Standard Oil Trust signed by William Henry Beardsley, Henry Morrison Flagler, John D. Rockefeller - 1880's Autograph Stock Certificate

Stock signed by J.D. Rockefeller as president, H.M. Flagler as secretary, and J.D.R.'s secretary, William H. Beardsley at back. Please specify color.

John Davison Rockefeller, Founder and one of the original partners of Standard Oil; Oil industry pioneer; Capitalist. At one time reputedly the world's richest man, Rockefeller began his career in Cleveland, Ohio as a successful merchant, prior to the Civil War. In 1863, he and his partners built a refinery which grew into a business that eventually absorbed many other Cleveland refineries and expanded into Pennsylvania oil fields to become the world's largest refining concern.

During this time, he was able to expand his operations while others were failing due the talented people with whom he had surrounded himself, to the efficiency of his operations, and to a variety of what are now considered unscrupulous business practices for which he became famous. In 1870, Rockefeller organized the Standard Oil Company of Ohio in order to improve the efficiency with which his operations were being run. In 1882, in part to streamline operations, and in part to avoid state controls, Rockefeller took a step which had a profound significance for American business by creating the Standard Oil Trust. Under this arrangement, a board of trustees took the stock of both the Standard Oil Company of Ohio and of all of its subsidiaries, and ran the combination through the board's executive committee.

By this time, public criticism of Rockefeller and his methods was running at near-fever pitch and, in 1892, the Trust was dissolved by the Ohio Supreme Court. The Trust was divided into some 18-later over 30-corporations before being folded into another holding company, Standard Oil of New Jersey (1899). In 1911, the U.S. Supreme Court ordered this latter company dissolved, declaring that it was "a monopoly in restraint of trade," and thus illegal under the Sherman Anti-Trust Act.

By this time Rockefeller had almost completely removed himself from business concerns, and was concentrating solely on his philanthropic projects. While the extent of his philanthropies are too numerous to list, among the most prominent are his founding of the University of Chicago (1889), the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research (1901), the General Education Board (1902) and the Rockefeller Foundation (1913). It is estimated that Rockefeller gave away some $550 million during his lifetime.

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.

William Henry Beardsley (April 7, 1852 - December 13, 1925) served as the private secretary to Henry Flagler, 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 originally from New York who relocated to Cleveland in 1838. I. L. Beardsley was instrumental in founding the "Plain Dealer" and later ventured into the wholesale grocery business. William completed his education in Cleveland, graduating from Central High School in 1869. He initially worked alongside his father in the grocery sector before moving to New York, where he was employed by the Standard Oil Company from 1880 to 1890. 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. On February 26, 1874, Mr. Beardsley married Miss Lillian, the daughter of Marcus S. Sterling from Bridgeport, Connecticut, whose grandfather had once served as the mayor of the city. The couple had three children: Sterling S., Lillian, and William Jr. Mr. Beardsley was an active member of the Field and Marine Club, the Midwood Club, and the Ohio Society of New York, enjoying a prominent position in social circles and a distinguished reputation in financial matters. Following Henry Flagler's passing, William ascended to the presidency of the Florida East Coast Railway, succeeding Flagler, and also became a trustee of the Flagler estate. He later retired from the presidency but continued to serve as Chairman of the Board until his death on December 13, 1925. Mr. Beardsley was cremated, and his ashes were interred in the Beardsley Family Mausoleum at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, New York, alongside his wife, her family, and their children.

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