PENNSYLVANIA 1899 Continental Clay Product Co Stock Certificate Simon Gratz #4

Description

The certificate was dated April 28, 1899. The company was incorporated in New Jersey in 1899.
Nice low numbered certificate, #4 issued to Alfred Gratz.
Simon Gratz (1840-1925) was among the most recognized and respected Jewish Americans in the city of Philadelphia. He was born into one of the oldest families and, perhaps, most notable. He inherited a legacy of high ambition and accomplishment going back to the family’s early settlers in the United States—Barnard and Michael Gratz. The Gratz Brothers were most enterprising in shipping, land acquisition, and trading, which allowed for the cementing of the strong and influential relationship between the family and the city. Simon’s father, Edward Gratz, was known for his activities with the construction of the Pennsylvania Railroad.
Gratz completed his primary education before the age of 13 and then entered the University of Pennsylvania. Graduating at 16, he then entered the university’s law school. While still a law student, he joined the law office of Garrick Mallery and Furman Sheppard. After graduating in 1855 and being admitted to bar, he began practicing in the city. For three years he served as assistant city solicitor, which enabled him to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States. He was elected to the Pennsylvania legislature before the age of 21 and served one term.
In 1869 Gratz was appointed to the Philadelphia Board of Public Education and became chairman of the Committee for the Girl’s Normal School. Additionally, he served for two terms as the board’s president pro-tem. He was most known however for helping to improve many schools that were seen as “primitive.” He also served as president of the Board of Revision of Taxes, president of the Board of Trustees of the Free Library of Philadelphia, member of the Board of Trustees of the Jefferson Medical College, and vice-president of The Historical Society of Pennsylvania and president of its council.
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