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Michael Late Benedum (July 16, 1869 – July 30, 1959) was a wealthy businessman from
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,
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...
, who made his fortune in the
oil An oil is any nonpolar chemical substance that is composed primarily of hydrocarbons and is hydrophobic (does not mix with water) and lipophilic (mixes with other oils). Oils are usually flammable and surface active. Most oils are unsaturate ...
and
natural gas Natural gas (also fossil gas, methane gas, and gas) is a naturally occurring compound of gaseous hydrocarbons, primarily methane (95%), small amounts of higher alkanes, and traces of carbon dioxide and nitrogen, hydrogen sulfide and helium ...
industry in the early 20th century. Benedum accumulated immense wealth and became one of the richest men in America. His story is still celebrated in West Virginia and Pennsylvania, where he is considered a true American success story.


Early life and family

Benedum was born in
Bridgeport Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut and the fifth-most populous city in New England, with a population of 148,654 in 2020. Located in eastern Fairfield County at the mouth of the Pequonnock River on Long Is ...
,
West Virginia West Virginia is a mountainous U.S. state, state in the Southern United States, Southern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.The United States Census Bureau, Census Bureau and the Association of American ...
. His mother, Caroline Southworth Benedum, named him after the family doctor Michael Late. Michael attended school until age 16, when he quit to take his first job at the Davison Flour Mill where he worked 12 hours a day and was paid $16 a month. His wife Sarah "Sadie" Nancy Lantz Benedum, often overshadowed by her husband Michael's fame, was a crucial figure in his life. A bright and independent woman, she wasn't just a wife but a partner in his success. Sadie offered invaluable advice and support as Michael built his oil empire, and they were a team both in business and philanthropy. Together, they established the Benedum Foundation, leaving a lasting legacy of giving back to their communities. Though the tragic loss of their son, Claude, deeply affected them, Sadie remained a pillar of strength for Michael and continued her impactful work. Her intelligence, unwavering support, and spirit of generosity continue to inspire many even today. Claude Worthington Benedum, was born in 1898 in
Cameron, West Virginia Cameron is a city in Marshall County, West Virginia, United States. It is part of the Wheeling metropolitan area. The population was 849 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Geography Cameron is located at (39.826579, -80.566107). Acc ...
, but died at the age of 20 during the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic while working with the
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on chemical warfare.


Career

Benedum's career got a lucky start after a chance encounter on a train with a superintendent of the South Penn Oil Company. Benedum was known for his negotiating skills and his success as a
wildcatter A wildcatter is an individual who drills wildcat wells, which are exploration oil wells drilled in areas not known to be oil fields. Notable wildcatters include Glenn McCarthy, Thomas Baker Slick Sr., Mike Benedum, Joe Trees, Clem S. Clark ...
. He is said to have found "more oil in more places than anyone in history." With his long-term business partner
Joe Trees Joseph Clifton Trees (1870 - May 20, 1943) was a college football player at the University of Pittsburgh, the first athlete to receive an athletic subsidization at the school, and, possibly, an early professional football player. He later made mi ...
, Benedum created the Benedum-Trees Oil Company. The famous partnership started with the purchase of an oil lease in Pleasants County, West Virginia. The first well on this lease began producing in 1896; soon, six other wells became active. The profit from this lease allowed Benedum and Trees to purchase a dozen additional leases in West Virginia. The company was responsible for the discovery of the famous
Yates Oil Field The Yates Oil Field is a giant oil field in the Permian Basin of west Texas. Primarily in extreme southeastern Pecos County, it also stretches under the Pecos River and partially into Crockett County. Iraan, on the Pecos River and directly adj ...
in Texas. The business was so successful that Benedum appeared on a list of the 76 wealthiest Americans in 1957. He was proclaimed West Virginian of the Year in the same year for leaving much of his wealth to the improvement of the state. Benedum was a Democrat and donated heavily to the party. The New York Times described him as a "friend" of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Benedum made a particular effort to convince African Americans, who at that time largely identified with the Republican party, to vote Democratic.


Legacy and philanthropy

Benedum never retired. Though he was very wealthy and 87 years old, ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'' reported in 1956 that he continued to work seven days a week. In 1910, Benedum sold an oil lease which he had procured in
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, for $7 million. Benedum donated to many charitable causes during his lifetime. He was responsible for the construction of a civic center and a
Methodist Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a Protestant Christianity, Christian Christian tradition, tradition whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's brother ...
church building in his hometown of Bridgeport, West Virginia. The wealth from the Benedum estate was placed in a foundation named for the Benedums' son: the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation. Benedum directed that the foundation use the money for causes local to Pittsburgh and West Virginia. The foundation website claims that have donated over $565,000,000. In 1950, the Texas Railroad Commission named an oilfield after Michael Benedum. The Benedum Field is located in northeast
Upton County, Texas Upton County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 3,308. Its county seat is Rankin. The county was created in 1887 and later organized in 1910. It is named for two b ...
. This honor was given Benedum after his lease produced the discovery well, Alford No. 1, in 1948. This well kicked off the oil boom of the 1940s in the Permian Basin. A portrait of Benedum hangs in the
National Portrait Gallery National Portrait Gallery may refer to: * National Portrait Gallery (Australia), in Canberra * National Portrait Gallery (Sweden), in Mariefred *National Portrait Gallery (United States), in Washington, D.C. *National Portrait Gallery, London ...
in Washington, D.C. A documentary film titled " Michael Benedum: The Wildcatter" was produced in 1980 and tells the story of his life and career.


