USA > Connecticut > History of Connecticut, Volume III > Part 36
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RAYMOND JEREMIAH NEIDITZ
Arriving in this country at an early age, Raymond J. Neiditz has become a prominent figure in Hartford's business life. For over two decades, he has been a partner in the real estate and insurance firm of M. J. Neiditz and Company, serving as its treasurer. The organization has been responsible for the construction and manage- ment of a number of the city's well-known apartment and commercial buildings.
Mr. Neiditz is a native of Petach Tikvah, Israel, and was born on January 16, 1895, son of Charles and Cipah S. Neiditz. His father was a teacher. Arriving in this country in November, 1901, Ray- mond J. Neiditz began selling newspapers on the streets of Hartford the day after his arrival in the city, and had a regular route deliver- ing The Hartford Courant at the age of ten years. He left school in the fifth grade, but later took two years of evening grammar school classes and five years of evening high school classes. He was a member of the first graduating class from the high school's business course. For three years he took correspondence courses in commercial subjects from Alexander Hamilton Institute.
When he left his fifth-grade classes to take his first full-time job, he joined L. S. Goldschmidt and Company of Hartford, a whole- sale dry goods firm, as a bundle boy. He advanced to positions as de- partment manager and buyer, and at the age of seventeen years was
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junior traveling salesman with the firm. He became a senior traveling salesman at nineteen. In the spring of 1917 he enlisted in the army, and went overseas and served in France with the American Expeditionary Forces; returning to L. S. Goldschmidt after the war.
He remained with L. S. Goldschmidt and Company until 1928, at which time he left to represent six manufacturers in allied lines in the New York City area. He continued in this work until 1936. In that year he joined his brother, Moses J. Neiditz, who had founded the insurance and real estate organization known as M. J. Neiditz and Company in 1923. His brother is the subject of an accompanying biographical sketch. Raymond J. Neiditz joined the organization as treasurer, a position he has held since. In the same year that he be- came a partner in the organization, they built the Knollwood Apart- ment House, and went on from this large-scale project to erect the Midtown Building at Whitney and Farmington Avenue. They also built the business block on Farmington at the corner of Prospect Avenue ; the apartment house known as Loomis Manor in West Hart- ford; and two more modern office buildings, one at III Pearl Street, the other at 37 Lewis Street. With others, they acquired ownership of the former National Fire Building at 95 Pearl Street. At the present time the brothers are planning the construction of two shop- ping centers.
He is a member of the United Commercial Travelers, the Tum- ble Brook Country Club, and B'nai B'rith. His religious affiliation is with Emanuel Synagogue.
In New York City, on November 24, 1920, Raymond J. Neiditz married Dora S. Shapiro, daughter of Julius and Rebecca (Gittleson) Shapiro. The couple reside at II Brookside Boulevard, West Hartford, and they are the parents of two children: I. Ruby Judith, who was born on December 3, 1921. 2. Betty Jane, born on February 27, 1927. Mr. Neiditz has four grandchildren: Marcy Schultz, Diana Schultz, Charles Goldberg, and Carrol-Ann Goldberg.
JOSEPH JAMES RINALDI
Since he began his law practice in Stamford more than two decades ago, Joseph James Rinaldi has held public office in the muni- cipal government there, and has taken a vital interest in the cause of advanced education, serving on the board of Villanova University. He is active in fraternal and Roman Catholic groups.
Born at Stamford on October 22, 1908, he is son of James and
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Rose (Colucci) Rinaldi. Both of his parents came to this country from Italy. His father, born at Caliteri in 1875, arrived in 1895, and settled in Stamford. Throughout his life he followed the trade of cabinetmaking. He was a veteran of the Spanish-American War, and served as justice of the peace for eighteen years, holding that of- fice at the time of his death. A member of the lodges of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Loyal Order of Moose, the Fra- ternal Order of Eagles, and the Sons of Italy, he had held office in all. Miss Colucci, whom he married, was born in Avillino, Italy, in 1884 and was brought to the United States by her parents when she was two years old. The family settled in Stamford, and she attended public schools in that city. She still lives there, surviving her husband.
Joseph J. Rinaldi began his education in parochial school in Stam- ford. He graduated from Stamford High School in 1927, and from Villanova College in 1931, receiving his degree of Bachelor of Arts. He took his Bachelor of Laws degree at Boston University School of Law in 1934. In that year, admitted to the bar of the state of Connec- ticut, he opened his own office in Stamford. He has headed his own firm since, with an address at 303 Main Street. He is a member of the Stamford Bar Association, the Connecticut Bar Association and the American Bar Association.
