Name/Title
Captain Ellison Adger SmythEntry/Object ID
RG134-08-01Description
Captain Ellison Adger Smyth (1847–1942) was a pioneering figure in the Southern textile industry, best known for founding Pelzer Manufacturing Company. Born in Charleston, he entered the Confederate Army at sixteen and later pursued business, driven by a desire for wealth and innovation. Smyth helped modernize textile manufacturing by embracing electric power, automatic looms, and progressive mill village planning. A civic leader and philanthropist, he influenced education, labor laws, and Greenville’s social scene. His leadership extended to dozens of corporations, and he remained active into his nineties. Smyth’s legacy lives on through his descendants and contributions to the industrial South.Collection
Proceedings and PapersCopyright
Copyright Holder
Greenville Country Historical SocietyCopyright Details
Exclusive License
