Standard Oil Trust Issued to and Signed by W.H. Beardsley and Henry M. Flagler & Wesley H. Tilford - 1896 dated Autograph Oil Stock Certificate

Stock issued to and signed on back by W.H. Beardsley. Also signed on front by H. M. Flagler as secretary and W. H. Tilford as attorney in fact. Printed by International Bank Note Co., N.Y. Portrait and biography included.

William Henry Beardsley served as the private secretary to Henry Flagler and held the position of Chairman of the Florida East Coast Railway Company. He was born on April 7, 1852, in Cleveland, Ohio. His father, I. L. Beardsley, originally from New York, was a journalist who relocated to Cleveland in 1838, where he became one of the founders of the "Plain Dealer" and later ventured into the wholesale grocery sector. Mr. Beardsley completed his education in Cleveland, graduating from Central High School in 1869. He initially worked alongside his father in the grocery business before relocating to New York. From 1880 to 1890, he was employed by the Standard Oil Company. In 1890, H. M. Flagler, a co-founder of Standard Oil, appointed Mr. Beardsley as his financial representative. He subsequently took on the role of treasurer for the Florida & East Coast Railroad, the Florida East Coast Steamship Company, and all properties under Mr. Flagler's control.

Wesley H. Tilford (1850-1909) was born on July 14, 1850, in Lexington, Kentucky. He attended Columbia College for a brief period; however, the allure of the business world compelled him to abandon his pursuit of a bachelor's degree. Drawn by the potential of the petroleum industry, Wesley left his studies and took a position as a clerk at his brother's firm, Bostwick & Tilford, located on Pearl Street. Following the dissolution of the firm, the brothers established their own partnership under the name John B. Tilford Jr. & Co., which experienced immediate success and continued to thrive. Eventually, during the era of Eastern oil consolidations, they received a lucrative offer from the Standard Oil Company, prompting them to align their interests with this dynamic organization. These were indeed pivotal times in the oil sector, and Wesley demonstrated his capabilities through a highly successful trip to the Pacific Coast in 1878, where he played a key role in organizing the oil trade across California, Oregon, Colorado, and neighboring states.

Upon his return to the East, he was greeted with a prominent position within the home office, where he energetically and effectively addressed the extensive transportation challenges. With the respect and trust of his colleagues firmly established, he maintained this standing until the end of his career. Tilford, who served as one of the Vice Presidents of the Standard Oil Company, left behind a distinguished legacy of over thirty years with the Company, along with several years in a petroleum enterprise associated with his family. Throughout his career, he navigated all levels of petroleum merchandising, consistently demonstrating loyalty, integrity, and insight in each role he undertook. Prior to his promotion to Vice President in 1908, he served as Treasurer of the Standard Oil Company for nine years and had been a Director since 1892. Despite his extensive and notable career, he remained relatively unknown outside the oil industry due to his unassuming nature. He was a man of few words, yet possessed a profound understanding of business matters, particularly excelling in organizational skills and possessing sound judgment. Additionally, he was well-read and knowledgeable across various subjects. His demeanor was courteous, compassionate, and generous. While ordinary qualities, enhanced by business experience, may suffice for navigating the intricacies of an established enterprise, achieving and maintaining a leading position in a dynamic and expanding business requires exceptional attributes. His colleagues attested that he consistently merited his advancements, a commendation from individuals who themselves were contemporaries of the titans of business throughout history.

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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