surname of family prominent as employees and businessmen in Alexandria life for the past hundred years. The spelling of the name has varied widely. The present article will try, as much as can reasonably be done, to adhere in each piece of information cited here to the spelling found in the source used. The founders of the Alexandria branch of the family were two brothers from Italy, Xavier Daprato (1835-19 May 1922) and Andre DePratto, skilled workmen concentrating on ceramic work who settled in Alexandria. According to the obituaries of Xavier Daprato (also Duprato in one obituary) he was born in Leghorn, Italy, and when he was about 20 he came to Canada in a sailing ship which took three months to complete the voyage. His wife was Esther Hamelin, born at Rigaud, Que. In Alexandria, he was for some years employed by Angus S. Macdonald and George Harrison. Xavier Daprato, aged close to 90, died in Alexandria at the home of his son-in-law Leo Laporte. (children surviving him: 9) Xavier Daprato’s brother Andre was married to Clemence Clement.

     Early members of the DaPrato family in Alexandria were also involved with the Munro & McIntosh carriage factory. Andre DePratto’s son Clem DePratto operated an Alexandria ice supply business along with being a haulier for Munro & McIntosh. Felix Daprato was in charge of the exceptionally fine display of cutters, sleighs and wheeled vehicles Munro & McIntosh sent in 1905 to the Toronto Industrial Exhibition. (Glengarry News 18 Aug. 1905) Late in 1916 the same Felix Daprato was appointed superintendent of the Munro & McIntosh carriage factory. (Glengarry News 29 Dec. 1916) In 1902 Paul Daprato was proprietor of the Alexandria Skating Rink (GN 10 Jan. 1902), and in 1952 Alex DaPrato was one of the Alexandria businessmen who invested in the Alexandria skating rink and recreation centre called Glengarry Gardens. (GN 10 Oct. 1952) See also Laporte family.

Angus H. McDonell, “DePrattos among Early Craftsmen,” biography, family history, tribute, Alexandria economic history, Glengarry News 8 Feb. 1984 * obituaries of Xavier DePrato, GN 26 May 1922, Cornwall Freeholder 1 June 1922, and of his wife, GN 9 Dec. 1904 * St. Finnan’s CRNI, I, 104-105 * interview with Albert DePratto taped 16 March 1978 for the Multicultural History Society of Ontario, copies of tape owned by the Society and by the present editor * MacGillivray & Ross 481, 482 * Ostrom 136 *Angus H. McDonell (letter to editor), tribute to Alex DaPrato for his work for Glengarry Gardens, GN 9 Oct. 1975