History of Humboldt County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, Part 123

Author: Irvine, Leigh H. (Leigh Hadley), 1863-1942
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Los Angeles, Historic Record Company
Number of Pages: 1328

USA > California > Humboldt County > History of Humboldt County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present > Part 123

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Mr. Canclini was married in Arcata, being united with Miss Isolina Boni, a native of the Province Firenze, Italy, and they have two children, Nelo and Lino. Fraternally he is a member of Iriquois Tribe No. 156, I. O. R. M., at Arcata. Politically he believes firmly in the principles of the Republican party.

AMATO BANDUCCI .- Among the men who have come from far-off sunny Italy, and are making a success in the mercantile line, is Amato Banducei, who was born near Lucca, Italy, July 4, 1878, the son of Paolo and Crelia (Antongiovanni) Banducci, who are still living on their farm near Lucca. Of their four children, Amato is the oldest and the only one residing in California. He received his education in the public schools and remained home assisting his parents until he came to California in 1896. After a six months' stay in Los Angeles he found employment at farming in Santa Barbara. Altogether he continued farming for five years, and of this period thirteen months were spent on the Island of Santa Cruz riding after stock. During his stay on the island he had several interesting hunts for wild hogs that were very numerous on the island and which the owners of the island wished to get rid of.

In 1902 Mr. Banducci came to Humboldt county and for three years was employed successively in the following shingle mills, Charles Harpst, Charles Kelston, and the Union shingle mill. In 1905 he started a vege- table and fruit route, traveling by wagon through Arcata and vicinity for a period of two years. At the end of this time, in 1907, he started a

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grocery store on the plaza, and has continued in business ever since. His trade has grown from the first and he has built up a good, substantial business. His success is due in a large measure to his affable, courteous and genial manner and his close application to business.

Mr. Banducci was married in Eureka, being united with Elenor Gilar- ducci, who was also born near Lucca, Italy. To them have been born two children, Fred and Susie. Fraternally he is a member of the Woodmen of the World and of Arcata Aerie No. 1846, F. O. E. He is a member and hearty supporter of the Arcata Board of Trade and the Arcata Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Banducci is a liberal and enterprising citizen who is always willing to give of his means and best efforts toward the building up of the community commercially, socially and morally.

J. M. TRISTAO .- Among men who have left their trade to engage in dairying in the Eel River valley is J. M. Tristao, who was born on the Isle of Treseira, one of the Azores, October 18, 1880, the son of J. B. Tristao, who is a bricklayer in his native place. The son, J. M., was educated in the public schools and on the completion of his studies therein, when six- teen years old, was apprenticed under his father as a bricklayer. After- ward he worked at the trade in that country until the spring of 1902, when he came to Pleasanton, Cal. There he was employed on a farm until the fall of that year, when he found his way to San Mateo county, where he was employed on a dairy. In the spring of 1903 he was similarly employed with Charles Denio at Vallejo, continuing with him for one year. Next we find him working on a sheep ranch in Nevada, but a year later he re- turned to Vallejo and rented the creamery on George street, which he operated for one year. He then traded the creamery business for a dairy ranch at Crockett and ran it for two years.

In November, 1910, Mr. Tristao came to Humboldt county and leased a ranch at Arcata. One year later he leased one at West End, Blue Lake, and ran a dairy of thirty cows for two years. In the fall of 1914 he traded it for the present lease, comprising one hundred seventy acres of the Herrick ranch. Here he runs a dairy of fifty cows and is meeting with success, having plenty of bottom land for pasture, besides which he raises hay and green feed. He is a stockholder in the Del Monte Creamery.

Fraternally Mr. Tristao was a member of the Eagles and the I. D. E. S. in Vallejo until he moved away. Politically he believes in the principles of the Republican party.

EMILLIO BETTIGIEO .- Among the firms operating large daries successfully in the Eel river valley is Peracca & Bettigieo, of whom Emillio Bettigieo is the junior member. He was born in Calico, Province of Como, Italy, October 18, 1893, the third oldest of a family of eight children born to Angelo and Chisemia (Spini) Bettigieo. The father was a farmer and dairyman at Calico, Italy, until his death, and the mother still makes her home on the old place.

