John C. Looker, and his wife, Sarah Looker

JOHN LOOKER’S MILLION
The McKean Democrat 8/27/1923

A million dollars is a whole heap of money, and the announcement that J. C. Looker has sold his great oil lease on the summit between Bradford and Smethport to a syndicate of New York capitalists for a ___________ in excess of $1,400,000 is received with general satisfaction by _________ of McKean county. The fortune is well earned.
Coming to McKean county 48 years ago from Crawford county Looker, a poor farmer boy, followed the early development of the Bradford oil field as a constabont. By hard toil and frugality he saved enough from his earnings to acquire a small lease.
The peak of the oil field excitement passed and thousands of oil men swarmed to other fields where the lure of sudden great wealth was strong. Looker stayed on and at a time when the local field, in the opinion of the majority of oil men, offered no further possibilities, he kept adding to his holdings on the summit. It was slow work and at times must have been discouraging, but he kept steadfastly in his program, confident of the ultimate future of the McKean county field. As fast as Mr. Looker managed to get a few dollars ahead, he would immediately add acreage to his lease and put down more wells. It was a struggle every step of the way , ________ downright hard work on the part of the owner and for many years he must, ________, have felt the pinching need of ready cash.
But the vision of John Looker was rewarded. His holdings when the sale was consummated last week consisted of 1,000 acres containing 240 wells which produce about 1,000 barrels per month.
No lucky turn of fortune connected with John Looker’s million and a half dollars fortune. It represents good sound, common sense and downright hard work every step of the way through 48 grueling years. Yet Mr. Looker has lived well, has found good health in hard work, has provided lucrative employment to many of his fellow men and has experienced the exquisite joy and satisfaction of creating on a huge scale in compelling the summit ridge to yield a golden flow from underground reservoirs. That means he had lots of fun in accumulating his wealth.
In a conversation with a newspaper man, following the big sale, Mr. Looker said “When I came up here I had $2, and,” he added in his whimsical manner, “I’m going to get away with $1.75 of it.” Yet Mr. Looker is interested in a philanthropic manner in the betterment of McKean county. He is not only an active member of the McKean county Fair Association, Smethport, but some time ago accepted the important post of secretary for this year’s fair, which, incidentally promises to be the _________ one in history. It was due largely to the energy and public _________ of Secretary Looker that the new $10,000 grandstand and exhibit hall at the local grounds, replacing the structure destroyed by the cyclone last month, was made possible.
The success of John Looker is a fitting reward for 48 years of ceaseless hard work. Americans regardless of station, are glad to note the ________of great wealth, when it comes in the manner John Looker’s million and a half did.

Looker gets the Holley Hotel
Olean Evening Times, 9/11/1929

John C. Looker, retired oil operator, who has been exceptionally active in local real estate transactions during the past number of months, acquired the Hotel Holley property at Main and Davis Streets, yesterday afternoon, from Robert Fulton, who will continue the management of the hotel having a long time lease.

The property consists of a lot with 99 feet frontage on Main Street, a four-story brick fireproof hotel building with 70 rooms, dining rooms, three store rooms on Main Street, the hotel lobby and offices at the corner of the building, office and store rooms on the Davis Street side of the building.

Built some 27 years ago, The Holley has been considered one of the section’s earliest fireproof hotel structures….F.P. Holley sold the property to Robert Fulton of St. Petersburg, Fla in June, 1929.

In addition to the Hotel Holley,
John Looker also acquired these properties (mostly in Bradford):

Armstrong Building
Turano Building
48 Barbour
421 East Main
104 Chestnut
American House
Hazelton Building
Smethport Post office
186 Congress
184 Congress (Looker Home)
22 Kane
Case Building
23 Barbour
7 Martin
82 North Bennett
8 Walker
527 East Main
Seven Dials
Mill Street Garage
572 East Main
Crawford County Farms

Special Thanks to Cheri Campbell (John Looker's great-great granddaughter)