George J. Smith | |
|---|---|
.jpg) New-York Daily Tribune, August 4, 1902 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromNew York's24th district | |
| In office March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1905 | |
| Preceded by | Charles L. Knapp |
| Succeeded by | Frank J. LeFevre |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1859-11-07)November 7, 1859 Kingston, New York,U.S. |
| Died | December 24, 1913(1913-12-24) (aged 54) Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Resting place | Wiltwyck Cemetery, Kingston, New York |
| Political party | Republican |
George Joseph Smith (November 7, 1859 – December 24, 1913) was aU.S. Representative fromNew York.
Smith was born inKingston, New York, to parents George J. Smith and Harriet M. (Ryder) Smith. He was educated in the local public schools, including Kingston Academy.[1]
As a businessperson, Smith was primarily involved in the cigar manufacturing business in both New York City and Kingston. He founded a cigar factory in Kingston that produced Cremo-brand cigars, later selling his factory to theAmerican Cigar Company, of which he became president.[2][3] He was a partner in the firm Powell, Weinigmann & Smith (later Powell, Smith & Co.) in Manhattan and was at the time of his death a vice president of Acker, Merrall & Condit Co., also in Manhattan.[4][3][1] His career in cigar manufacturing was a lucrative one, with him being described as having "accumulated a fortune" through it.[5]
Smith was also involved with banking, real estate (particularly the development ofLong Island), and the wholesale grocery business.[4][6][2]
Smith served as chairman of the Republican county committee in 1898 and was treasurer of the Republican State committee in 1899. He served as delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1909.
He was elected as aRepublican to theFifty-eighth Congress (March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1905) but declined to be a candidate for reelection, after which he was not involved in politics except for another term as state party treasurer in 1909.[4][6]
Smith was a Presbyterian who married Laura N. Lynch in their hometown of Kingston.[4][1] He was a trustee of the School for Crippled Children and the KingstonYMCA, as well as a member of theUnion League, theNew York Yacht Club, and theNew York Athletic Club.[1]
In August 1913, Smith experienced what was called a "nervous collapse," after which he relocated toAtlantic City, New Jersey to be cared for by a private doctor and nurse. He suffered aheart attack and died there on December 24, 1913.[4] He was interred in Wiltwyck Cemetery,Kingston, New York.
His Kingston home, theGeorge J. Smith House, is on theNational Register of Historic Places.
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromNew York's 24th congressional district March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1905 | Succeeded by |
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