Emillio Bettigieo received a good education in the public schools, remaining at home and aiding his parents until he was seventeen years of age. Having heard of the advantages of California to the wage earner and farmer, he concluded to profit by opportunities offered the energetic young man on the Pacific coast. In 1910 he came to Humboldt county

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and found employment on a dairy at Petrolia, where he continued for three years, then followed ten months of the same kind of work at Loleta. Having saved his money with the hope of engaging in dairying for himself, in October, 1914, he formed a partnership with Emelio Peracca and leased the present place of two hundred sixty acres, and purchased the necessary implements and horses as well as cows to operate a large dairy. Besides milking eighty cows, they are also engaged in stock-raising. The place is very suitable for dairying, its rich bottom lands enabling the partners to raise plenty of hay and green feed for their dairy herd. Both Mr. Peracca and Mr. Bettigico are members of the Ferndale Dairymen's Association.

GAMBONI BROTHERS .- Among the dairymen on the island near Ferndale who are meeting with merited success we find Alfred and Bartol Gamboni, who came hither from Switzerland and fully appreciate the oppor- tunities offered men who are willing to work and apply themselves closely. Their chosen occupation is the dairy industry, in which they are meeting with deserved success. The brothers are natives of Vogorno, Canton Ticino, Switzerland, the eldest brother, Alfred, having been born in 1883. He remained on the home farm until 1903, when he came to California, being employed on a dairy in Marin county until 1908, and then came to Hum- boldt county. He continued in the dairy business until December, 1910, when he formed the present partnership with his brother Bartol. The latter was born in 1887 and received his education and training in the public school of Vogorno. It was on October 23, 1907, that he came to California. Besides being employed on a dairy he was also engaged in driving a milk wagon in San Francisco until July, 1909, when he came to Humboldt county. As has been stated, Alfred and Bartol Gamboni formed a partnership in December, 1910, for the purpose of carrying on a dairy business of their own, and rented their present place of seventy acres on the island, stocking it with a dairy herd. They have been prospered in their undertaking, milk- ing forty cows, to which number they are continually adding, and their business generally is growing steadily.

The brothers are enterprising and progressive business men, being well and favorably known, and are liberal, open-hearted and honest in all their dealings.

EDWARD CHRISTEN was born in Andermatt, Canton Uri, Switzer- land, January 6, 1860, the son of Sebastian and Josepha (Danjot) Christen, also natives of that place. The father was a shoemaker and farmer and also served for many years as the local judge. Both parents died at the old home. To them were born thirteen children, eight of whom grew up and four are still living, Edward being the youngest of all. He was edu- cated in the public schools and remained home assisting his father on the farm until he was twenty-four years of age, with the exception of the time he spent in the army and at the military school, in which he rose to the non-commissioned rank of corporal.

In 1884 Mr. Christen came to San Francisco, Cal., and from there came soon afterward to Petrolia, Humboldt county, where he was employed in a dairy for four years. In the meantime he had saved enough money to start in the dairy business, and in partnership with his brother he leased a ranch of one thousand acres in the same vicinity. They ran a dairy of

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seventy cows and made a specialty of manufacturing and shipping butter. The partnership continued for three years, when Edward Christen bought his brother's interest and continued alone until 1896, when he sold out and came to Pleasant Point, near Waddington, and bought a ranch of sixty- eight acres of bottom land and established a dairy. Since then the river has cut through around him, taking away several ranches and leaving him an island of forty acres, where he has a dairy of about twenty milch cows.

Mr. Christen was married in San Francisco to Miss Mary Regli, also a native of Andermatt, Switzerland. She died here in 1913, leaving twelve children, as follows: George, Josephine, Marian, Edward, Rosa, Alvetius, Agnes, John, Joseph, Anton, Clara and Bernard.

Mr. Christen is a Republican in politics. He has always been interested in the cause of education and for many years served as clerk of the board of trustees of the Pleasant Point school district.

BASILIO DUSI was born at Ono Degna, Province of Brescia, Italy, May 26, 1883, the son of Battiste and Lucia (Buttenini) Dusi, who were also natives of Ono Degna and still make their home there. The father was engaged in making charcoal. The parents had six children, all of whom are living, Basilio being the youngest and the only one in California. He was educated in the public schools of his native place, after which he assisted his father in the burning of charcoal until 1908. Having heard that better wages and greater opportunities generally were offered in California than were possible in his native land he resolved to come to the western coast of America. On March 6, 1908, he arrived in Ferndale, Cal., and until 1911 was employed in different dairies in the vicinity. In November, 1911, having saved enough money to start in dairying for himself, he leased the S. Smith place located on the coast two miles below Centerville. The ranch comprises three hundred acres, one hundred acres being plow land, where he raises hogs and green feed. Here he is successfully engaged in dairying, milking forty-five cows, the products being sold to the Cali- fornia Creameries Company.

