USA > California > Sonoma County > History of Sonoma 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 time > Part 117
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After a successful record of over seventeen years as a general farmer and . stock-raiser in Clay county. Neb., Mr. Hart disposed of his interests there in
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1890 and in the fall of the same year came to California, reaching the state on November 14. In San Francisco, where he first located, he purchased and conducted a lodging house for about two years, but finally disposed of it and coming to Sonoma county settled down to the calling with which he was more familiar through his long and successful career in Nebraska. Coming to Ful- ton in 1891, he purchased in this vicinity twenty-one acres of land and set out the entire acreage to hops, with the result that he now has one of the most flourishing hop ranches in Sonoma county. It is no uncommon crop for his vines to produce one hundred bales during the season, and from the fruit trees which he set out for family use only, he had a yield of eleven hundred pounds of prunes from eleven trees.
In Morgan county, Ill., in 1861, Mr. Hart was married to Miss Laura A. Duncan, a native of Virginia. Eleven children were born of this marriage, named in the order of their birth as follows: Marshall M., who married a Miss Dill and resides in Nebraska; Fannie E., the wife of Dr. Edgar, of San Francisco; Mrs. Leona Hanley, of Eureka, Cal .; Thomas, deceased; Mrs. May Lewis, a resident of San Francisco; Marion, of Stockton; Henry, a resident of San Francisco; Lulu, who is a trained nurse in Oakland; Ella, Mrs. Gauron, of Oakland; Grace P., deceased; and Ruby Belle. In all of his undertakings Mr. Hart has had the co-operation of his faithful wife, who throughout their married life of nearly fifty years has been a helpmate indeed. Fraternally Mr. Hart is identified with the Masonic order, having attained the Royal Arch degree.
GUISSEPI ZANOLINI.
An illustration of the prosperity which has rewarded the efforts of our Swiss-American citizens may be found in the life of Guissepi Zanolini, who for thirty-five years has been identified with the interests of Sonoma county, and has won recognition as a steady-going, industrious rancher. Without energy and resolute determination he could not have attained to his present station in the community. Nature endowed him with the faculties necessary in the strug- gle for a livelihood in a new country. With the keen mind of his family he soon acquired a thorough knowledge of the English language, which he now speaks with ease and fluency. One of his noticeable traits is his love of system and order, everything about the ranch and its appointments speaking eloquently of this characteristic of the owner.
Guissepi Zanolini was born in Canton Ticino, Switzerland, in 1853, and under the careful training of his parents was prepared for the responsibilities of life. He remained an inmate of the parental home until he was twenty-two years of age, when, in 1875, he followed others of his countrymen to the land of the free. The same year that he landed on these shores he came to California and to Sonoma county, and this particular section has benefited by his citizen- ship ever since. Not far from Healdsburg, in Russian River township, he owns five hundred and sixty and a-half acres, one of the largest acreages in the pos- session of one person in this section of country. Besides this large holding he also owns six valuable lots in Healdsburg. Of the ranch, fifteen acres are in young vineyard, in fine condition, and when in bearing will yield a splendid
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annual income to the owner. Here he has a dairy of forty cows, which is the chief income of the ranch, besides which Mr. Zanolini has three fine horses which he expects to sell at good prices. It speaks well for the care which the owner bestows on the ranch, when it is said that during the year 1909 its valua- tion increased $1,200. Besides his ranch he rents two hundred and sixty acres for dairy purposes in the neighborhood of Belleview, where he milks about thirty cows.
In all of his aims and ambitions Mr. Zanolini has had the encouragement of his wife, who before her marriage was Miss Carolina Piezzi, who was born in Switzerland in 1863. Born of their marriage, which occurred in March, 1885, are the following children, four sons and two daughters: William, Sil- via. Milo, Fred, Josephine and Jennie. The parents were reared to a belief in the tenets of the Roman Catholic faith, and in this faith they are also rearing their children, the family being communicants of the Catholic church at Healds- burg. Politically Mr. Zanolini is a Republican.
TOGNI & DADO.
