Daniel O'Day (banker)
Daniel O'Day (February 6, 1844 – September 13, 1906) was an Irish-born American banker and a close friend of John D. Rockefeller. He was one of the early leaders of Standard Oil.
O'Day was born in County Clare, Ireland, the son of Michael and Mary O'Day. His family moved to the United States in 1845 and settled on a farm in western New York. He grew up in Buffalo, where he attended public schools and began his career in the freight yards. He later moved to the oil regions of Pennsylvania and, in 1870, became custodian of Bostwick & Tilford, connected with the Southern Improvement Company. He was one of five original organizers of Standard Oil.
In 1873, O'Day began building pipelines. His first line was the American Transfer Line, running from Emlenton to the oil fields of Clarion County. These pipelines later formed the United Pipe Lines System and then the National Transit Company, where he remained an executive until his death, serving as vice president. He helped construct pipelines from the oil fields into New York City.
In 1884, he helped organize and became president of the Northwestern Ohio Natural Gas Company, a venture valued at about $6 million. O'Day retired from active Standard Oil duties in 1905, with his son Daniel Jr. taking over many of his roles. He served as president of the People's Bank of Buffalo and as a director of several energy, financial, and transportation firms.
O'Day and his wife, Louise Newell, lived at 128 West 72nd Street in New York and had eleven children. He donated $10,000 toward the construction of St. Mary's Church in Deal, New Jersey.
Daniel O'Day died on September 13, 1906, while on vacation in Royan, France, from an arterial hemorrhage likely caused by overwork. His funeral was held at the Church of the Blessed Sacrament in Manhattan and was attended by John D. Rockefeller, his son John D. Rockefeller Jr., and other Standard Oil officials.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 01:53 (CET).