William Thaw Signed Rail Road Stock Certificate 1889

William Thaw Signed Rail Road Stock Certificate 1889

Start price	19.99 USD
Current price	19.99 USD
Start time	06/22/2008
End time	06/29/2008
Bid count	0
See more about William Thaw Signed Rail Road Stock Certificate 1889

A stock certificate dated 1889 from the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & St. Louis Rail Way Company. Signed by William Thaw as president. Certificate features a vignette of train crossing a bridge. Certificate has been folded and has a couple of small punch cancels. William Thaw (October 12, 1818-August 17, 1889) was an American businessman who made his fortune in transportation and banking. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he launched a career as clerk in his father, John Thaw's (United States Bank of Philadelphia) Pittsburgh branch, and soon switched to McKee, Clark and Co. In 1841, William Thaw married Eliza Burd Blair (-1863). In 1842, he and his brother-in-law (Clarke) owned steam canal boats, particularly the Pennsylvania and Ohio line. Their company added canal, portage railroad and other steamboat lines. With the rise of the railroad, William Thaw divested the canal business and invested in the new Pennsylvania Company, which managed interests of the Pennsylvania Railroad, in which he was a large shareholder. William Thaw also helped to establish the first international steamship line, the Red Star Line, to which was later added the American Line. William Thaw also founded the East St. Louis and Interurban Water Company. William Thaw endowed science fellowships at Harvard and Princeton and bestowed lavish gifts on art and education. He underwrote the building of the Allegheny Observatory for John Brashear, considered at the time one of the ten best in the world.His descendants include John Thaw, Harry K. Thaw, who killed Stanford White, and Russell William Thaw. He is considered to have been one of the 100 wealthiest Americans, having left an enormous fortune. Buyer agrees to prepay and pay $5.45 priority shipping w/confirmation. (oversees buyers slightly more) or $1.75 first class mail. I will combine shipments if succesful on more than one item. NJ residents add 6% sales tax. I do accept PAYPAL. Please see my other auctions. setTimeout("document.images.eBayBig.style.display='none'",300);