Mr. Dusi is a well-informed man and is public spirited and enterprising, always ready to do his share towards enhancing the welfare of the com- munity. He is a member of the Catholic church at Ferndale and politically is a Republican.

BERNARDINO GENZOLI was born at Lodrino, Canton Ticino, Swit- zerland, in October, 1850, the son of John M. and Badelina (Bernardi) Genzoli, both natives of that place. They were farming people and passed their entire lives there. Of their nine children, seven are living, as follows : Cypriano resides in Ticino; Bernardino is the subject of this sketch ; Morello is a dairyman and stockman at Capetown; Frederick resides in Algeria, Africa; Chelestino lives in Eureka; Antone at Capetown; Savina (Mrs. Biasca) lives in Ticino.

Bernardino Genzoli was educated in the public schools, and remained on the home farm until 1869, when he made his way to Paris, France, there being apprenticed as a painter and decorator. On the breaking out of the Franco-Prussian war business was at a standstill and he therefore returned to Ticino and resumed his duties on the home farm, assisting his father until 1875. In that year he came to Humboldt county, Cal., where

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he immediately found work in a dairy on Bear river ridge. With the means and experience gained there during a period of nine years he engaged in the dairy business on his own account. Forming a partnership with his brother Morello, he leased the Harken ranch of eighteen hundred acres near Cape- town and engaged in dairying, milking one hundred twenty-five cows and making butter, which was shipped to San Francisco. After a period of seven years Bernardino Genzoli sold his interest to his brother and leased the Capwell ranch of three hundred acres on Bear river, where he ran a dairy for five years, after which he leased the Greenlaw ranch on Elk river, where he had a herd of sixty milch cows.

In 1900 Mr. Genzoli sold his lease and stock and came to Arcata Bot- toms, where he leased the present ranch of sixty-three acres from Redmond Brothers. It is all bottom land and furnishes abundant pasturage and green feed for his dairy of twenty-five milch cows, besides which he is also raising young stock.

In Ferndale occurred the marriage of Mr. Genzoli, his wife before her marriage being Lillian Sacchi, also a native of Lodrino, Switzerland, the daughter of Antone Sacchi, a farmer of that place. To Mr. and Mrs. Gen- zoli have been born seven children: Fred, Antone, Amerigo, Frank, Florinda, Bernardino and Esther. For twenty-five years Mr. Genzoli was a member of the Ferndale Lodge of Odd Fellows, but since his removal from that section he has discontinued it. Politically he is a Republican.

ALESSIO GALLACCI .- Among the worthy citizens of Humboldt county who have come from Italy and are making a success of dairying is Alessio Gallacci, who was born in Bacceno, Novara, Italy, October 2, 1884. His father, Vincenzo Gallacci, was a dairyman, and from him the son, Alessio, learned dairying as it was done in that country. He was educated in the public schools and assisted his parents until he was twenty- one years of age. He had heard much of better wages and greater oppor- tunities in California than could be found in his mother country, so he resolved to cast his lot on the Pacific coast. In April, 1906, he landed in San Francisco and from there came immediately to Humboldt county. Here he found employment in a dairy on Arcata bottoms and followed that line of work until he had saved enough money to start for himself.

In 1911 Mr. Gallacci leased his present place of forty acres and has since been engaged in dairying, his herd of milch cows numbering twenty- five. The place is all rich bottom land, which furnishes planty of hay and green feed, and the owner is recognized as a successful dairyman.

Mr. Gallacci was married in Arcata, being united with Miss Jennie Spalletta, a native of Cimalmotto, Canton Ticino, Switzerland, and to them have been born two children, Mary and Evelyn. Politically Mr. Gallacci believes thoroughly in the principles of the Republican party.

