Читать книгу History of Bridgeport and Vicinity, Volume 2: Biographical - George Curtis Waldo jr. - Страница 13

Hon. Archibald McNeil, a member of the state senate of Connecticut in 1902 and 1906, from early youth has been deeply and actively interested in the political questions of the day, while over public thought and action he has exerted marked influence. At the same time he has occupied a prominent position among the business men of Bridgeport, where he is extensively engaged in the coal trade. He was born in Bridgeport, July 2, 1843, and comes of a long line of distinguished ancestry, including some of the founders of Yale College. His father, Abraham Archibald McNeil, was born at Derby, Connecticut, July 21, 1802, and in early life was supercargo on vessels which were engaged in the West Indies trade and which sailed out of New Haven. In 1825 he established his home at Bridgeport and became a prominent citizen here. For some time he was associated with Samuel Hedges in the shoe manufacturing business but was even better known as a seafaring man and lighthouse keeper, having established the system of lighthouses in Bridgeport harbor, and being for many years prior to his demise keeper of the lighthouse at the entrance of the harbor. He wedded Mary Ann Hulse, a daughter of Captain William Hulse, who in 1813 was lost at sea with all the crew of the brig William, which sailed out of Bridgeport. The death of Abraham A. McNeil occurred May 11, 1873, while his wife survived for almost two decades, passing away in July, 1892. They were the parents of twelve children.

Archibald McNeil, the tenth in order of birth, acquired his early education in Sellick's School of Bridgeport and afterward became a student in the celebrated Thomas School of New Haven and in the Hopkins grammar school of that city, from which he was graduated in 1860. When his textbooks were put aside he entered the ship chandlery store of his brother, Charles H. McNeil, who was conducting business opposite the old depot and steamboat landing at Bridgeport. From 1863 until 1876 the brothers were in partnership in the conduct of a wholesale fruit and produce business in this city, but in the latter year removed to New York and established a wholesale butter and cheese store at No. 84 Broad street under the style of Archibald McNeil & Company. Three years later he turned his attention to the export and import business with Cuba, dealing in bituminous coal and produce. In 1888 the New York house was discontinued and Mr. McNeil returned to Bridgeport, where he has since conducted a mammoth business as a coal dealer under the firm style of Archibald McNeil & Sons Company, Inc., his three sons, Archibald, Kenneth W. and Roderick C, being connected with him. He represents six large coal-producing companies and supplies railroads, factories and other industrial interests, his business being now one of the foremost in this line in Bridgeport.

On the 2nd of October, 1881, in New York city, Mr. McNeil was united in marriage to Miss Jean McKenzie, Clan Ronald. Their family numbers the three sons now associated with their father in business. The eldest, Archibald, was born in New York city, June 1, 1883, and is now president of the Post Publishing Company. He was graduated in 1901 from the Park Avenue Institute with honors and in 1910 was elected to the senate from the twenty-second district. He is owner or part owner of the Post and the Telegram, two of Bridgeport's leading papers. He has membership with the Elks and in March, 1910, was made exalted ruler of Bridgeport Lodge, No. 36. He also has membership with the Red Men, is the president of Calumet Club and belongs to the Brooklawn and Seaside Clubs. Kenneth Wylie, the second son, born in Bridgeport, September 14, 1885, is president of the Archibald McNeil & Sons Company. He was married in New York city in 1907 to Queenie Beatrice Hall, a daughter of William H. Hall, of New York, and they have one child, Kenneth Hall, born in May, 1908. Roderick Clan Ronald, born March 20, 1888, is general manager of the Archibald McNeil A Sons Company.

Mr. McNeil has been deeply interested in public affairs from early manhood and has done everything in his power to advance the growth and ensure the success of the democratic party. In 1872-3 he was a member of the common council from the second ward of Bridgeport. When William Jennings Bryan was first the presidential candidate of his party, in 1896, Mr. McNeil was nominated for the state legislature and such was his personal popularity and the confidence reposed in him that, although defeated, he ran four hundred votes ahead of his ticket. In 1897 he declined the nomination for mayor, but in 1902 was nominated for the state senate, to which he was elected by a large majority. In 1906 he was again the democratic nominee and defeated the republican candidate in a district which is probably the wealthiest, most conservative and most consistently republican in the state. While serving in the upper house he was made president pro tem of the senate and became the democratic leader of that body. He gave faithful and earnest consideration to the important questions which came up for settlement, his influence being always on the side of progress and improvement. Of his record it is said: "It is worthy of note that there have been times when Senator McNeil, abandoning the position assumed by some of his best friends, has fought almost alone for some measure which he believed to be right or against some measure he thought wrong, and his whole legislative record has been a steady and determined refusal to advocate or countenance any measure which in his opinion would not be entirely for the best interests of the state or its institutions. Mr. McNeil was one of the promoters of the Algonquin Club and served as its president in 1910-11. He was a charter member of the Old Eclectic Club, of which he became president, and he belongs to the Seaside Club, to the Bridgeport Club and to the Bridgeport Yacht Club, of which he has been commodore. He is also a member of General Silliman Branch of the Sons of the American Revolution. The character of his life work has been determined by high purpose and laudable ambition and what he has accomplished represents the fit utilization of his innate talents and powers and his ready recognition of his opportunities.