Standard Oil Trust Issued to and Signed by Ida A. Flagler - also signed by J.D. Rockefeller, John D. Archbold and W.H. Beardsley - 1890 dated Autographed Oil Stock Certificate
Inv# AG3026 Autograph
Ohio
Stock issued to Ida A. Flagler and signed on the back. Signed by J.D. Rockefeller as president and John D. Archbold as secretary on front. Signed by W.H. Beardsley on back.
Ida Alice Flagler was born in 1848 and grew up in Philadelphia. Her father died
when she was young, and her family struggled financially. Alice briefly worked as an actress before becoming a nurse for Mary Harkness Flagler, the first wife of businessman Henry Flagler. In 1883, Alice married Henry Flagler. Henry was 53 years old and Ida Alice was 35. They went on a honeymoon to Jacksonville and St. Augustine, where they were inspired by the area and eventually built the Ponce de Leon Hotel in 1885. Their homes were Kirkside in St. Augustine and Satanstoe in New York. They also often used the yacht that Henry named after Ida Alice, the Alicia to visit Newport, Rhode Island, and other society locations.
Alice was very popular in St. Augustine and often hosted dinner dances attended by wealthy guests like the Astors and Vanderbilts. It was at one of these events that Henry Flagler met Mary Lily Kenan, who would later become his second wife. In the 1890s, Alice became interested in Spiritualism and claimed to communicate with historical figures using an Ouija board. She also openly spoke about her husband's infidelity, which caused him to become concerned about her behavior. She also claimed that the Russian Czar was in love with her and that she would marry him. In 1895, Alice was sent to Choate House, a sanitarium for mental and nervous disorders, after doctors were consulted about her behavior. She was diagnosed with "incurable delusional insanity" and stayed there for several months before undergoing a "rest cure" at the Flaglers' Orienta Point mansion. However, Alice's condition worsened, and she was declared legally insane by the New York Supreme Court. The controversy surrounding Henry Flagler's divorce from his wife Alice in 1901 was mainly due to the fact that she was diagnosed with "incurable delusional insanity" and confined to a sanitarium, where she spent the rest of her life. At the time, mental illness was not well understood, and many people believed that it was a moral failing or a character flaw rather than a medical condition. Furthermore, the idea of divorcing someone for mental illness was seen as unethical by some, as it was believed that marriage was meant to be a lifelong commitment regardless of the circumstances. However, Flagler was able to get new Florida divorce laws created, which included provisions for divorce on the grounds of insanity, to end his marriage to Alice and marry his new wife Mary Lily Kenan. Henry "did her right" in that he gave Ida Alice a significant settlement in excess of $2 million to provide for her care for the rest of her life. He often tried to help get her out of her confinement after his divorce. However, she never improved enough to be able to be outside of the hospital. Alice spent the rest of her life in isolation and died in 1930.
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.
John Dustin Archbold (born July 26, 1848, in Leesburg, Ohio; died December 6, 1916, in Tarrytown, New York) was a prominent American capitalist and one of the pioneering oil refiners in the United States. His modest oil enterprise was acquired by John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil Company. Archbold quickly advanced within Standard Oil, managing numerous intricate and confidential negotiations throughout the years. By 1882, he had become Rockefeller's closest confidant and frequently served as the company's principal spokesperson. Following 1896, Rockefeller delegated business responsibilities to Archbold as he focused on his philanthropic endeavors; as vice president, Archbold effectively oversaw the operations of Standard Oil until his passing in 1916. Influenced by Rockefeller's strategies, Archbold prioritized stabilization, efficiency, and the reduction of waste in the refining and distribution of petroleum products. In 1911, the Supreme Court mandated the dissolution of the company into approximately thirty-six smaller entities, after which Archbold assumed the presidency of the largest, Standard Oil of New Jersey.
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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