1882, New York. Stock certificate for 100 shares. Green\Black. Engraved vignette of a steam locomotive at top center, portrait vignette of Frederick Billings at bottom. Issued to and endorsed on verso by Thurlow Weed (1797 – 1882). Politician and Journalist. A longtime powerful political operative, Abraham Lincoln consulted closely with Weed during his presidential campaigns. Light punch cancellations not affecting Weed’s signature. Rare.

1882. New York. Stock certificate for 3 shares. Brown/Black. Engraved vignette of a steam locomotive at top center, nice portrait vignette of Frederick Billings at bottom. Issued to the American Home Missionary Society. Endorsed on verso by Rev. Dr. Alexander H. Clapp as treasurer. “The American Home Missionary Society was formed on the basis of a joint association of Presbyterians and a few members of the Dutch Reformed Church which had been organized under the title of the United Domestic Missionary Society in 1822. The primary focus of the Society was the “spreading Christian institutions throughout the West and in supporting feeble churches in all parts of the land. By 1893 it could report that it had organized 6121 churches, of which 2978 had become self-supporting. In that year it had 2002 missionaries on its rolls, and was conducting regular religious worship at 3841 stations.” The Society was incorporated under the laws of the State of New York 6 February 1871 and in its first year it contributed to the support of 169 missions of whom 129 were in the Middle States. The exact date a mission was formed in Nebraska in not known. The name was changed in 1893 to the Congregational Home Missionary Society.

ALVRED B. NETTLETON (1838 - 1911). Union General during the Civil War, later, Assistant and Acting Secretary of the Treasury. 1878, New York Stock certificate for 1 share of $100. Brown\Black. Engraved vignette of a steam locomotive at top center, portrait vignette of Frederick Billings at bottom. Issued to, signed on stub and endorsed on verso by A. B. Nettleton. Folds. Fine.

1889, New York. Stock certificate for 100 shares. Orange/Black. Engraved vignette of a steam locomotive at top center, nice portrait vignette of Frederick Billings at bottom. Issued to and signed on verso by B. P. Cheney.

1889, New York. Stock certificate for 100 shares. Orange/Black. Engraved vignette of a steam locomotive at top center, nice portrait vignette of Frederick Billings at bottom. Issued to and signed on verso by C.A. Spofford. Punch and stamped cancelled.

1888, New York. Stock certificate for 100 shares. OrangeBlack. Engraved vignette of a steam locomotive at top center, nice portrait vignette of Frederick Billings at bottom. Issued to and signed on verso by Charles F. Adams. Punch cancellation does not affect Adams signature.

1888, New York Stock certificate for 100 shares. Orange/Black. . Engraved vignette of a steam locomotive at top center, nice portrait vignette of Frederick Billings at bottom. Issued to and signed on verso by Frederick L. Ames.

1882, New York. Stock certificate for 100 shares. Orange/Black. Engraved vignette of a steam locomotive at top center, nice portrait vignette of Frederick Billings at bottom. Issued to and signed on verso by J. Gregory Smith. Punch and stamped cancelled. J. GREGORY SMITH. Railroad president, one of the distinguished War Governors of Vermont, and a conspicuous figure for many years in political and railway circles.

1882, New York. Stock certificate for 100 shares. OrangeBlack. Engraved vignette of a steam locomotive at top center, nice portrait vignette of Frederick Billings at bottom. Issued to and signed on verso by JAMES C. FARGO (1829-1915). Expressman. Working along with his older brother, William, co-founder of the American Express Co., James became a prominent figure in the railroad and express industries. He became president of American Express in 1881 upon his brother’s retirement from that position. Light punch and stamp cancellations not affecting Fargo’s signature on verso. Very Fine.