum development in all parts of the globe
McLaurin, John J. (John James)
Petroleum -- History; Petroleum industry and trade -- North America -- History
Three years later a noted cattle king of the Texas-Colorado trail
entered a saloon in Denver to treat a party of friends. The bar-tender,
Gus. Peiflee, formerly of Meadville, recognized the customer as “Jim.”
Saeger. He telegraphed east and Chief-of-Police Rouse, of Titusville,
posted off to Denver with Joseph Benninghoff. They secured
extradition-papers and arrested Saeger, who coolly remarked: “You’ll be
a devilish sight older before you see me in Pennsylvania.” Their lawyers
informed them that a hundred of Saeger’s cowboys were in the
city—reckless, lawless fellows, certain to kill whoever attempted to
take him away. Rouse and Benninghoff dropped the matter and returned
alone. Saeger is living in Texas, prosperous and respected. He is just
in his dealings, a bountiful giver, and not long ago sent five-thousand
dollars to the widow of George Miller. Perhaps he may yet turn up in
Washington as Congressman or United-States Senator. This is the story of
a robbery that attracted more attention than the first woman in
bloomers.
John Benninghoff was born in Lehigh county, where his ancestors were
among the first German immigrants, on Christmas Day, 1801. His father,
Frederick Benninghoff, settled near New Berlin, Union county, in John’s
boyhood. There the son married Elizabeth Heise in 1825 and in 1828
located on a farm near Oldtown, Clearfield county. Thence he removed to
Venango county, living close to Cherry tree village four years. In 1836
he bought a piece of land on the south border of Cherrytree township,
near what was to become Petroleum Centre. He added to his purchase as
his means permitted, until he owned about three-hundred acres, with
solid buildings and modern improvements. He was in easy circumstances
prior to the oil-developments that enriched him. Contrary to the general
opinion, the robbery did not impoverish him, as one-half the money was
untouched. His twelve children—eight boys and four girls—grew up and
eight are still living. Selling his farms in Venango, he removed to
Greenville, Mercer county, in the spring of 1868 and died in March,
1882. At his death he had sixty-one grandchildren and fifteen
great-grandchildren. He left his family a large estate. The Benninghoff
farms, so far as oil is concerned, are utterly deserted.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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