Alexander Alekseevich Lokalov, born in 1831 and died in 1891, was a well-known manufacturer and entrepreneur. He was the eldest son of the serf peasant Alexei Vasilievich Lokalov from Velikoye. After his father's death, Alexander inherited a large trading enterprise and a spinning and weaving factory in the village of Gavrilov-Yam, in the creation of which he actively participated during his father's lifetime. Due to the restrictions of pre-reform Russia, the children of serfs could not receive secondary and higher education, and Alexander, as the eldest in the family, became his father's main assistant, effectively managing the family business when his father was absent. The enterprise dealt with all stages of flax processing.

In the summer of 1881 in Yaroslavl, Alexander Lokalov was introduced to Emperor Alexander III. Notably, being the owner of one of the largest flax manufactories in Russia, he introduced himself as a peasant from the village of Velikoye. Academician Bezobrazov noted that Lokalov remained in the peasant class and did not seek to change it.

Lokalov paid great attention to the living conditions of workers. By 1880, a hospital was built at the factory in Gavrilov-Yam, housing for workers began to be constructed, and all of them were insured against accidents. Later, a nursery, a poorhouse, and a school for 260 boys and 200 girls were opened. Professor Isaev noted that Lokalov independently came to the idea of involving workers in the profits of the enterprise, starting in 1878 by allocating 2% of net profits for these purposes. In the first year, this concerned 16 employees, but in the future, he planned to expand participation to all workers.

Alexander Lokalov was actively engaged in charity work. In 1889, he donated 20,000 rubles to create a farm for flax breeding. In the village of Velikoye, he maintained a poorhouse and annually helped 65 of the poorest families. The main goal of his charity was to eradicate poverty in his native village. In 1890, he initiated the creation of the "Christian Aid" society, promising to donate 5,000 rubles annually. The society was established in 1892 after his death and focused on helping those in need, maintaining the poorhouse, and building a shelter for children, where they were taught trades.