The dairy industry has engaged the intelligent activities of Togni & Dado, who by dint of strenuous application have established a growing business in the line of their specialty and also have gained a wide reputation for the suc- cessful prosecution of their chosen occupation. The ranch which they utilize for dairying comprises nine hundred and ninety-four acres in one body, situ- ated twelve miles from Petaluma. One hundred and thirty acres are under cultivation to farm crops and the balance is utilized for the pasturage of the stock, including ten head of hogs, six head of work horses and one hundred and seventy head of cows. At this writing one hundred and thirty cows are milked, and they furnish an average income of $60 per head each year, over and above expenses. Separators are used in extracting the cream from the milk, and the former finds a ready market at the highest prices. The partners de- vote themselves assiduously to the management of the dairy and have little leisure for participation in local political or religious affairs, although they cast their ballots for Republican candidates at all elections and adhere to the doc- trines of the Roman Catholic Church with zealous sincerity. When they find a few hours of leisure in the midst of their many duties they enjoy taking their fishing tackle and bait and try their skill as fishermen.
The senior member of the firm, Michael Togni, was born in Switzerland in 1867 and came to California in 1881, settling in the locality of his present residence, and since 1902 engaging with his partner in the dairy business. The younger member of the firm, Silvio J. Dado, was born in Marin county, Cal., in August, 1877, and is a son of Paul and Catherine (Togni) Dado, natives of Switzerland, the former born in 1840 and the latter in 1852. The father fol- lowed the occupation of a dairyman and the children early learned all of the details connected with the industry, so that the junior member of the firm of Togni & Dado was well qualified, in embarking upon the occupation, to conduct it along economical and sagacious lines of procedure.
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Included in the family of Paul Dado there were eleven children, named as follows: Attilio, Silvio, Leo, Belinda. Corina, Delfina, Evelina, Florinda, Julia, Valeria and Irene. The eldest daughter, Belinda, Mrs. F. Casarotti, is a resident of Marin county and has become the mother of five children, those living being Charles, Ernest, Walter and Irene. Corina, Mrs. A. Bettinelli, who is living in Marin county, has had a family of ten children, those living being as follows: Paul, Lawrence, Alvena. Olymphio, Everest, Genevieve, Cora, Elma and Irene. Delfina, who married A. Garzoli, has one daughter, Mary, and lives at Nicasio, Marin county, Cal. Evelina, Mrs. S. Gambonini, resides at Marshall and has one child, Ray. Florinda married Joseph Garzoli and has three children. Clito, Leo and Frances. Irene, Mrs. P. G. Bloom, makes her home in Marin county.
SYLVESTER GREPPI.
When Mr. Greppi came to this country from Switzerland over thirty-five years ago he brought with him a valuable asset in his knowledge of the dairying business as conducted in his native land, and it is to this knowledge that he gives credit for the splendid success he has had on this side of the Atlantic. His dairy, which is supplied by thirty-six cows, is only a part of the ranch enter- prise which he maintains near Petaluma, for he also has a large hennery of two thousand laying hens, which in addition to the stock which he raises as well as general produce, brings an income that is commensurate with the labor of the industrious owner.
Mr Greppi's earliest recollections are of a home in Switzerland, his birth occurring in the canton of Ticino in 1847, and in the vicinity of his birthplace he passed his boyhood, youth and young manhood. He was about twenty-seven years of age when, in 1875, he broke the bonds that bound him to the home land, the year just mentioned witnessing his embarkation for the United States. Many of his countrymen preceded him to California, and it was through their solic- itation that he ventured to leave home and begin life anew in the midst of untried conditions. He therefore lost no time in looking about for any other lo- cation, and as soon as he reached the port for which his vessel was destined. continued his journey until he reached California. Sonoma county, where so many of his countrymen were located, was his point of destination, and with their assistance he readily found employment as a ranch hand. The steady, persever- ing and industrious traits that are so strongly marked in Mr. Greppi's make-up were at no time more noticeable than during the years that he worked in the employ of others in order to secure the means with which to purchase a ranch of his own. It was with considerable satisfaction that in 1902 he purchased the ranch on which he now resides, on Rural Route No. 4 from Petaluma. Here he has two hundred and thirty acres of productive land, a large portion of which is in hay and grain, six acres in potatoes, besides which he maintains a dairy of thirty-six cows. his income from this latter source alone during the year 1909 being $1,800. He also has ten head of fine stock, of the Jersey and Ayrshire breed, seven head of horses of high grade, besides two thousand laying hens. Great credit is due Mr. Greppi for the large and thrifty enterprise that he has
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created in a comparatively short time, and his efforts and their results may be taken as a guide for others who are forced to begin life emptyhanded.
