History of San Luis Obispo County and environs, California, with biographical sketches, Part 117

Author: Morrison, Annie L. Stringfellow, 1860-; Haydon, John H., 1837-
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company
Number of Pages: 1070

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As an illustration of the devotion of many of those who have wandered far from home in order better to establish themselves in the New World, with its greater opportunities, the fact may be cited that when Mr. Pimentel. in 1912, received news that his mother was ill, he went all the way back to Pico island to see his parents. He was well rewarded in finding them both still living, and after somewhat over two months he returned home, arriving here the latter part of June.

Renting three hundred acres of the old Guadalupe ranch, and holding a three-year lease of the M. D. Tognazzini ranch, Mr. Pimentel employs sixteen work horses and numerous men, and is indeed a busy man ; but both he and his good wife find time for social pleasures. He is a popular member of the I. D. E. S. and the U. P. E. C .; while Mrs. Pimentel belongs to the S. P. R. S. I. The family attend the Catholic Church.

EDWIN P. DUGHI .- A native of San Luis Obispo County, born on Villa creek, February 22, 1889, Edwin P. Dughi is a son of Paul Dughi, who was born at La Frasca, Switzerland, and who came to California about forty years ago and located on Villa creek, where he engaged in dairy farming. HIe was married in this county to Miss Mary Villa, who also was born on Villa creek, a sister of Frank Villa, whose family were pioneers of this county. Paul Dughi later retired to a home in San Luis Obispo, where he passed away in the late nineties. His widow is still living, and is a rest- dent of Cayucos. Nine children were born to them, of whom Edwin P. is the fifth in order of birth.

Edwin P. Dughi was educated in the public schools of the county. He was bereft of his father when he was a lad of only nine years. From the age of twelve he has been practically self-supporting, working on dairies about Cayucos for wages, and then being for two and a half years appren- ticed to learn the blacksmith's trade, under E. A. Bassi, and also James Pedrotta. He was looking for other business, however: so in 1910 he sought employment in the Cayucos branch of the California Central Cream- eries Co., beginning at the bottom and for two years gradually working his way up. In 1912 he went to Cambria as manager of the corporation's creamery there, and has held that position ever since.

In 1909 Mr. Dughi was married in San Luis Obispo to Miss Janet Tartaglia, who was born in the Adelaida district, a daughter of P. Tar- taglia. She died on January 1, 1917, leaving, besides her husband, two little girls, Bernice and Veldora, to mourn her loss.

In politics, Mr. Dughi is a Republican. He is one of the well-known and public spirited men of the coast section of the county, whose success has been of his own making and who merits the respect of all who know him.

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JOSEPH CURTI .- Joseph Curti, a dairyman on Santa Rosa creek, has a ranch of three hundred twenty acres about five miles from Cambria. Ile was born in Premia, Novara, Piedmont, Italy, January 22, 1863, the son of Jacento and Christina (Martinetti) Curti, farmer folks in Italy. Ile was educated in the public schools of his native land, and learned farming while assisting his father on the farm. He served the period of his enlistment in the Italian army.

Mr. Curti had heard good reports from California, and decided to come to this state. Accordingly, on January 12, 1890, he arrived at Cayucos, with his wife and child. On January 14 he began working on a dairy ranch. After working for four years, he rented a dairy on shares from Nicola Storni. where he remained for eleven years. He had saved some money, and now decided to buy a ranch : so in 1905 he purchased his present place of three hundred twenty acres, and moved onto it. Since then he has run the place as a dairy ranch, and at present milks about twenty-five cows. It is a fine place, with plenty of springs. Water is piped to the residence and dairy house, and water power is used for operating the separator. In connection with the dairy, Mr. Curti devotes a considerable acreage to the growing of hay.

In 1886, before coming to this country, Joseph Curti was married to Miss Mary Cosso, who was born in Italy. They have three children. Ernest is now running the home farm; and Henry and Cora are at home.

In politics Mr. Curti is a Republican. He is industrious, and has many friends throughout his section of the county.

ABRAHAM TOGNAZZINI .- What a man may accomplish who is an able machinist, employs only competent and well-paid help, attends strictly to business, and gives that business his personal attention, is well illustrated in the story of the rise of Abraham Tognazzini, the popular ex deputy con- stable and progressive proprietor of the Guadalupe Garage, a prosperous establishment opened in the winter of 1912-13. His father was Noe Tognaz zini, a native of Someo, Canton Ticino, Switzerland, who went to Australia with his family in order to join his father, John Tognazzini, a gold miner in the province of Victoria. There he met with a fair degree of success as a miner, but made most of his money by taking up government land there and selling it, after having duly proved it up. Abraham's mother, now living at Guadalupe, was Marie Zanolli.

