Elizur Smith

His breeding farm, named Highlawn, became one of the largest equestrian estate in the East Coast, and was later acquired by the Vanderbilts.

[10] The residence was filled by rare books, pictures, gems and art pieces from Smith's travels abroad.

His stallions became famous in the racing community, and attended horse shows such as the one in Madison Square Garden, New York.

[11][12][3] Smith then served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1848 and 1878, and became a Senator from the southern Berkshire District in 1879 and 1880.

[5] His Highlawn farm would grow to 1280 acres after his death, and a part of it would be acquired by Colonel H. George Wilde.

[2][3][13][8][5] Having no children, his fortune, valued at $600,000 in 1889, or over a billion dollars in 2024 money in relation to GDP, was given to his nephews such as Wellington Smith, who inherited Highlawn.

[14][15][16] Wellington Smith would later sell the estate to William Douglas Sloane and Emily Thorn Vanderbilt, on which they would build "Elm Court", and to George Westinghouse, the rival of Thomas Edison, who would build "Erskine Park" on the estate.