Born February 12, 1869 in Glasgow, Scotland, William Naismith, son of Archibald and Anne Naismith, arrived in the United States in November, 1891. He took up a position as a designer at Hall and Company worsted wool manufacturing in Jamestown, New York.
On February 10, 1892 he married Isabel Hall or Tonawanda, New York in the home of the bride. A July 1, 1899 entry in the Jamestown Evening provides their address as 5 Camp, and confirms that William worked as a designer. According to his 1927 application to the US State Department for a passport, William Naismith became a naturalized US citizen on January 4, 1897, before the court of Chautauqua in Jamestown, NY.
William Naismith arrived in Woonsocket in 1904 to take up the position of agent/manager of Scotia Worsted Mill. He remained in this role until 1919.
Naismith was one of three founding members of the Barnai Worsted Company. Naismith was treasurer, William J. Barnett of Chicago, Illinois was President, and Alexander I. Mitchell of Stafford Springs, Connecticut acted as Secretary. The company has an authorized capitalization of $100,000 and planned to produce “fancy worsted suitings for men’s wear” with an initial target of 50 workers which would grow to 50 looms and 100 workers. (Call, May 15, 1914) Barnai Worsted leased the Sayles and Pendergast factory at 92 S. Main Street in May, 1914. In 1919, Barnai completed construction on a new mill building located at 42 S. Main Street – today’s Museum of Work and Culture. The site was previously occupied by Henry T. Wales Teaming Stables.