Active in the field of real estate and insurance, with offices at 865 Chapel street, Abraham Podoloff has directed his activities in that field of labor since 1902 and has made steady progress through close application, intense activity and keen sagacity. His position in business circles is now a. most creditable and enviable one. He was born in Russia, January 18, 1867, a son of Solomon and Bessie Podoloff, both of whom are now deceased.
     In his native country Abraham Podoloff was reared and educated, and in 1891. when a young man of twenty-four years, lie sailed for America, feeling that he might enjoy better opportunities in the new world than could be obtained in his native country. For two years or more he was employed at Port Jefferson, Long Island, and in July, 1894, came to New Haven, where he has since made his home. He started in business here as a dealer in oil, peddling from a wagon, and he continued in that field for eight years, his patronage steadily increasing until from his earnings he had saved enough to embark in the real estate business. In 1902 he opened his first office in the Poli building but for fourteen years he has been at his present location at 865 Chapel street. He represents a number of the most reliable insurance companies, being agent for the Union Assurance Company of London, the Travelers Insurance Company of Hartford, the Great Eastern Casualty Company of New York city, the Casualty Company of New York and Baltimore, and the County Fire In-surance Company of Philadelphia. His business has reached gratifying proportions and he writes a large number of policies annually, so that success in substantial measure is now his.
     Mr. Podoloff was married in Russia in 1890 fo Miss Dora Chernoff, whose parents are still residents of Russia. They have five children: Maurice, who is a graduate of the Yale Law School and is now practicing in New Haven; David, who was graduated from the Columbia University as an architect with the class of 1916; Jacob, who was graduated from Yale Academy in 1915; Nathan, who was graduated from Yale in 1916 and pursued a post graduate course in Sheffield school, graduating with honors in 1917; and Lena, who, having completed the high school course in New Haven, is now a student in Wellesley College and member of the class of 1919. Mr. Podoloff has every reason to be proud of his family for they are a family of musicians, possessing much more than ordinary talent in that line. Two of the sons, Maurice and Jacob, are members of the band of the Governor's Foot Guard, and Nathan's services as a musician are in great demand at social functions, while David played in the college dining room. The daughter was graduated at the head of her class in the high school, is noted for her proficiency in stenography and typewriting and is an accomplished pianist. Mr. Podoloff belongs to the Knights of Pythias, the Woodmen of the World, the Independent Order of B'nai B'rith and the Knights of Israel. He is also identified with the Chamber of Commerce, the real estate board and the local underwriters board, and is well known in business circles of the city as a prominent factor in his chosen field. In politics he is an independent republican. He does not feel himself bound by party ties yet is usually a supporter of republican principles. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to come to the new world and, having voluntarily chosen to make America his home, he has been loyal to the country, to its institutions, its purposes and its ideals.