In past years, Mr. Rinaldi has held office as clerk of the court and also as prosecuting attorney for the city of Stamford. A Roman Catholic who is vitally interested in Catholic education, he serves on the board of governors of his alma mater, Villanova University. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus, in which he holds the Third degree, and also belongs to the Holy Name Society. His lodges are the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Loyal Order of Moose. He is a member of the Hub- bard Heights Golf Club and the Amateur Athletic Union.
On June 14, 1937, in Stamford, Joseph James Rinaldi married Jeannette Di Sesa. Born at Norwalk on December 18, 1910, she is a daughter of Leonard and Teresa (Rubinetti) Di Sesa. Both of her parents were born at Castellafranca, Italy. Her mother came to this country first, arriving in 1882 when she was three years old. Mr. Di Sesa, who was born in 1876, came to the United States in 1902. A real estate broker, he died in 1955. He is survived by Mrs. Di Sesa, who lives in Stamford. Mr. and Mrs. Rinaldi have one daughter, Jean, who was born on November 18, 1942. She is attending Stamford Catholic High School, where she is active in dramatics, music, bas- ketball and baseball.
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CHARLES H. MCDONOUGH
One of Hartford's long-established insurance agencies is that which was founded by Charles H. McDonough in 1922. It is now known as Charles H. McDonough and Sons, and has its offices at 23 High Street.
Its founder is a native of Hartford and was born on February 29, 1900, son of Edward J. and Lulu (Merritt) McDonough. Re- ceiving his early education in local schools, he graduated from the old Hartford High School. He attended Notre Dame University at South Bend, Indiana.
After a short time spent in working for the Standard Foundry Company of Hartford (a family organization owned by his father, Edward J. McDonough), he decided upon the insurance business for his career. To prepare himself, he attended the Travelers Insurance School, and on the completion of his courses there, established his own general insurance agency in 1922. It first operated under the name of C. H. McDonough. When his sons, Charles E., Joseph M., and E. Merritt McDonough joined the organization. it was given its present name. Charles H. McDonough and Sons. The sons are now full partners with their father. The elder Mr. and Mrs. McDonough spend their winters in Florida, and he established an insurance agency at Miami in 1956, which he has since operated.
He is a member of the City Club, Wampanoag Country Club and Avon Country Club, all of Hartford, and the Pine Orchard Country Club at Pine Orchard, Connecticut, and, in Florida, the Indian Creek Country Club and the Surf Club. Of Roman Catholic faith, he attends St. Joseph's Cathedral.
In that church on September 8, 1925, Charles H. McDonough married Virginia Lee Madden. A native of Hartford, she is the daughter of Joseph and Katherine Lee (Danaby) Madden. The couple are the parents of the following children: I. Charles E., who was born in Hartford on May 3, 1928. He graduated from Kingswood School in West Hartford, and attended the University of Connecticut from 1947 until he entered the United States Air Force in 1950. He participated in the Korean War as a staff sergeant. He is now a partner in Charles H. McDonough and Sons. 2. Joseph M., born No- vember 19, 1930. Also a graduate of Kingswood School, he attended Nichols Junior College, and served as a sergeant in the United States Air Force at the time of the Korean War, 1950-1952. He too is a partner in the firm. Joseph M. McDonough was married on February 9, 1957, in Florida, to Ruth Reyna of Miami, a graduate of the Uni-
Joseph OBrien
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versity of Miami. They have one son, Lee Joseph, who was born in Hartford on January 12, 1958, and another son, Val Edward by a previous marriage. 3. E. Merritt, born in Hartford on November 23, 1933. He graduated from Kingswood School, and took his degree of Bachelor of Science at Georgetown University in 1955. Thereafter until 1958 he served in the United States Army, and is now a member of the firm. He was married on November 28, 1958 to Judith Diane Gengras, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. Clayton of West Hartford. All three sons are members of the same organizations: the Hart- ford Golf Club, The Hartford Club, Wampanoag Country Club, the Pine Orchard Country Club, and the Junior Chamber of Commerce.
JOSEPH O'BRIEN
At the beginning of his career, Joseph O'Brien went to work for one of Bristol's long-established industries, The Bristol Brass Cor- poration, and in the course of the four decades since has come up through the ranks to the presidency. He is a native of Bristol, and was born on December 9, 1900, son of Dennis and Margaret (Murphy) O'Brien. He attended local public schools, and joined the firm im- mediately after his graduation from Bristol High School in 1917. He began as a clerk, and shortly afterwards was assigned to the sales department. Following two decades' experience in that phase of operations, he was promoted to sales manager in 1939. In 1952 he became vice president and general superintendent; and he was elected president of the corporation in 1955.