Love for West Virginia

"Life has been sweet to me…sweet in the loved ones that have been mine, sweet in the friends who have surrounded me & rewarding in the opportunities that have come my way. I could not leave this earth with any degree of happiness and satisfaction if I felt that I had not tried to bring some of these joys to those less fortunate than I have been. We know not where seed may sprout. In the poorest and most unregarded child who seems to be abandoned to ignorance and evil, there may slumber virtue, intellect and genius. It is our duty to sow and to nurture, leaving it to others to harvest the fruits of our efforts. While I am conscious that my love for the land that gave me birth has been an influence in guiding the disposition of my estate, there are other practical reasons why I have favored my native state of West Virginia. It is not that I am unmindful or unappreciative of my adopted home of Pennsylvania, but rather that I have sought to appraise and balance the needs of each and the available potential for supplying those needs. I cannot close my eyes to the realistic consideration that Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania abound in riches, having a citizenship in which men of great wealth are more common than rare. West Virginia is in a less fortunate position. There can be no question but that its needs are much greater than those of my adopted home. Consequently, in making specific provisions for West Virginia institutions, I have done so in good conscience, with a sense of equity & with recognition of a responsibility to distribute my estate in a way that will bring the greatest good to the greatest number. This decision was not made lightly or impetuously." -Quote from the will of Michael Late Benedum 15th day of June 1957.


Death

Benedum died in 1959 and is interred at
Homewood Cemetery Homewood Cemetery is a historic urban cemetery in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located in Point Breeze and is bordered by Frick Park, the neighborhood of Squirrel Hill, and the smaller Smithfield Cemetery. It was established i ...
. Benedum's legacy of generosity lived on after his death. He bequeathed a significant portion of his vast fortune, exceeding $100 million, to both his family and the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation. True to his wishes, this Pittsburgh-based charity remains a pillar of support for West Virginia, channeling much of its philanthropic efforts towards the region.


Eponymous things

* Benedum Field: This oil field in Upton County, Texas, was named in his honor after Benedum's lease produced the discovery well Alford No. 1 in 1948. *
Benedum Hall Michael L. Benedum Hall of Engineering is a landmark academic building on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. The building was designed in the brutalist style by the architectural firm of Dee ...
: Located on the campus of West Virginia University, this building houses the university's College of Law. It was constructed with a generous donation from Benedum in 1927. *
Benedum Center The Benedum Center for the Performing Arts (formerly the Stanley Theatre) is a theater and concert hall located at 237 7th Street in the Cultural District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Designed by the Philadelphia architectural firm Hoffman-Hen ...
: This performing arts center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was built with a donation from Benedum in 1962. * Benedum Trees Oil Company Building: This historic building in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, served as the headquarters for the Benedum-Trees Oil Company for many years. It is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. * Michael Late Benedum Chapter of the American Association of Professional Landmen (AAPL): This chapter of the AAPL, a professional organization for landmen in the oil and gas industry, is named in Benedum's honor. * Benedum Foundation: Established by Benedum in 1944, this foundation supports educational, cultural, and healthcare initiatives in West Virginia and Pennsylvania. * Benedum scholarship:
West Virginia University West Virginia University (WVU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university with its main campus in Morgantown, West Virginia, United States. Its other campuses are those of the West Virginia University Ins ...
offers a scholarship in Benedum's name to students from West Virginia who are pursuing careers in the oil and gas industry. * Benedum Civic Center (Bridgeport, WV) An enlarged replica of Benedums family home used as a public community and event center, build and dedicated by Benedum himself in 1956. *Benedum Libraries: Several libraries in West Virginia and Pennsylvania bear Benedum's name, including the Benedum Public Library in Bridgeport, West Virginia, and the Benedum Library at
West Virginia University West Virginia University (WVU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university with its main campus in Morgantown, West Virginia, United States. Its other campuses are those of the West Virginia University Ins ...
. * Benedum Airport: In Bridgeport West Virginia. Also known as North Central Regional Airport. Code CKB. * Benedum Room: This room in the
Greenbrier Hotel The Greenbrier is a luxury resort located in the Allegheny Mountains near White Sulphur Springs in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, in the United States. Since 1778, visitors have traveled to this part of the state to "take the waters" of th ...
in
White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia White Sulphur Springs is a city in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,231 at the 2020 census. The city emblem consists of five dandelion flowers and the citizens celebrate spring with an annual Dandelion Festiva ...
, was a favorite of Benedum's and is still named in his honor.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Benedum, Michael Late 1869 births 1959 deaths American businesspeople in the oil industry Wildcatters Businesspeople from Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Republicans Pennsylvania Democrats People from Bridgeport, West Virginia Businesspeople from West Virginia Burials at Homewood Cemetery