Ethel Rosen Marshall and Samuel Marshall

Ethel Rosen Marshall

(Anna) Ethel Rosen (Ettel Besrozum) was born to Frank (Besrozum) Rosen and Bertha (Bruchel Kuperschmidt) Cooper on September 15, 1901 in Nemirov, Ukraine which was part of the Russian Empire at that time.

Her father Frank Rosen came to America in 1902 to start a new life.

Ethel (Anna) came to America in 1905 at age 4. She was brought by her mother Bertha (Bruche Berozum), her sister Adele (Udel), her brother Morris (Mottel), her maternal grandparents along with some of their other children. They travelled on the SS Columbia which was known as the first ship to be equipped with electric lights. It is unlikely that those in storage had any lighting other than oil lamps.

The family initially moved in with an uncle who owned a farm in Storrs, Connecticut. No one in the family spoke English which made their transition very difficult. After failing at farming, Ethel related how her father loaded up the family in a wagon and moved them to Willimantic, CT.

Frank Rosen eventually started an auto parts store in Willimantic which evolved over years into a successful gas and service station.

Ethel moved to Philadelphia to become an interior decorator but needed to return home after becoming ill. She received a 2 years business degree.

Ethel moved to Hartford where she lived with and worked for her uncle Samuel Kantrowitz who was a furrier. She remembered those being some of the best times in her life.

Samuel Marshall

Samuel Marshall was born Schmuel Warschal on December 25, 1902 to William and Rose Mirsky Marshall (Welvel and Roche Warschal) in Starubin, Russia.

His father emigrated to the United States in 1904 and on July 23, 1906 Sam arrived on the SS Potsdam with his mother.

His parents had four additional sons (Morris, Harry, Nathan and George and 3 younger sisters (Goldie, Tillie and Edith). Soon after their arrival, their names were “Americanized” and they became Marshall. Several of distant relatives retained the name Varshall and Warshal after coming to America.

William and Rose purchased and worked a farm (Middle Brook Farm).

After attending NYU, Sam went to work for the Equitable Life Assurance Company. While Ethel was working for the furrier in New Britain she met Sam at one of her cousin’s houses.

On June 6, 1926 Ethel and her sister Adele had a double wedding each marrying their Sam. (Sam Marshall and Sam Snyder).

Sam and Ethel settled in New Britain, CT. On October 26, 1929 they had their first son, David.

Two days after David’s birth the stock market crashed, ushering in the Great Depression. Sam’s life insurance business was unsustainable. Sam became aware of the difficulty that manufacturers were having cleaning silver. He hired a chemist and together they came up with a chemical that would solve that problem. This led to a new business which was very successful.

Their second son, Ralph was born on October 25, 1932.

The family moved from New Britain to Willimantic in 1946.

Sam and Ethel remained in Willimantic for the rest of their lives. In retirement, they enjoyed a close relationship with their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Ethel was known for her keen eye for decorating and finding hidden jewels at Flea Markets. She loved to garden. Sam was an intellectual would speak of philosophers such as Spinoza.

Samuel Marshall passed away on August 5, 1991 at age 88. Ethel Rosen Marshall passed away on December 29, 1995 at age 94. She died while lighting the Shabbat candles.