Delaware, Lackawanna and Westrn Rail Road Co. Issued to Cornelius Vanderbilt - 1863 dated Uncut Sheet of 2 Stock Transfers

Uncut Sheet of 2 Stock transfers issued to but not signed by Cornelius Vanderbilt II.

Cornelius Vanderbilt II (1843-1899) was a prominent financier and the third-generation head of the Vanderbilt family. He was the favored grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt, who bequeathed him $5 million, and the eldest son of William Henry Vanderbilt, who left him nearly $70 million. In 1885, he took over leadership of the New York Central and its associated railroad lines. Vanderbilt II was known for his intense work ethic, although a stroke in 1896 necessitated a reduction in his direct business activities.

Despite stepping back from active management, he continued to serve in an advisory capacity for the various investments held by him and his family. He was recognized as a skilled and prudent railroad manager, as well as an exceptional accountant, having mastered the complexities of the banking sector during his tenure with the Shoe and Leather Bank of New York.

From 1885 until his premature death in 1899, the stock value of the major railroads associated with the Vanderbilt name increased significantly, reaching a total of $173,497,000 above their initial worth at the time he took charge. He was known for his kindness, charitable nature, and democratic principles, earning the respect of employees across all levels of the Vanderbilt railroad enterprises. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Vanderbilt II found little enjoyment in yachting or horse racing; instead, he derived fulfillment from philanthropy, classical music, fine art, and exquisite architecture.

While the magnificent Fifth Avenue mansions inhabited by him, his brothers, and his sons have since been demolished, his Newport, Rhode Island summer residence, The Breakers, remains as a testament to the lifestyle of Cornelius Vanderbilt II. Upon his passing, leadership of the family business transitioned to his brother, William Kissam Vanderbilt. His philanthropic endeavors were so significant that he did not augment the wealth he inherited.

The Beech Creek Railroad is a discontinued railway that functioned in central Pennsylvania, connecting Jersey Shore and Mahaffey. It was initially chartered in 1882 and subsequently leased to the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad, which later became known as the New York Central Railroad, in 1890. Following this lease, the railroad was operated directly by that company. Although a significant portion of the line was abandoned during the latter half of the 20th century, some segments at both termini remain operational.

The company was initially established as the Susquehanna and South Western Railroad on August 12, 1882. Its charter outlined the construction of a 100-mile (160 km) railway extending from Williamsport, Pennsylvania, to the southern boundary of Clearfield County. This proposed railway was initiated with the support of the New York Central Railroad, which aimed to secure access to valuable bituminous coal reserves. The New York Central did not have direct access to these coalfields, rendering it susceptible to actions from both coal operators and competitors such as the Pennsylvania Railroad, which transported the coal. Coal operators in Tioga County, Pennsylvania, many of whom were already utilizing the New York Central through the Fall Brook Coal Company's rail system, were grappling with significant labor issues and the looming depletion of their mines.

In response to these challenges, William H. Vanderbilt, the president of the New York Central, devised a strategy to penetrate the Clearfield Coalfield, an area previously dominated by the Pennsylvania Railroad. The Vanderbilts would finance a consortium of Tioga coal operators and local businessmen from Clearfield, organized as the Clearfield Bituminous Coal Company, enabling them to acquire coal lands discreetly. The Fall Brook's rail network, which was extended along Pine Creek by a fictitious railroad known as the Jersey Shore, Pine Creek and Buffalo Railway, would facilitate the movement of New York Central trains to Jersey Shore, located on the West Branch Susquehanna River west of Williamsport. From that point, the Susquehanna and South Western would proceed westward through Beech Creek and Moshannon Creek towards the Clearfield area.

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