Leaving Australia, Mr. and Mrs. Noe Tognazzi came to Calforma and took up their residence for a while at Point Sal, Santa Barbara county, then the old "chute landing," where ships were loaded with gypsum. They arrived in 1888, and the next year went to a ranch at ( asmalla The following year they were back again at the chute landing : and a year or twir later they homesteaded at Mussel Rock, in due time proving up a hundre l tive acres At Guadalupe, in 1909, Noe Togna zini died, aged sixty years, the father of eighteen children. Five of these ched young, but thirty en grew up The- where in this work will be found a sketch of Samuel M ; I habeil > becule the wife of R. B. Leeds, a glazier of Los Angeles, Moses P. formper vla smith of Guadalupe, is a rancher in Arizona ; Dameli a welldown lita chant at Guadalupe, and clerk of the board of trustees of the schied district there; Mary M. is the wife of Peter Baranchi, a rancher near theutt. Jose phine M. married F. C. Rusconi, whose sketch also appears in this work. he being a member of the firm of Tognazzim & Ruscom. proprietors of the

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Golden Eagle Creamery at Guadalupe; Flora E. was wedded to Pacifico Chigolotti, foreman in the sugar factory at Betteravia; Romeo L. E. works in the California Garage at Santa Maria; Walter E. is employed in the mill at the Betteravia sugar works; Albert and A. G. are both of Guadalupe; Noc F. died unmarried ; and Abraham is the subject of our sketch.

Born near Daly's Ford, in the province of Victoria, Australia, July 20, 1880, Abraham Tognazzini went to school in Australia, and later at Point Sal and Casmalia, Cal. At an early age he started to work out by the month on near-by ranches. He worked hard and steadily, and also saved his money ; and when the automobile came to stay, Mr. Tognazzini, with admirable far-sightedness, was quick to perceive the great business oppor- tunity for a garage at Guadalupe, and opened the first and by far the leading garage in the town. Since that time he has steadily prospered in his business and financial undertakings, and has now built up a dependable patronage. He is agent for the Case touring car, deals in all kinds of first- class auto supplies, and does expert auto repair work.

In 1908, Abraham Tognazzini was married, at San Luis Obispo, to Miss Olympia Georgia, a native of Switzerland, who came to Californa when three years of age, by whom he has had two chldren, Viola O. and Cecil Abraham. A happy family, they dwell together in a handsome residence which Mr. Tognazzini lately purchased.

CELESTINO SIGNORELLI .- The same touch of the romantic which characterizes the history of the Signorelli family in general, lights up the . individual story of Celestino Signorelli, who left Europe following the death of his father and in consequence of the severe struggle imposed upon the widow and her children for very existence.

Born on February 2, 1880, in the province of Bergam, Italy, where he attended school and studied the Italian language, Celestino Signorelli, when seven years of age, went with his parents and brothers and sisters to Switzer- land, where the two youngest of the children were born ; and in canton Ticino he grew up, attending the local school and working to help the mother sup- port the family. Two brothers and a sister had already gone to America and settled in California; and hearing from them frequently, he resolved, when about twenty-one years of age, to come to America also.

On October 14, 1890, therefore, he left Switzerland, after arranging that his mother and the three youngest children should follow him the next Jan- uary ; and on October 17 he sailed from Havre on the steamship "Savoy," landing in New York on October 26. He soon reached Guadalupe, Cal., and on November 2 commenced to milk cows for Romildo Tognazzini, for whom he worked thirteen months. He then entered the service of the sugar com pany, and afterwards bought a hay press and ran it.

On coming up to Oso Flaco, he entered into a contract with his brother- in law, E. Morganti, to clear up and recover a hundred aeres of land, now a part of the land he leases from the Union Sugar Co., agreeing to complete the work in five years. After fulfilling his agreement, he took up the hotel business, and managed the Exchange Hotel at Guadalupe, but retired from the business at the end of nineteen months, being afflicted with asthma. IIe then embarked in his present dairy business, for which he maintains over a hundred milch cows. He sells the cream to the Eagle Creamery at Guada- lupe. His land is well adapted for the growing of alfalfa hay, and for this

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dairy enterprise. He rents three hundred fifty acres, more or less, from the Union Sugar Co. at Oso Flaco, the company putting in wells and furnishing engines and pumps. He pays $2,255 for rent, has already leased the land for six years, and his lease has five years more to run. He employs three men the year round, and in haying time takes on extra help. In 1916, he had over three hundred tons of barley hay for sale at the harvest, worth about fifteen dollars per ton. He is also raising cattle and hogs.