THOMAS ALBONICO was born at Gravedona, Province of Como, Italy, June 13, 1871. His father was Bartholameo Albonico, a farmer who passed his entire life in Como, Italy. Thomas was reared on the farm and educated in the public schools. He remained at home assisting his parents until 1898, when he determined to try his luck in California, of which he had heard such good reports. In 1898 we find him working on a dairy in Marin county. In 1902 he came to Humboldt county and after working

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on a dairy at Blue Lake for four months he found the same kind of em- ployment on Arcata bottoms, where he continued for three years. Next he spent ten months at Freshwater and then returned to Arcata bottoms, where he continued as a dairy hand.

In January, 1908, Mr. Albonico had saved enough money to start in the business, leasing a farm of forty-one acres on the bottoms, where he ran a dairy of twenty cows. Two years later he gave the lease up and rented the Lafe Sidel ranch of forty-five acres, where he milked twenty-five cows for three years, and then sold his lease and brought his dairy herd to the John Bulwinkle place, where he is running a successful dairy of twenty cows. He understands dairying and is a man that is well liked and favorably known. He is a stockholder in the United Creameries Company.

In Arcata June 6, 1908, occurred the marriage of Mr. Albonico, being united with Freda Schultz, a native daughter of San Francisco. Her father died when she was a year old and her mother married a second time, becoming the wife of John Bulwinkle, and the daughter always went by the name of Freda Bulwinkle. Mr. and Mrs. Albonico have three chil- dren : Anna C., Bartholameo and Mary M. Fraternally he is a member of the Woodmen of the World. In national politics he believes in the princi- ples of the Republican party. With his family he is a member of the Catholic church in Arcata.

JOHN SCURI .- The province of Brescia, Italy, has sent many of her sons to aid in the upbuilding of our new West, and the counties of central California, though less beautiful in climate and scenery than their native home, have offered hospitality and prosperity to many energetic and pro- gressive sons of Italy.

Among the young men from that country who have come to seek their fortunes in California, led hither by the reports from those who have pre- ceded them, is John Scuri, who was born in Livemmo, Brescia, Italy, on December 31, 1887, where he grew up on his father's farm, receiving a good education in the public schools of that locality. When he had completed his studies at school, John Scuri was apprenticed to the stone mason's trade, having learned farming to a considerable extent during his boyhood at home. In 1912 he left his native land to come to California, where he was employed in McKay's shingle mill near Eureka as foreman for nearly two years, when he left there and secured employment on a dairy farm near Loleta, in the same county, until November, 1914. At that time, determining to enter the dairy business independently, as so many of his countrymen were doing in the county, he formed a partnership with D. Bareggi, and the two young men rented part of the old Swan ranch at Orick, and here established themselves in the dairy business, where they are meeting with merited success. Their ranch is composed of rich bottom lands, which give fine opportunity for pasturing, and the partners are able to raise thereon abundance of hay and grain and green feed for their herd of fifty milch cows.

The partner of Mr. Scuri, Dominico Bareggi, is a native of the same town as himself, where he was born November 17, 1887, and where he learned the dairying trade as a lad and after completing the education furnished by the local public schools, continued working on the home farm until 1912, the

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same year in which Mr. Scuri came to California, Mr. Bareggi also at that date removing to Humboldt county, Cal., where he was employed at a dairy near Loleta until he formed the partnership with Mr. Scuri in the dairy busi- ness.

FRANK AMBROSINI .- Born in Lodrino, Canton Ticino, Switzerland, October 2, 1855, Frank Ambrosini was the oldest of a family of seven chil- dren, of whom five are at present living. The father, Cipriano, had a farm in Lodrino, which he operated during the summer months, his winters being mostly spent in Paris, where he was employed at the trade of glazier. The mother, Agatha (Martinoli) Ambrosini, was a native of their home town in Switzerland, where she and her husband both died. They brought up their children on the farm, educating them in the public schools, and having com- pleted his education the son Frank assisted his father upon the farm, at the age of twenty years enlisting in the Swiss army for the usual term of service, after which he was honorably discharged. Removing to Paris, he was there apprenticed to the glazier's trade, and after gaining experience in that line of work he continued in that occupation in France for a period of ten years. Having heard and read much of the opportunities offered for success in Cali- fornia, Mr. Ambrosini then decided to cast his fortunes on the Pacific coast, and accordingly in 1885 came to San Francisco, and thence to Eureka, in Humboldt county, Cal., and not finding employment at once in his chosen occupation, he was for five years engaged in working on the dairy ranch of Joseph Russ on Bear River ridge. Desiring to go into that line of business independently, Mr. Ambrosini rented the Bolivia ranch of about eight hun- dred acres, also on Bear River ridge, which for the following fifteen years he operated as a dairy, milking about eighty cows thereon; his next venture being the leasing of the Donnolly ranch of sixty-five acres of bottom land at Port Kenyon, where he conducted a dairy of thirty-five cows for three years. This lease he finally sold out, and in 1908 leased the Forbes place, where he is at present located, which consists of eighty acres of fertile land about a mile north of Port Kenyon, where he grows an abundance of feed for his herd of forty cows, which are full-blooded, and high-grade Jerseys.

