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 * __ William Lukens Elkins __**


 * William Elkins was born on May 2, 1832. He died on November 7, 1903.**

He was born in **Wheeling West Virginia.**

William lived in **Philadelphia.**

At age 15 he applied for a job at a grocery store, and from then on, that made his life and career shoot forward. He went from the grocery store and moved up to a produce house, he was there for four years. William then met Peter Saybolt and they formed a produce firm known as Saybolt & Elkins. The produce firm kept growing; therefore, it was necessary to keep perishable fruits for a long time.

William Lukens Elkins built the first large refrigerator, and came up with the innovation to place the ice above the produce. Later, William bought out his partner, and he was doing the largest produce business in the United States. After a few years, he became one of the pioneers in the oil industry. Elkins created one of the first petroleum refineries in Philadelphia. He was in charge of, and operated the Park and Belmont Refineries.

The most extensive refinery in the East was Established and conducted by William Lukens Elkins. In 1875 he formed a partnership with Standard Oil Company, and enjoyed the partnership to its fullest extent.

William Elkins was a **Captain of Industry.** He was a business leader, who worked for a positive change in America. He wanted to have a good effect on America. He put his business and other people first, before him. Money was not such a big deal to him, it was nice to have, but he didn’t make a big deal about it. William wanted his businesses to succeed, not fail. William Lukens Elkins, was a good man, and he accomplished everything he ever wanted.

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