Some years ago Mr. Signorelli was married to Miss Delphina Tominelli, a native of canton Ticino, and a daughter of Joe Tominelli, who died when she was only three years old. Her mother, who managed to keep the family together, had four children: Adnesta, who lives in Switzerland; Jahonina, who is married and also dwells there; Jackimo, also a resident of the little republic ; and Mrs. Signorelli, who is the only child living in America. 1 fine-looking, motherly woman, she came as a fiancée to Guadalupe, accom- panied by Mr. Paulo Duchini, who had lived at Guadalupe, had returned to Switzerland, and after nine years had decided to come to California again. The bride-to-be was twenty-five years old when she came here. To this excellent woman, Mr. Signorelli attributes much of his success; and no wonder, for she does all the housework for the large ranch, cooks for three hired men the year round, looks after her children, and still finds time for her husband. Five children have blessed this marriage, of whom three still remain, the pride and hope of their parents: Ililda. Neva and Alma. An infant died at its birth ; and little Alma, the third born, while playing near the railroad track at Guadalupe, when only seventeen months old, was run over and killed. The parents then named their fifth child Alma, also. Before coming to California, Mr. Signorelli was married in Switzerland to Julietta Galiardi, who died there a few years later, and by whom he has two children living : Martino and Camillo, both residing in their native place.

JOSEPH F. SILVA .- When the future historian of California comes to check off the true builders of this great commonwealth, he will not fail to enumerate Joseph F. Silva, the well-known pioneer who, starting with little or nothing of this world's means to his credit, amassed such a hand- some fortune that, at his death, he was able to leave five of the most devir- able ranches in this section to his faithful wife; nor will the historian pass over the enterprising sons of this carly comer, Antone and John Silva, who. as partners together in extensive enterprises, have become important men of affairs, and who, in the enjoyment of leisure hours, have nade themselves leaders in the social circles in which they move. Starting from the lower rungs of the ladder, and climbing high in the keen competition of the day, Joseph Silva left an example of thrift and business integrity, likely to be followed with success by both of the sons bearing his honored name.

Born in the Azores, where he married Annie A. Canadas, Joseph I Silva came to California and settled in the Santa Maria valley when he was thirty years old. He had the foresight that made in among the first to discover the richness of the soil along the Os0 Flaco, and led him towork with all his energy to acquire what he could of the best acreage when it might still be had for a mere song. Besides the home place of a hundred fourteen acres, he bought two ranches in Santa Maria, the one of a hundre ] sixty-one acres and the other of a hundred twenty ; while he also secured a hundred six acres at Guadalupe. \ man of striking personality, widely

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known as a public-spirited citizen with Republican political preferences, and full of active, fruitful years, Joseph Silva died in 1912 at the age of sixty-two.

Six children and their families enjoy this heritage with the widow : Joe and his wife, Mary (Costa), who reside on one of the ranches to the north of Santa Maria : Antone and Mary (Silva), who have one child, Edwin ; Frank, who married Mary Ermona, and resides with her on one of the ranches two miles east of Santa Maria: John and Mary, who are at home ; and Marie, who married Matt. Medosa, and resides ncar Guadalupe.

On the home ranch. on December 15, 1888, Antone Silva was born ; and in that vicinity he attended the public school. At only twelve years of age, he commenced driving his father's teams, and soon was handling the plow. Today he farms in partnership with his brother John-an excellent partner by the way-tilling some four hundred acres. From the mother they rent a hundred fourteen acres, and from Peter Pezzoni they lease over two hundred fifty more. Such bounteous harvests reward their expert management of these ranches that in 1916 they gathered two thousand four hundred sacks of beans, and large quantities of beets, hay and potatoes in addition. The Silva brothers have demonstrated their ability as agriculturists and success- ful business men. They were trained by their father, from boys, in the best methods of cultivating the soil, as well as in the selection of the crops best suited for this section. Evidence of their prosperity is seen in their splen- did, well-kept buildings, fields and fences and in their rapidly moving auto- mobiles, by which they are able to keep in close touch with their various ranches.

