Antony Militello, who at the present time occupies a position of prominence in the business world of Westfield, N.Y., is a native of Italy, born in the Province of Palermo, Feb. 16, 1886. He is a son of Joseph and Josephine Militello, who were also natives of Italy, and who came to this country when Antony was but fourteen months of age. The elder Mr. Militello preceded the family in its migration to the New World by a year, and came here on a sailing vessel upon which there broke out a severe epidemic and the ship underwent extensive quarantine. Eventually the government permitted the ship to dock and the weak and suffering immigrants landed. Mr. Militello then went to Buffalo, N.Y., where he settled, and where the family later came and resided. In 1896, Joseph Militello and his family returned to Italy, where Antony was educated, and in 1901, the family came back to America and returned to Buffalo.
Antony Militello, however, did not remain here for any great length of time. Leaving the family in Buffalo, he came to Westfield and obtained a position with the United States Canning Factory. At this place a great misfortune befell the young man, he losing his left arm in an accident. When he had recuperated sufficiently, he was sent to school and graduated from the public and high schools here with high honors. Mr. Militello then accepted the position as interpreter with the Lake Shore & Michigan Central Railroad Company and in his spare time read law with James H. Prendergast, a prominent lawyer of Westfield. In 1909, he passed the examination for notary, and has since done a great deal of work in this line for the Italian people hereabouts. Mr. Militello was of an ambitious nature and had always been anxious to engage in a business enterprise of his own. Therefore, in 1908, he started the manufacture of cement blocks, bricks, etc., as well as concrete work. He has done a great deal of this grade of work here and has installed the foundation for the old Armour Grape Juice plant, furnished blocks for several stations on the Buffalo & Lake Erie Railroad, and traction blocks for the Milk Products Company's plant. Mr. Militello manufactures his blocks from Lake Erie gravel, and at the outset he had but one small machine for the manufacture of this commodity. His plant is now equipped with modern machinery and is capable of turning out 2,000 bricks and 600 blocks per day. Mr. Militello is also the owner of an up-to-date cider plant, and is preparing to erect a canning factory for fruit products on the Peacock estate, which he now owns. He also has a thirty-five acre fruit and grape farm on the Academy road.
Antony Militello was united in marriage with Jennie Pummaie, Sept. 2, 1914, and they are the parents of the following children: Josephine, Mary and Joseph. In his religious belief, Mr. Militello is a Catholic and attends church of this denomination at Westfield, and liberally supports its charitable and philanthropic undertakings. He was the organizer, in 1902, and one of the presidents of the Star of Italy Society, and was one of the organizers of the Board of Commerce. He was also an organizer and the past president of the Republican Club here, and ardently adheres to all its principles and policies.
Mr. Militello is, in the best sense of the word, a "self-made man." Starting out in life after being afflicted with the loss of an arm, he did not permit this handicap to discourage him, but set to work and conquered the obstacles that stood in his path and overcame considerable difficulties, eventually reaching his goal. He is very popular with his employees, and is regarded here as a business man of the finest caliber, and honest citizen and a good husband and father, who enjoys the intimate intercourse of his family circle and personal friends.
From:
History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, by ANONYMOUS. Published 1921.
