Oil Magnate, Philanthropist. After an early career selling milling machinery, he became involved in the oil industry with the South Penn Oil Company, an affiliate of Standard Oil. He reached the position of Assistant General Land Agent for South Penn in 1892, but left and founded the Benedum-Trees Oil Company in partnership with Joseph Trees. Known as the “Great Wildcatter,” for the next fifty years he traveled across the globe in search for oil and built one of the most successful oil and gas companies in the world. His industry from 1890 to 1950, developed companies and corporate holdings to include, Transcontinental Oil Co. (1919), Plymouth Oil Co. (1923), Hiawatha Oil and Gas Co. (1926), Big Lake Oilfield, (1926) and Bentex Oil Corp. (1936). His storage, transportation, marketing, refining, and conservation practices led to the Interstate Oil Compact Commission in 1933. At the time of his death, he was one of the wealthiest men in the world. (bio by: John “J-Cat” Griffith)  Family links:  Parents:  Emanuel Benedum (1818 – 1909)  Caroline Victoria Southworth Benedum (1831 – 1900)  Spouse:  Sarah N Lantz Benedum (1872 – 1951)*  Children:  Claude Worthington Benedum (____ – 1918)*  Siblings:  Richard Henry Lee Benedum (1853 – 1863)**  James Madison Monroe Benedum (1855 – 1910)**  Ella May Benedum (1862 – 1922)*  Catherine Elizabeth Benedum (1864 – 1866)*  Clora Benedum (1865 – 1949)*  Charles Yantis Benedum (1867 – 1904)*  Michael Late Benedum (1869 – 1959) *Calculated relationship**Half-sibling