The Early Years

The Early Years. . , Saving the Whales , Up until the mid 1800's, clean-burning whale oil was still the "burning fluid of choice." Around 1850, Samuel Kier of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, began distilling for crude oil in very small quantities to get "Carbon Oil," or kerosene which could be used in his new lamps instead of whale oil. This new discovery helped save whales from extinction., Drake's Follies Strike Oil , Because of this new discovery and the demand for better lighting, in 1857, Colonel Edwin Drake was hired by the Seneca Oil Company to search for crude oil in Pennsylvania. The project was often referred to as "Drake's Follies" because many people made fun of Colonel Drake for exploring and drilling for crude oil. In 1859, Colonel Drake drilled the first commercial well in the United States. Ironically, Colonel Drake died a very poor man., Ohio Begins Crude Oil Drilling , Less than one year later, the Macksburg/Dexter well became Ohio's first crude oil well in 1860. Commercial natural gas drilling and production began around 1884. Geauga County's first well was drilled in 1899. By the end of the 19th Century, Ohio became one of the country's leading states in crude oil and natural gas production as it flowed plentifully from wells throughout the state. At present, 76 of Ohio's 88 counties have drilled for this valuable commodity., Feeling Good, Looking Good – A Natural Remedy! , Shortly after the discovery of crude oil as an energy source, it was recognized that crude oil could also be used for medicinal purposes and it became known to the public as "petroleum," "rock oil" or "Seneca Oil." Soon, crude oil began to play a more important role in people's lives. These "cure-alls" were bottled, advertised, and sold around the countryside in colored wagons as a natural remedy for rheumatism, sprains, bruises, burns, diarrhea, and other ailments.