Harkness Family

Stephen V. Harkness - Was successful as a grain merchant and distiller in the Bellevue, Ohio area. His half-brother was Daniel M. Harkess. Stephen provided the initial venture capital investments in Standard Oil but would not take an active part in running the business. He appointed Henry Flagler as his proxy for the day-to-day operations. ​

Daniel M. Harkness - Half-brother to both Stephen V. Harkness and Henry M. Flagler. Daniel did not get directly involved in starting Standard Oil but he was the glue between Stephen and Henry and he later became involved as a director and investor in Standard Oil. 

Henry M. Flagler - Henry Flagler was not directly in the Harkness bloodline but he was a Henry was a stepbrother of both Daniel and Stephen Harkness. He was the operational driver of the Standard Oil startup. He had a good relationship with JD Rockefeller from when they were both in the grain business.  When Stephen Harkness made his investment he wanted Henry to come in as a founding partner as well. Henry excelled at running the operational and legal side of Standard. Although he was not a lawyer, he took to drawing up key agreements and contracts. John D. Rockefeller, once remarked that he wished he had Flagler’s brains.  Rockefeller knew better than most of this man’s capabilities and some say Flagler had as much to do with making Standard Oil the most powerful company in the world as did Rockefeller himself. By most accounts, Flagler was a dapper, good-humored man whose manner radiated an ease that could be disarming, for in many ways he was a rogue, a man made for the times.  Behind this charm was a cunning and toughness that was managed by an extraordinary mind.  He kept an   amusing, but prophetic sign on his desk that read: "Do unto others as they would do unto you—and do it first."