The firm began its existence in 1850 as The Bristol Brass and Clock Company. Sixteen Connecticut industrialists had a part in its founding, and its first president was Israel Holmes, a bold entre- preneur who according to early records had smuggled machinery and also British brass workers into this country to help give the isle across the sea some unwanted competition in the production of the metal. The meeting place of the men determined on establishing their own industry, on that spring evening in 1850, was Foster's Tavern in the North Village of Bristol. History has preserved their names for us : Lyman Coe, Green Kendrick, Philo Brown, J. C. Brown, Theodore Terry, John Birge, Elisha Manross, Chauncey Boardman, Samuel B. Smith, Ebenezer Hendrick, Edward L. Dunbar, Elisha Brewster and Elias Ingraham. Most of these men were clockmakers, and the first demand for the new company's products came from the clock-making industry. One of the early financial geniuses of the company was
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Elisha Welch, who was largely responsible for its growth in the years following the Civil War. One of the phases of production which the company entered at about that time was the manufacture of burners for oil lamps; and one of its most severe setbacks was the destruction of its burner shop by fire in January, 1881. Elisha Welch served as president for thirty-six years, and was succeeded by Andrew F. Atkins, who was succeeded in turn by Elisha's son, J. Hart Welch; and the next president was Pierce N. Welch, son of Harmanus Welch, Elisha's brother. In 1903, a year after he had taken office, the Bristol Brass and Clock Company-which had never actually manufactured clocks-changed its name to The Bristol Brass Company. The early years of the century was a period marked by the construction of many new manufacturing facilities. The succession of presidents from this period was: Julian R. Holley, Albert F. Rockwell, Alexander Harper, and Albert Wilson, whose administration brought the com- pany through the depression of the 1930s. The company, which had grown steadily from the time of World War I, weathered the eco- nomic reverses well, having to lay off very few of its men. Roger Gay succeeded Albert Wilson as president, and it was he who was succeeded in turn by Joseph O'Brien, in 1955.
Mr. O'Brien is a member of the Town and Chippanee Golf Club in his home city, and also of the lodge of Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks. In politics he is an independent, and he is a Roman Catholic in religious faith, a communicant of St. Joseph's Church.
At that church, on February 9, 1926, Joseph O'Brien married Madelyn Henebry, daughter of John and Margaret (Bowen) Hene- bry. The couple are the parents of four children: I. M. Elizabeth, who was born in Bristol on January 6, 1933. 2. Joseph, Jr., born there on September 30, 1934. 3. Margaret, born on February 3, 1936 in Providence, Rhode Island. 4. Denise, born on October 14, 1938, also at Providence.
ADRIAN F. MCDONALD
A real estate consultant and appraiser with broad and varied experience in his chosen field, Adrian F. McDonald has headed his own organization in Hartford for the past decade. During the current term, he is serving as president of the Society of Residential Ap- praisers.
Born in East Hampton, on January 31, 1907, he is a son of
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Moses A. and Ellen (O'Neill) McDonald. Both of his parents are now deceased. The family moved to Portland when Adrian F. Mc- Donald was young, and he attended public schools there and graduated from Portland High School. For his advanced studies he entered Wes- leyan University in Middletown, and received his degree of Bachelor of Arts there in 1927. He returned there as a Rich Fellow in Eco- nomics in 1932, and took his degree of Master of Arts the following year. Since that time he has taken further courses to prepare him for his professional work. In 1938 he took a course in appraising single- family homes, given at the University of Chicago by the American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers. The following year he took an- other course given by the Institute at Wharton School of Finance, on the subject of appraising investment properties. During 1939- 1940, he took a course in construction cost estimating, given at Y.M. C.A. Junior College in New Haven.
Mr. McDonald began his professional career as field representa- tive with the Home Owners' Loan Corporation in 1933. He left that organization in 1936 to become a real estate salesman and appraiser with Aubrey Maddock, Inc., of Hartford. In 1938 he accepted a posi- tion with George B. Horan Company of New Haven, as appraiser covering Connecticut. He was named manager of the firm's branch office in Hartford in 1941. The following year he left for wartime service in the Army Air Corps. He served until 1945, and spent much of that time in the European Theater.