ANTONE FELICIANO .- Had anyone, on meeting Antone Feliciano; the well-known farmer and capitalist, about the middle of the sixties, when he first landed in San Francisco, prophesied that within half a century he would retire the .possessor of a comfortable fortune, the prediction would have been perfectly safe : for like a considerable number of other California pioneers who eventually became well-to-do, Mr. Feliciano was a sailor, and through good seamanship made the port that proved the gateway to his prosperity. Born in the balmy Azores, on the sca-girt island of Fijol, about 1850, he was the son of Joseph Feliciano, also a sailor, although the grand- father had been a farmer. His father, who died where he was born, in Fijol, sailed the ocean his entire life, and retired in his seventieth year. His. mother, Mary Ethel, died in the Azores, somewhat older than her husband It was natural enough, therefore, that the son should put to sea in his early teens ; and since he shipped with an American vessel when he was only fifteen, it 1- not surprising that a year later he entered the then already famous Golden Gate.

From his first experiences in California, Mr. Feliciano fell in love with the state and decided to cast in his fortunes here: but having tasted the adventure and pleasures of the sea, he was loath to abandon them. Ile con- tinued to work as a sailor in the coast trade, serving in particular on vessels pling between San Francisco and Monterey. The latter proved a harbor of good luck for him, for there, at the age of thirty, he was married to Miss Mbis Netto, a native of Boston, who had come to California when she was

The first settler on the Oso Flaco in San Luis Obispo County, Mr. Falidano bought one hundred twenty acres, still operated by some of his

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children, which his good and faithful wife and family managed until, in his forty-fifth year, he quit the sea; and so successful were they by hard work on this and other fertile farms since acquired-cach "flat as a pancake, and fat as grease"-particularly in the scientific cultivation of beans and grain, that after building, in 1916, a beautiful bungalow to be occupied by the family of one of his children, he was able to retire, in January, 1917, and move to Santa Maria, where, for ten thousand dollars, he bought the Porter home on South Broadway, acknowledged to be one of the finest residences in town.

Fifteen progressive and interesting children, two of whom have since died, were born to this worthy couple. The living are: Tony; Joe, who married Miss Myrtle Fesler, of Santa Maria, by whom he has one child. Arthur ; Mary, the wife of S. D. Martin, a rancher living east of the town : Frank, the husband of Vernie Fesler: Rose, who resides in Oakland, and is a milliner: and Belle, Gussie, Ethel, Jack, Peter. Henry. Freddie and Clarence, who are at home.

Now enjoying the well-earned fruits of a long and ardnons life, Mr. Feliciano is numbered among the substantial citizens of Santa Maria, one whose experience in practical affairs is well worth consulting, and whose word is as good as his bond.

LOUIS AND LOVIA SIGNORELLI .- There may be many other pio- neers from over the sea who, both before and since coming to California, have been trained in the school of hard knocks; but few, if any, have profited more than Louis Signorelli through the lessons so painfully learned, and none more deserves the prosperity he and his good wife now enjoy. The father, Bortel Signorelli, a native of Italy, was a laborer, who busied himself par- ticularly with the cutting of wood and the burning of charcoal, and who also gave of his time for military service in Switzerland. Ile no doubt had a very hard time of it, trying to make a living for his wife and large family of children, and perhaps it is not surprising that he was indneed to go to Africa to work in a coal mine. There, in Algiers, he was taken with a fever and died, quite alone, in his sixty-third year.

The privations of the mother and children under the conditions can well be imagined. The older boys and girls, just as soon as they were old enough to set out for themselves, sought to better their condition by sailing for the New World. Four of them already had reached California, settling near Guadalupe, before the mother doubtless one of the most self-sacrific- ing, as well as one of the noblest, not to say ablest, of women in so rearm . her family and the youngest three children, ten veirs after her husband bond died, arrived in the land of promise. Splendidis, however, have these ber in efforts of the mother have been rewarded ; for it syne the children have be come prosperous, and are now highly respected cifi ens San lar cospe. and Santa Barbara counties. They are I rank, the rancher who restdes antin of Orcutt : Rosa, the widow of F. Morganti, who died in 1915, aller & ling residence at San Luis Obispo; Amelio, a laborer at Guadalupe Collins. the dairyman of Oso Flaco, a sketch of whose hie t elsewhere Bien Iem. the subject of this review; Alfred Isadore, whist le fors appearsin confor page: and Irma, the wife of A. Tomasmi, the dairyman af 1 - Alone

Born in 1882, in Bergam, Italy, Lonis Signorelli came to Switzerland with his parents when a child, and migrated to Caht armia m 1 63 Viter Ins arrival, he worked by the month for a while as i farm hand Three years 20

