Businessman and US Congressman-elect. He was raised on his family's farm, educated in New Jersey, and moved with his family to West Farms, New York in 1834. He became interested in manufacturing, and founded the Smith Carpet Company, a maker of fine carpets which eventually employed 3,000 people. He also invented a loom for weaving fine carpets, which he licensed other carpet makers to use. A Republican, in 1878 he was the party's nominee for Congress in New York's 12th District. He became ill on election day, and died just a few hours after being informed that he had won. His heirs continued to operate the business, and by 1929 Alexander Smith & Sons was the world's largest manufacturer of carpets and rugs. The company continues today as a divisions of Mohawk Industries, headquartered in Georgia. The Alexander Smith Carpet Mills Historic District was established in 1983. It included many of the Yonkers factory and office buildings that the company used before moving out of New York.
Businessman and US Congressman-elect. He was raised on his family's farm, educated in New Jersey, and moved with his family to West Farms, New York in 1834. He became interested in manufacturing, and founded the Smith Carpet Company, a maker of fine carpets which eventually employed 3,000 people. He also invented a loom for weaving fine carpets, which he licensed other carpet makers to use. A Republican, in 1878 he was the party's nominee for Congress in New York's 12th District. He became ill on election day, and died just a few hours after being informed that he had won. His heirs continued to operate the business, and by 1929 Alexander Smith & Sons was the world's largest manufacturer of carpets and rugs. The company continues today as a divisions of Mohawk Industries, headquartered in Georgia. The Alexander Smith Carpet Mills Historic District was established in 1983. It included many of the Yonkers factory and office buildings that the company used before moving out of New York.
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