Standard Oil Trust issued to and signed by John D. Rockefeller and Henry M. Flagler - Stock Certificate

Stock issued to J.D. Rockefeller and signed 3 times as well as signed by H.M. Flagler. Also signed by William H. Beardsley on the back. Extremely Rare! Portraits and biographies of both included.

William Henry Beardsley acted as the private secretary to Henry Flagler and served as the Chairman of the Florida East Coast Railway Company. Born on April 7, 1852, in Cleveland, Ohio, he was the son of I. L. Beardsley, a journalist from New York who moved to Cleveland in 1838. I. L. Beardsley was instrumental in founding the 'Plain Dealer' and later transitioned into the wholesale grocery business. Mr. Beardsley completed his education in Cleveland, graduating from Central High School in 1869. He began his career working with his father in the grocery sector before moving to New York. From 1880 to 1890, he was associated with the Standard Oil Company. In 1890, H. M. Flagler, a co-founder of Standard Oil, appointed Mr. Beardsley as his financial representative. He later assumed the position of treasurer for the Florida & East Coast Railroad, the Florida East Coast Steamship Company, and all properties managed by Mr. Flagler.

John Davison Rockefeller (1839-1937) was the founder and one of the original partners of Standard Oil, a pioneer in the oil industry and a prominent capitalist. Once regarded as the wealthiest individual in the world, Rockefeller commenced his career in Cleveland, Ohio, as a prosperous merchant before the Civil War. In 1863, he and his associates established a refinery that evolved into a business which ultimately absorbed numerous other refineries in Cleveland and expanded into the oil fields of Pennsylvania, becoming the largest refining enterprise globally. During this period, he managed to grow his operations while others were failing, thanks to the skilled individuals he employed, the efficiency of his operations, and a range of practices that are now viewed as unethical, for which he became well-known.

In 1870, Rockefeller founded the Standard Oil Company of Ohio to enhance the efficiency of his operations. In 1882, partly to streamline operations and partly to circumvent state regulations, he made a significant move in American business history by establishing the Standard Oil Trust. This arrangement involved a board of trustees taking control of the stock of both the Standard Oil Company of Ohio and all its subsidiaries, managing the conglomerate through the board's executive committee. By this time, public criticism of Rockefeller and his business methods had reached a peak, and in 1892, the Ohio Supreme Court dissolved the Trust. It was divided into approximately 18, later over 30, corporations before being incorporated into another holding company, Standard Oil of New Jersey, in 1899. In 1911, the U.S. Supreme Court mandated the dissolution of this company, labeling it as "a monopoly in restraint of trade" and thus illegal under the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. By this stage, Rockefeller had largely distanced himself from business activities and was focusing exclusively on his philanthropic endeavors.

Henry Morrison Flagler (January 2, 1830 – May 20, 1913) was an influential American industrialist and one of the founders of Standard Oil, originally established in Ohio. He played a significant role in the development of Florida's Atlantic coast and was the founder of the Florida East Coast Railway. Additionally, he is recognized as a co-founder and substantial investor in the cities of Miami and Palm Beach, Florida.

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