Standard Oil Trust Issued to/Signed by William Rockefeller on stub & back - also signed by J.D. Rockefeller, H.M. Flagler, W.H. Beardsley and Freeman - 1889 dated Autographed Oil Stock Certificate

Stock issued to William Rockefeller and signed on stub and the back. Signed by J.D. Rockefeller as president, H.M. Flagler as secretary and Freeman as treasurer on front. Also signed by W.H. Beardsley on back. Rare!

William Avery Rockefeller (1841-1922) was a co-founder of the notable Rockefeller family in the United States, alongside his elder brother, John D. Rockefeller. He was the son of William Avery Rockefeller, Sr. and Eliza (Davison) Rockefeller, born in Richford, New York. In 1853, his family relocated to Strongsville, Ohio. He later constructed an extravagant mansion known as "Rockwood Hall," which has since been demolished, situated within the Rockefeller family estate of "Pocantico" in Westchester County, New York. In 1865, he ventured into the oil industry by establishing a refinery. Two years later, his brother's firm, Rockefeller & Andrews, acquired this refinery, and in 1870, it evolved into Standard Oil. William Rockefeller was pivotal in developing Standard Oil's extensive export operations in New York and oversaw the entire enterprise. In 1872, he played a crucial role in resolving conflicts between refiners and crude oil producers. During this period, he forged strong partnerships with prominent oil figures in the East, including Henry H. Rogers and Charles Pratt, who eventually joined Standard Oil. William served as a trustee of the Standard Oil Trust until its dissolution in 1890.

Rockefeller, in collaboration with Henry Rogers, orchestrated a fraudulent scheme that yielded a profit of $36 million. Initially, they acquired Anaconda Properties from Marcus Daly for $39 million, with the stipulation that the payment would be deposited in a bank for a specified duration (National City Bank was managed by associates of Rockefeller). Subsequently, Rogers and Rockefeller established a fictitious entity called the Amalgamated Copper Company, appointing their own clerks as nominal directors and claiming the company had a valuation of $75 million. They then arranged for the Amalgamated Copper Company to purchase Anaconda from them for $75 million in capital stock, which they had conveniently printed for this transaction. Following this, they secured a $39 million loan from the bank, using Amalgamated Copper as collateral. This allowed them to reimburse Daly for Anaconda and to sell $75 million worth of Amalgamated stock to the public. After repaying the bank's $39 million loan, they realized a cash profit of $36 million. Thus, through deception of Daly, the bank, and the public, Rockefeller and Rogers generated a $36 million profit before Amalgamated Copper even commenced operations. Amalgamated controlled the mines in Butte, Montana, and eventually evolved into the Anaconda Copper Company. Married to Almira Geraldine Goodsell, Rockefeller also developed the National City Bank of New York, which is now part of Citigroup. He fathered six children and, upon his passing in 1922, left behind a fortune estimated between $150 million and $200 million.

John Davison Rockefeller, Sr. (July 8, 1839 – May 23, 1937) was a prominent American entrepreneur and philanthropist. He is often regarded as the wealthiest American in history and the richest individual of the modern era. Born into a large family in upstate New York, Rockefeller's family relocated multiple times before finally establishing themselves in Cleveland, Ohio. At the age of 16, he began his career as an assistant bookkeeper and entered into various business partnerships starting at 20, with a focus on oil refining. In 1870, he established the Standard Oil Company, which he managed until 1897, remaining its largest shareholder throughout that period.

Henry Morrison Flagler (January 2, 1830 – May 20, 1913) was an American industrialist and a founder of Standard Oil, which was first based in Ohio. He was also a key figure in the development of the Atlantic coast of Florida and founder of the Florida East Coast Railway, much of which he built through convict leasing. He is known as the father 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.

Joel F. Freeman Information: https://www.newspapers.com/article/new-york-tribune-obituary-for-joel-franc/45876889/

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