Smith was a store manager in Salem, Connecticut, at the age of sixteen.[2] Next year, he moved to Providence, Rhode Island, where he worked for a lumber business that he became the owner of a decade later. He sold this business to start a manufacturing business with his brother Amos D. Smith, and with their A.D. & J.Y. Smith Mills they became the leading textile investors in the state. James Y. Smith. They owned mills in both Connecticut and Rhode Island.
On August 13, 1835, he married Emily Brown, daughter of Thomas Brown, a cotton manufacturer in Scituate. Smith then branched out from lumber to investing in cotton mills. They had two daughters Isabella who married Charles A. Nichols, Emily who married General Horatio Rogers and one son Thomas who had died very young.[1]
Political careeredit
Smith was active in politics as a Republican. He was Mayor of Providence for two one-year terms from 1855 to 1857. He was a member of the House of Representatives of Rhode Island. He ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1861, but won in the election two years later. He succeeded William C. Cozzens on May 26, 1863. He was reelected two times, then declined to run again. He was succeeded by fellow Republican and Civil war general Ambrose Burnside on May 29, 1866.
Later yearsedit
Smith's memorial in Swan Point Cemetery
After leaving office, Smith founded the James Y. Smith Manufacturing Company. He continued as a manufacturer until his death in 1876. He was also involved in various enterprises; then was president of the Providence Board of Trade; director of the Providence and Worcester Railway Company; and a member of five commissions in the city government. He was chairman of the commission to build the new Providence City Hall.[1] He was also a member of the Standing Committee of Central Congregational Church in Providence.[3]
His death occasioned great public mourning in Providence. Public offices were closed, and a funeral procession of mourners in carriages and on foot followed the body to its resting place in Swan Point Cemetery.[1]
Sourcesedit
Sobel, Robert and John Raimo. Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789-1978. Greenwood Press, 1988. ISBN0-313-28093-2
Referencesedit
^ abcdeThe Biographical Cyclopedia of Representative Men of Rhode Island. Providence: National Biographical Publishing Co. 1881. pp. 359–360.
^National Governors Association, Rhode Island Governor James Youngs Smith.
^Historical manual of the Central Congregational Church, Providence, R.I. 1852-1902. p. 93.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to James Y. Smith.
james, smith, james, youngs, smith, september, 1809, march, 1876, american, politician, 29th, governor, rhode, island, 1863, 1866, official, rhode, island, state, house, portrait, james, sullivan, lincoln29th, governor, rhode, islandin, office, 1863, 1866lieut. James Youngs Smith September 15 1809 March 26 1876 was an American politician and the 29th Governor of Rhode Island May 26 1863 May 29 1866 James Y SmithOfficial Rhode Island State House portrait by James Sullivan Lincoln29th Governor of Rhode IslandIn office May 26 1863 May 29 1866LieutenantSeth PadelfordPreceded byWilliam C CozzensSucceeded byAmbrose Burnside6th Mayor of Providence Rhode IslandIn office June 1855 June 1857Preceded byEdward P KnowlesSucceeded byWilliam M RodmanPersonal detailsBornJames Youngs Smith 1809 09 15 September 15 1809Groton Connecticut USDiedMarch 26 1876 1876 03 26 aged 66 Providence Rhode Island US 1 Resting placeSwan Point CemeteryPolitical partyRepublicanSpouseEmily BrownProfessionBusinessman Contents 1 Early life 2 Political career 3 Later years 4 Sources 5 References 6 External linksEarly life editSmith was born in Poquonock Village in Groton Connecticut to Amos D Smith and Priscilla Mitchell Smith His mother was descended from Mayflower passengers John Alden and Priscilla Mullens 1 Smith was a store manager in Salem Connecticut at the age of sixteen 2 Next year he moved to Providence Rhode Island where he worked for a lumber business that he became the owner of a decade later He sold this business to start a manufacturing business with his brother Amos D Smith and with their A D amp J Y Smith Mills they became the leading textile investors in the state James Y Smith They owned mills in both Connecticut and Rhode Island On August 13 1835 he married Emily Brown daughter of Thomas Brown a cotton manufacturer in Scituate Smith then branched out from lumber to investing in cotton mills They had two daughters Isabella who married Charles A Nichols Emily who married General Horatio Rogers and one son Thomas who had died very young 1 Political career editSmith was active in politics as a Republican He was Mayor of Providence for two one year terms from 1855 to 1857 He was a member of the House of Representatives of Rhode Island He ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1861 but won in the election two years later He succeeded William C Cozzens on May 26 1863 He was reelected two times then declined to run again He was succeeded by fellow Republican and Civil war general Ambrose Burnside on May 29 1866 Later years edit nbsp Smith s memorial in Swan Point Cemetery After leaving office Smith founded the James Y Smith Manufacturing Company He continued as a manufacturer until his death in 1876 He was also involved in various enterprises then was president of the Providence Board of Trade director of the Providence and Worcester Railway Company and a member of five commissions in the city government He was chairman of the commission to build the new Providence City Hall 1 He was also a member of the Standing Committee of Central Congregational Church in Providence 3 His death occasioned great public mourning in Providence Public offices were closed and a funeral procession of mourners in carriages and on foot followed the body to its resting place in Swan Point Cemetery 1 Sources editSobel Robert and John Raimo Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States 1789 1978 Greenwood Press 1988 ISBN 0 313 28093 2References edit a b c d e The Biographical Cyclopedia of Representative Men of Rhode Island Providence National Biographical Publishing Co 1881 pp 359 360 National Governors Association Rhode Island Governor James Youngs Smith Historical manual of the Central Congregational Church Providence R I 1852 1902 p 93 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to James Y Smith National Governors Association Party political offices Preceded bySeth Padelford Republican nominee for Governor of Rhode Island1861 VacantTitle next held byHimself VacantTitle last held byHimself Republican nominee for Governor of Rhode Island1863 1864 1865 Succeeded byAmbrose Burnside Political offices Preceded byEdward P Knowles Mayor of Providence1855 1857 Succeeded byWilliam M Rodman Preceded byWilliam C Cozzens Governor of Rhode Island1863 1866 Succeeded byAmbrose Burnside Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James Y Smith amp oldid 1186096522, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