When he returned to civilian pursuits, Mr. McDonald rejoined the George B. Horan Company, and once again worked as appraiser covering Connecticut until 1948. At that time he established his own firm of real estate consultants, McDonald and Company, which has its offices at 75 Pearl Street, Hartford.
Over the years, Mr. McDonald has filled many responsible posts in connection with his profession. In 1940 he was field director of an appraisal course given at Yale University by the American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers; and he was lecturer and field director when the Institute gave similar courses at Hartford in 1949. In 1950, he became a reserve member of the Board of Adjustment (Zoning Board) of New Britain, and in the same year he was elected vice president of the Connecticut Chapter, Society of Residential Apprais- ers, an office he filled through 1953. Mr. McDonald was named as- sistant secretary of the Hartford Real Estate Board in 1951. He was also a lecturer of the board in that year. In 1952 he served as instructor in real estate appraising, Connecticut Association of Savings Banks.
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Mr. McDonald became a licensed real estate broker in the State of Connecticut in 1953. In 1953-1954 he served as president of the Connecticut Chapter, Society of Residential Appraisers. Recently he took office as international president of the Society, and thus heads a national organization with eleven thousand members. He had served as district governor from 1954 to 1957. Also in 1954 he became a member of the Admissions Committee of the American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers, but resigned in January, 1955. He was di- rector of an appraisal course given by the Connecticut Chapter of the Institute in 1954-1955. In the Society of Residential Appraisers, he preceded his presidency with tenure on the executive committee and board of governors, and was chairman of the appraisal review and appraisal service committees. He became vice president of the society in 1957, continuing on its executive committee. Also in 1957, he took office as vice president of the Hartford Real Estate Board.
Mr. McDonald has frequently appeared as guest speaker before realtors' and appraisers' groups, in various New England and Eastern cities and in the South as well. He has appeared in federal and state courts to give expert testimony on matters involving property ap- praisal. Over the years he has written a number of articles on various phases of his career interest. In 1936 he wrote a "History of Tobacco Production in Connecticut" for the Tercentenary Commission.
In his home city of Hartford, Mr. McDonald belongs to the Uni- versity Club and the Hartford Gun Club. A Roman Catholic, he at- tends St. Thomas the Apostle Church.
At New Britain, on September 7. 1942, Adrian F. McDonald married Marion V. Kelly of that city, daughter of Thomas and Mary (Rivers) Kelly. The couple have one son, Adrian F., Jr., who was born in New Britain on May 25, 1944. He is attending Sedgwick Junior High School in West Hartford.
HARRY H. TAYLOR, SR.
Former president of H. H. Taylor and Son Inc. of New Milford, and vice president of the MacFarlane Lumber Company, Mr. Taylor was a director of the First National Bank of New Milford and was a corporator of the New Milford Savings Bank.
Harry H. Taylor was born in Danbury, Connecticut, on April 23, 1867, the son of Henry Taylor and of Elizabeth (Stapleton) Taylor. Both of his parents were born in Nottingham, England. Mr. Taylor learned the building trade in Danbury and then worked for
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Thomas Kimlin and David Soule in New Milford. He entered the con- struction business in New Milford in 1900 and then formed a con- tracting firm with the late Herman Buckingham under the name of Taylor and Buckingham. With his son Kenneth, Mr. Taylor purchased the Buckingham interest in 1925, and they started a contracting and building firm under the name of H. H. Taylor and Son. In 1928 the firm expanded into the coal business, and later was enlarged to handle lumber, paints, hardware, building materials, and oil as well. The business was incorporated in 1932, and Mr. Taylor held the post of president. Following Mr. Taylor's death in 1952, his son Kenneth be- came president, and holds this position to date. Today the company has eighteen employees. It was responsible for the construction of many of the homes and commercial buildings in its area until it's termination of construction and contracting in March 1955.
A member of the Lions Club of New Milford, Mr. Taylor was also a member of the Good Shepherd Lodge of the Odd Fellows. He attended religious services at the First Congregational Church in New Milford.