One of the original stockholders of the Valley Flower Creamery on the Island, Mr. Ambrosini was also for some years a trustee of the Island school district, education being a cause in which he takes a deep interest. A very intelligent and well read man, he speaks French fluently, which he learned while engaged in business in Paris ; and since coming to California has made a special study of the English language. Having a retentive memory, his wide reading has made of him a well informed and interesting conversation- alist, and as school trustee he exerted his influence to further the cause of education among the school children of his district. To the country of his adoption he is always loyal, being keenly alive to the advantages offered here, and became a citizen of the United States as soon as he had lived in the country the required length of time. Politically, he is a stanch supporter of the principles of the Republican party, and in his business life his energy is no less apparent, for the early days of his dairying experience, when he panned and skimmed the milk, and churned the butter upon his ranch by hand, have been succeeded by the use of gas-engine power and the present prosperous condition of his affairs. Mr. Ambrosini's wife, an active and able

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helpmeet to her husband, is Victoria, the daughter of Paul Biasca, a farmer of Canton Ticino, Switzerland, where she was born. Her marriage with Mr. Ambrosini took place in Ferndale, Cal., March 16, 1901, and they are the parents of seven children, namely, Delmo, Sidney, Rina, Frank, Jr., Dora, Ivy and Vinni.

CIPRIANO PIINI .- From Switzerland, which is his native home, Cip- riano Piini, at the age of nineteen years, came to California, where he has since that time continued to make his home and is now well known as a successful dairyman of Humboldt county.

The parents of Mr. Piini were Joseph, a farmer on the Ticino river, in Switzerland, eight miles above where it empties into Largo Locarno, and Catherine (Giulieri) Piini, who died on March 8, 1915, the father still resid- ing at the old home. Of their six children, Cipriano, who was born at Cog- nasco, Canton Ticino, Switzerland, on February 17, 1883, is the fourth oldest, the others being: Mary, who is now Mrs. Genzoli, resides at Loleta ; Albina, now Mrs. Charles C. Giulieri, of Salmon Creek; Frank, a farmer at Castro- ville ; Charles, who resides in Monterey county ; and Celeste, still residing at the old home in Switzerland. Like the others, Cipriano was brought up on his father's farm and educated in the public schools of the place, remaining at home and assisting his parents until nineteen years of age, when he con- cluded to try his fortune in California. In December, 1902, he came to San Francisco and found employment on a dairy at Nicasia, Marin county ; in July of the next year he removed to Humboldt county, where he continued the same line of work for three months at Loleta, and later for eight months at Petrolia, thence going to Salmon Creek, where he followed the same occupation for eighteen months. Mr. Piini was next in the employ of the Pacific Lumber Company at Scotia, where he remained for about two years, being employed next by the California Central Creamery Company at the Loleta creamery, and after ten months in this work he was engaged for a couple of years at a dairy in the same vicinity. By this time having saved sufficient money to enable his starting in business independently, in the autumn of the year 1911 Mr. Piini leased the Riley place, consisting of forty acres on Paradise Island in Humboldt county, where he at present is engaged in the dairy business, milking a herd of twenty-three cows and selling the milk to Libby, McNeill and Libby at Loleta. Mr. Piini is meeting with much success in his independent venture, and making for himself a name in his chosen line of work. The estate which he has leased is fertile bottom land, whereon he is enabled to raise all the hay and green feed which his herd requires, and like many others from his native land of Switzerland who have chosen to make their home in this country, he is well satisfied with the change.

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History of Humboldt County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, Part 123

Author: Irvine, Leigh H. (Leigh Hadley), 1863-1942 Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Los Angeles, Historic Record Company Number of Pages: 1328

Author: Irvine, Leigh H. (Leigh Hadley), 1863-1942
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Los Angeles, Historic Record Company
Number of Pages: 1328