"Uncle Billy"
William A. Smith

"Uncle Billy" William A. Smith, of Salina, Pennsylvania, who worked as a driller and blacksmith on the salt wells at Tarentum.

In the spring of 1859, "Uncle Billy"started to work for Edwin L Drake to drill for oil, for a salary of $2.50 a day, including the services of his fifteen year old son. The tools for drilling was made by "Uncle Billy" at Tarentum.

Hard hats are off, to you, a cable tooler, "Uncle Billy."

Tools made by "Uncle Billy"

Credit and thanks, goes to the Drake Well Museum for the above photograph and information.

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