william purtell was born in a tenement neighborhood of hartford, connecticut. he was the son of thomas michael and nora mary (née o'connor) purtell, who were tobacco workers. he received his early education at st. patrick's school, and attended hartford public high school for two years before dropping out at age 15. he then worked as a janitor, water boy, and car checker for the new york, new haven and hartford railroad.