Standard Oil Trust Signed by J.D. Rockefeller, John D. Archbold on front and William H. Beardsley at back - 1887 dated Autographed Stock Certificate

Stock signed by John D. Archbold as secretary and J.D. Rockefeller as president on front. Also signed by William H. Beardsley at back and transferred to C.W. Harkness. Exceptionally nice example!

John Dustin Archbold, born on July 26, 1848, in Leesburg, Ohio, and deceased on December 6, 1916, in Tarrytown, New York, was a notable American industrialist and one of the early oil refiners in the United States. His small oil business was purchased by John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil Company. Archbold rapidly rose through the ranks at Standard Oil, handling numerous complex and sensitive negotiations over the years. By 1882, he had become Rockefeller's most trusted advisor and often acted as the primary spokesperson for the company. After 1896, as Rockefeller shifted his focus to philanthropic activities, he entrusted Archbold with business operations; as vice president, Archbold effectively managed Standard Oil's activities until his death in 1916. Drawing from Rockefeller's methods, Archbold emphasized stability, efficiency, and waste reduction in the refining and distribution of petroleum products. In 1911, the Supreme Court ordered the breakup of the company into around thirty-six smaller firms, after which Archbold took on the presidency of the largest entity, Standard Oil of New Jersey.

John Davison Rockefeller (1839-1937) was the founder and one of the original partners of Standard Oil, a pioneer in the oil industry and a prominent capitalist. Once regarded as the wealthiest individual in the world, Rockefeller commenced his career in Cleveland, Ohio, as a prosperous merchant before the Civil War. In 1863, he and his associates established a refinery that evolved into a business which ultimately absorbed numerous other refineries in Cleveland and expanded into the oil fields of Pennsylvania, becoming the largest refining enterprise globally. During this period, he managed to grow his operations while others were failing, thanks to the skilled individuals he employed, the efficiency of his operations, and a range of practices that are now viewed as unethical, for which he became well-known.

In 1870, Rockefeller founded the Standard Oil Company of Ohio to enhance the efficiency of his operations. In 1882, partly to streamline operations and partly to circumvent state regulations, he made a significant move in American business history by establishing the Standard Oil Trust. This arrangement involved a board of trustees taking control of the stock of both the Standard Oil Company of Ohio and all its subsidiaries, managing the conglomerate through the board's executive committee. By this time, public criticism of Rockefeller and his business methods had reached a peak, and in 1892, the Ohio Supreme Court dissolved the Trust. It was divided into approximately 18, later over 30, corporations before being incorporated into another holding company, Standard Oil of New Jersey, in 1899. In 1911, the U.S. Supreme Court mandated the dissolution of this company, labeling it as "a monopoly in restraint of trade" and thus illegal under the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. By this stage, Rockefeller had largely distanced himself from business activities and was focusing exclusively on his philanthropic endeavors.

William Henry Beardsley acted as the private secretary to Henry Flagler and served as 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 from New York who moved to Cleveland in 1838. I. L. Beardsley was instrumental in founding the 'Plain Dealer' and later transitioned into the wholesale grocery business. Mr. Beardsley completed his education in Cleveland, graduating from Central High School in 1869. He began his career working with his father in the grocery sector before moving to New York. From 1880 to 1890, he was associated with the Standard Oil Company. In 1890, H. M. Flagler, a co-founder of Standard Oil, appointed Mr. Beardsley as his financial representative. He later assumed the position of treasurer for the Florida & East Coast Railroad, the Florida East Coast Steamship Company, and all properties managed by Mr. Flagler.

Charles William Harkness (December 17, 1860 – May 1, 1916) was the son of Stephen V. Harkness, an initial investor in the company that evolved into Standard Oil, and his second spouse, Anna M. Richardson. Born in Monroeville, Ohio, he was the sibling of Edward Harkness, a prominent philanthropist, and the half-brother of Lamon V. Harkness, as well as a cousin to William L. Harkness. He received his early education at The Brooks Military Academy in Cleveland and graduated with a B.A. from Yale College in the Class of 1883, where he was noted for his carefree and happy demeanor. Following his father's death in 1888, Charles inherited a substantial stock in Standard Oil, making him the second-largest shareholder after the Rockefeller family. He served as a director at Standard Oil and held directorships in several railway companies, managing his father's extensive assets. Harkness acquired the Henry Flagler townhouse at 685 Fifth Ave, New York, along with residences in Madison, NJ, and a winter home in St. Augustine, FL. On May 27, 1896, he wed Miss Mary Warden in Philadelphia, PA; she was the daughter of an early Standard Oil partner and the granddaughter of industrialist Daniel Bushnell. After a serious illness in the fall of 1915, he spent part of the winter at his wife's family home in St. Augustine before returning to New York, where he passed away on May 1, 1916. With no children, he bequeathed the majority of his Standard Oil shares to his brother Edward S. Harkness.

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