In June 1898 Raskob's father died after a brief illness. The family had some financial resources, but with Raskob the eldest of four siblings and his sisters and brother still in school, he chose to abandon his education in order to support his family. Raskob began the secretarial career which would eventually put him in the orbit of du Pont family heir Pierre S. du Pont.

Pierre was then occupied with the liquidation of the Johnson Company in Lorain, Ohio. Raskob joined him there after working for Lockport lawyer John Pound, the Holly Manufacturing Company, and the industrialist Arthur Moxham. Pierre had become interested in the streetcar business, and had developed a business model that he was eager to put into action. After the completion of their work with the Johnson Company, Pierre and Raskob traveled widely in search of an attractive company to acquire.

Raskob on his father's death (file 2258 July 1937) (view)

Pierre du Pont's reference request, (file 1849, January 1900) (view)

John Pound's response (file 1849, January 1900) (view)

Raskob's description of Lorain (file 2148, March 1901) (view)

Account of travel with Pierre (file 630) (view)