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he rented his present place from the Union Sugar Co., agreeing to pay that concern one-fifth of his receipts for the use of the land. Expending some $18.50 a day for Japanese labor, and $1.44 for seed, $3.50 for plowing, 50 cents for harrowing and $3.50 for water for irrigation, or a total of about $27.44 a day, he is still able, with the sugar-beets yielding him $5.50 or $6, or over, per ton, to clear up a handsome profit. He has sixteen work horses, and in 1917 will plant a hundred acres to beans and three hundred fifty acres to beets. Leasing four hundred fifty acres from the Union Sugar Co., he pledges to put out at least three hundred fifty acres to the product they desire : and under normal conditions he can expect twelve tons of beets to the acre.

The year 1912 witnessed the marriage of Louis Signorelli to Miss Lovia Tomasini, a native of Someo, canton Ticino, Switzerland, to whom he attributes much of his present high degree of success. She is a typically good-natured Swiss woman, and a credit to American motherhood and womanhood, as well as to that of her native country. She enjoys, like her husband, the great blessing of health ; and being optimistic by nature, indus- trious and ambitious, she has proven an excellent helpmate to him. Two children are their particular joy : Waldo Vencento, and Emory Louis. Sev- eral of Mrs. Signorelli's brothers still survive. Ardveno Tomasini resides ou a dairy ranch near Los Alamos; Arminio Tomasini has a dairy at San Luis Obispo; Bozellio Tomasini lives in Nevada ; and there are a brother and three sisters in Switzerland. Her parents are Vencento and Constanca (Caporgno) Tomasini. The father has spent his life as an educator, and both parents are living in Someo.

RINALDO BASSI .- A resident of San Luis Obispo County since 1896, Rinaldo Bassi is engaged in the feed and fuel business in San Luis Obispo. He was born in Vallé Maggia, canton Ticino, Switzerland, April 16, 1880. His father, Cesare Bassi, was an educator. He taught school all of his life, and died in Switzerland. The mother, Candida Padavani, now resides in Santa Margarita. Of their thirteen children, Rinaldo is the eighth in order of birth.

Rinaldo Bassi was brought up in his native town, Cerentino, and was educated in the public schools under his father till the age of fourteen, when his father died. He remained at home until past fifteen years of age, when, in 1896, he came to California, whither several brothers had previously emi- grated. He came to Paso Robles and for several years was employed at farming and dairying, and also at clearing land and cutting wood. In 1908 he located in San Luis Obispo and began a feed and fuel business, in which he has continued since. His place is at 1165 Monterey street. He bought the site and built up the establishment from the foundation ; and here he engages in a wholesale and retail feed, coal and wood business, delivering with teams and by truck.

In San Luis Obispo, Rinaldo Bassi was married to Mathilda Devaux, a Lady of French descent, who was born in canton Ticino, and was raised and Alucated there. They have three children: Victoria Bessie, Adelina, and Rinaldo, Jr.

Mr. Bassi is a member of the Swiss Mutual Benevolent AAssociation, of the 1. D. F. S. Society, and of the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce. Politically, he is a Republican.

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ALESSIO BASSI .- Born in St. Antonino, canton Ticino, Switzerland, February 14, 1862, Alessio Bassi came to California in 1879, and to San Luis Obispo County in 1882. Ilis father, Andrea Bassi, was a dairyman : ind Alessio was raised on the home farm, pursuing his studies at the public school till fourteen years of age. After that the worked for his uncle until he reached the age of seventeen years, when he decided to come to California. Two of his brothers had located at Fort Ross; so, after his arrival, in 1879, Alessio went to Fort Ross, where he found employment on a dairy. Later he was in the employ of N. Sartori, at Duncan's Mill. In 1882 he came to Cayu cos. He worked on dairy ranches on Morro creek till 1885, when he started business on his own account on little Morro creek, running a dairy ranch of five hundred acres, with a herd of about fifty cows. For a while he did well ; but low prices of butter and hogs caused the loss of all he had made, and he again went to work for wages, to get another start.

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History of San Luis Obispo County and environs, California, with biographical sketches, Part 117

Author: Morrison, Annie L. Stringfellow, 1860-; Haydon, John H., 1837- Publication date: 1917 Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company Number of Pages: 1070

Author: Morrison, Annie L. Stringfellow, 1860-; Haydon, John H., 1837-
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company
Number of Pages: 1070