Maurice B. Clark
American businessman
Maurice B. Clark (1827–1901) was a partner in a produce business with John D. Rockefeller Sr., along with Clark's two brothers, James and Richard. Clark was from Malmesbury, England and moved to the United States in 1847. He studied with Rockefeller at Folsom's Commercial College in Ohio.
His business career began with the firm of Otis & Sinclair. He entered into a partnership with John D. Rockefeller in 1856, forming a grain and produce business named Clark & Rockefeller. In 1858, a new partner was added, George W. Gardner, later Mayor of Cleveland, Ohio, and the Rockefeller name was removed to become Clark, Gardner & Company until 1862.
They had become the largest grain dealers in Cleveland. Gardner withdrew from the partnership and it became Clark & Rockefeller once more; other partners were added later, and the firm became Clark, Rockefeller, & Co in 1864.
During the American Civil War (1863), the two partners went into the oil business. Eventually, Rockefeller bought Clark's (and his brothers') share of the company at auction for $72,500.
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