Randolph Eliab LADD

  General Notes:

Notes from Warren Ladd: His youth, up to the age of 16 years, was passed at home, and the ten succeeding years of his early manhood as a clerk in the service of the Hartford Manufaturing Company at Glastenbury, CT. About 1838 he went into business in a dry goods and grocery store at Chatham, (now Portland) CT as a partner in the firm of Hall & Ladd. There he continued until 1840, when he engaged in the bakery business of his brother, L E Ladd, in Cabotville (now Chicopee). In 1846 he removed to Springfield, where his first position was that of book-keeper for the firm of King & Harding, flour and wool dealers, and on the failure of that firm in 1851 he established what was really the pioneer insurance agency business in Springfield. This was his life's work, and in the direction and management of it he became well and hororably known. Owing to the increase of his business he associated his younger brother, Charles R and Ariel, Jr, with him, the former in 1857 and the latter in 1865, constituting the firm of Ladd Brothers, and representing some fifteen to twenty insurance companies. He had only common school education, but he had thorough business training, which, with excellent natural abilities, enabled him to grasp and easily to succed in the practical affairs of life. He was a man of strong physique, intense energy, and a very hard and diligent worker. He was a member of the common council and of the school committee of the city, but had no taste for public duties, and owing to a slight deafness he declined all other offers of official position.

1858 Directory of the City of Springfield, Chicopee and Chicopee Falls and West Springfield, Massachusetts: LADD, R. E., insurance agent, h Water st. near Court st.

Randolph married Charlotte PEASE in 1832. (Charlotte PEASE was born about 1816 in Glastonbury, Hartford Co, CT and died on 19 Jan 1857.)

Randolph next married Mrs Rebekah G MORSE on 20 Oct 1857. (Mrs Rebekah G MORSE was born on an unknown date in Springfield, Hampden Co, MA and died on an unknown date.)