Chicago Terminal Transfer Railroad Co.issued to and signed by J.D. Rockefeller and George Rogers - 1898 dated Autograph Stock Certificate

Stock Issued to and signed by John D. Rockefeller and George D. Rogers on back. Further research needed on Rogers.

John Davison Rockefeller, born in 1839 and passing away in 1937, was a prominent figure in the oil industry. He founded Standard Oil and was one of its original partners. Rockefeller was a capitalist and, at one point, was considered the world’s richest man.

Rockefeller’s career began in Cleveland, Ohio, where he was a successful merchant before the Civil War. In 1863, he and his partners established a refinery that grew into a thriving business. Over time, Standard Oil absorbed many other Cleveland refineries and expanded into Pennsylvania oil fields, eventually becoming the world’s largest refining concern.

Rockefeller’s success was attributed to several factors. He surrounded himself with talented individuals, streamlined his operations, and employed unscrupulous business practices that made him famous. In 1870, he organized the Standard Oil Company of Ohio to improve efficiency. In 1882, he created the Standard Oil Trust to streamline operations and avoid state controls.

However, public criticism of Rockefeller and his methods intensified, leading to the dissolution of the Trust by the Ohio Supreme Court in 1892. Despite this setback, Rockefeller’s legacy as a pioneering figure in the oil industry remains significant. The Trust was initially composed of approximately 18 smaller corporations, but over time, it expanded to include over 30. In 1899, these corporations were folded into another holding company, Standard Oil of New Jersey. However, in 1911, the U.S. Supreme Court ordered the dissolution of Standard Oil of New Jersey, declaring it a monopoly in restraint of trade and thus illegal under the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. By this time, Rockefeller had largely withdrawn from business activities and was solely focused on his philanthropic endeavors. While the scope of his philanthropic efforts is vast and difficult to quantify, some of his most notable contributions include the establishment of the University of Chicago in 1889, the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research in 1901, the General Education Board in 1902, and the Rockefeller Foundation in 1913. It is estimated that Rockefeller donated a significant amount of money, approximately $550 million, during his lifetime.

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