Plough, Inc (Now Schering - Plough )

Beautifully engraved Specimen Certificate from Plough, Inc printed in the 1930's. This historic document was printed by the American Banknote Company and has an ornate border around it with a vignette of three alegorical people. This item has the printed signatures of the company's officers, including Abe Plough as the President, and is over 60 years old. This is the first time we have had this certificate. VF+
Certificate Vignette It all began with a 16-year-old's dream. In 1908, young Abe Plough borrowed $125 from his father, purchased a horse and wagon, and created Plough, Inc., selling homemade remedies to small-town folks and farmers around Memphis, Tennessee. The Plough Company was founded in 1920 and incorporated in 1922 as Plough, Inc. Schering merged with Plough Inc. in 1971, to create Schering-Plough Corporation. The merger proved very successful, as only a decade later the company’s sales had grown fourfold. Abe Plough's long career was launched with a long stream of product innovations that led him to help build the company presently known as Schering-Plough Corporation, a research-based pharmaceutical and consumer product manufacturer, with such well-known products as St. Joseph children's aspirin, Dr. Scholl's foot powder, and Maybelline cosmetics. Throughout Mr. Plough's long career, he was known for his generosity, contributing millions to local and national organizations. He is fondly known to some as "Mr. Anonymous" because of the many anonymous gifts he gave during his lifetime. In 1960, he founded the Plough Foundation, whose focus is to provide aid to charitable organizations that benefit the greatest number of people in the City of Memphis and Shelby County. One of the city's major private philanthropies, the Foundation has supported programs for education, children, and families for many years. Although Mr. Plough died in 1984, he continues to achieve what he truly believed was success -- giving to the greatest number of people. Mr. Plough's efforts have not gone unrecognized. Among the numerous honors and awards given to Mr. Plough were the Human Relations Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews and the Dean's Award for contributions to the field of pharmacy from the University of Tennessee. Mr. Plough was also the first individual to ever receive an award from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission for his pioneering efforts to assure safe products for children.