Standing by the side of the Erie Railway tracks at Carlton Hill at that time was a large brick building which had become known in the neighborhood as a "white elephant." A cotton bleachery had been established there fifty years before, but its record had been one of ruin for the men who put their money into the enterprise. Air. McKenzie, whose knowledge of the business was accurate, and who was sanguine of success under right conditions, interested John Ward, a wholesale jeweler, in a plan for starting up the works; the place, including machinery which had been idle for years, was bought, and the successful career of the Standard Bleachery, with a reputation for fine work, was begun. Obstacles, which appeared to be insurmountable, were overcome, and success was fairly forced from apparent failure by the indomitable energy and enterprise of Air. McKenzie. The bleachery is the most important industry in Bergen County, and gives employment to nearly 500 people.

Mr. McKenzie reached middle age before taking any active part in public affairs. When the call came for him to take a part in the government of his town. which was then Boiling Springs Township, he reluctantly consented, and served two terms as Chairman of the Township Committee. He was induced to run on the Republican ticket for Assemblyman in 1892, the year of the Democratic tidal wave, and was defeated; nevertheless, he headed the ticket. He was still Chairman of the Township Committee when the movement began which resulted in the changing of Boiling Springs Township into East Rutherford Borough. The success of the movement was largely due to him, and he became the first Mayor of the borough. His entrance into the office was marked by a stirring incident, the local election board having unwittingly counted him out in favor of another man. An appeal to Judge Dixon, however, led to a recount, and he was seated. In 1897 he was elected the third time, without opposition.

For many years Mr. McKenzie had served as a member of the Bergen County Republican Executive Committee, and his services to the party were recognized in 1898 by his election as Chairman of the committee to succeed Judge D.D. Zabriskie He was also Vice-President for the Fifth Congress District of the Republican State League.

Mr. McKenzie took an active part in forming the Rutherford and East Rutherford Board of Trade, of which he was chosen President. He has been re-elected Vice-President of the Rutherford Public Library Association, and is a Director in the Rutherford National Bank, of which he was a founder. For years he has been interested in loan and building associations. He was one of the active organizers of the East Rutherford Savings, Loan, and Building Association, of which he accepted the presidency. The remarkable progress of the association has been due largely to his interest and to the prestige which his name bestowed upon it. He is a governor of the Passaic Hospital, and, in addition to being President of the Standard Bleachery Company, holds the presidency of a paper manufacturing company. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum and of the Union Club of Rutherford.