Mr. Taylor married, first, Leila Ford, who died in 1925. They had three children: I. Kenneth Ford, born on March 26, 1903. Educa- ted in New Milford public schools, he joined his father's firm as a book- keeper in 1920. After his father's death in 1952, he became president of the firm, and serves in this capacity at the present time. His business associations include the Water Witch Hose Company, and he is also a director of the First National Bank and cooperator of the New Mil- ford Savings Bank. He is a life member and past international director of the Lions Club, and belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows. He is affiliated with St. Peter's Lodge No. 21 of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and is also a member of the Consistory and the Shrine. Kenneth Ford is also a member of Benevolent and Protec- tive Order of Elks. He attends the Congregational Church. On May 30, 1924, Kenneth F. Taylor married Jennie Morey of New Milford, daughter of Chester A. and Etta (Van Wyck) Morey. 2. Mable V., now Mrs. John H. Adams. 3. Pearl, now Mrs. Almus Browne.
Following his first wife's death, Harry H. Taylor, Sr. married S. Irene Armstrong. They had one son, Harry H., Jr., who is now vice president of H. H. Taylor and Son, Inc.
This distinguished career in the construction and contracting fields came to an end with the death of Harry H. Taylor, Sr., on April 17, 1952. One of New Milford's oldest and most influential citizens, Mr. Taylor made his way by ability and determination to win the
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respect of all who knew him. He contributed much to the betterment of his community.
JOHN STARR PURTILL
A few years ago, at Glastonbury, John Starr Purtill established his own real estate and insurance agency, the successful management of which has since made him one of the city's recognized business leaders. Mr. Purtill holds public office as state fish and game com- missioner.
He is a native of Glastonbury, and was born on April 26, 1916, son of John W. and Mary (Starr) Purtill. Both parents are living. John Purtill is now director of the Wells Village Housing Authority at Glastonbury, and he was born in that city. Mrs. Purtill is a native of Middletown.
Attending local public schools, John Starr Purtill graduated from Glastonbury High School, then went for his advanced courses to Wil- liam and Mary College at Williamsburg, Virginia. There he graduated in the Class of 1940, receiving the Bachelor of Science degree. As a student, he played guard on the varsity football team, was a member and captain of the varsity swimming team; and also played inter- collegiate baseball.
In 1941 he took a position as engineer in the research division of United Aircraft Corporation's East Hartford plant. He remained there until 1954, when he returned to his native Glastonbury and established the agency known as John Starr Purtill, Real Estate and Insurance. Its office is at 1306 Main Street.
Governor Ribicoff appointed Mr. Purtill to the Connecticut State Board of Fisheries and Game in 1956, and he has served continuously since. He has also been a member of Governor Ribicoff's commission formed to study multiple uses of the water reservoirs. In his home city he serves as a member of the sewer authority.
His memberships include the Service Club of Glastonbury, the Glastonbury Rifle Club and the Glastonbury Sportsmen's Association. He is fond of sports, particularly golf, hunting, fishing, and swimming. His fraternity is Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and he is a communicant of St. Luke's Episcopal Church.
On February 28, 1941, John Starr Purtill married Harriet Hay McCarthy, of Fisher's Island, New York, and Jersey City, New Jersey. She is a daughter of Federal Circuit Court Judge James McCarthy of Jersey City, and his wife, the former Anita Grisch. Like her hus-
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band, Mrs. Purtill is a graduate of William and Mary College. The couple are the parents of the following children all born in Glaston- bury: 1. John Starr, Jr., a graduate of Glastonbury High School, who is now attending the University of Connecticut. 2. Ann. 3. James. 4. George. 5. Kathleen.
HARRY RUDOLF EKBLADE
After considerable experience in the automobile industry in vari- ous parts of the country, Harry R. Ekblade became head of his own sales and service agency at Hamden. This is Ekblade Olds, Inc., of which he has been president and general manager since 1950. In the course of these years he has come to take an active part in coin- munity and organizational affairs.
Born at Mckeesport, Pennsylvania, on December 18, 1901, he is a son of Fred and Matilda (Larson) Ekblade. Both of his parents came to this country from Sweden, and his father, who was a steel worker in Pennsylvania, died when Harry R. Ekblade was two years old. Mrs. Ekblade is also deceased.
After receiving his public elementary school education at Mc- Keesport, Mr. Ekblade attended Joyst High School in Detroit for two years. He then left the classroom to begin his practical experience in the automobile industry. Until 1919, he worked for Continental Motors in Detroit, and in that year he left to join Marmon Motors, producers of a quality automobile of past years, at its plant in In- dianapolis, Indiana. The years 1920-1921 were spent with the Win- chester Repeating Arms Company at New Haven, and in the latter year he re-entered the automobile industry in that city, joining the staff of the Howard Company. He served that agency successively as machinist, mechanic, and automobile salesman until 1935, when he went to New York as service representative with the Oldsmobile Division.
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