In his marriage Mr. Greppi chose one of his country women in Miss Del- phina Mattei, who was born in Switzerland in 1866. Six children have been born of this marriage, three sons and three daughters, as follows: Eduardo, Olympio, Chester, Edith, Silvia and Olga.
JOSEPH TRAVERSI.
Born in Cevio, Canton Ticino, Switzerland, December 23, 1853, Joseph Traversi is a son of Charles and Mary (Cristofanini) Traversi, both natives of Ticino. The father, who followed contracting and building, died in 1859, when Joseph was six years of age, and several years later the mother also died. The parental family included nine children, of whom three of the sons immigrated to Australia, three sons and two daughters came to America, and one son still re- sides in Switzerland.
The subject of this sketch was the second youngest of the family and was educated in the public schools near his home until twelve years of age when, on October 16, 1866, he started for California, coming by way of Liverpool to New York, thence by way of the Isthmus of Panama to San Francisco. After land- ing December 14, 1866, he immediately made his way to Petaluma and thence to the ranch of Charles Martin, in Chelino valley. He had borrowed money to make the trip and was $110 in debt on his arrival. He worked for three years for Mr. Martin and during this time went to school off and on for about four months. He was very industrious and steady, applying himself so close that it was almost two years before he went any distance from the ranch and that was a trip to Petaluma to a Fourth of July celebration, the scenes and magnificent display of the Glorious Fourth making a lasting impression on him. In 1869 he was employed by Thomas Ragsdall on the ranch adjoining Martin's for two years, then he and three other young men leased a ranch on Tomales Bay. To stock this they borrowed money at eighteen per cent interest and ran a dairy, continuing there until 1877, when they dissolved and Mr. Traversi located at Nicasio and leased a dairy of one thousand acres, where he milked an average of one hundred and twenty cows and whence he made a very remarkable success, remaining on the place for a period of twenty-eight years.
In 1904 Mr. Traversi sold his stock and located in Petaluma, where he built a modern residence at No. 515 Walnut street, and where he resides with his family, putting in his time in looking after his varied interests. With Mr. Tomasini he owns six hundred and fifty acres near Nicasio, which they lease for a dairy, and with the Martins, Blooms and Respinis he owns a one-eighth interest in the Santa Ysabel rancho in San Diego county, a valuable tract of land of eightcen thousand acres. Individually he owns a ranch of one thousand and ten acres near Nicasio that is rented as a dairy and also a four hundred acre dairy ranch between Navato and Ignacio in Marin county. This demon- strates how successful he has been and his interests are not confined to land, but he was one of the organizers of the Swiss-American Bank in Petaluma, of which he is a director, and is also a stockholder in the Swiss-American Bank
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(Banca Svizzera Americana) of Locarno near his old home in Ticino. In Peta- luma, Cal., occurred his marriage with Miss Benie Bloom, who was born in Olema. Marin county, the daughter of Joseph Bloom, an early pioneer and large farmer of that county. Of this union two children were born, Josephine and Charles J.
Mr. Traversi has never sought political preferment, but is a straight out- and-out Republican. He is a man who had to begin at the bottom of the ladder, having no resources but youth, health and a determination to succeed in spite of obstacles. His energy being directed in the right way he was able to surmount difficulties and is now able to live retired in the enjoyment of the luxury that wealth and independence bring. He is much appreciated by his business asso- ciates and friends for his integrity and worth and there are many who admire him for his many acts of kindness and charity to those who have been less for- tunate than he, and those that are deserving are never turned away empty- handed when they appeal to him for aid. The prosperity of the county would be assured were there more men and women of the same breadth of mind as Mr. and Mrs. Traversi.
LOUIS STORNETTA.
A man of sterling worth and integrity, who, through his own efforts, has won his present high position in the agricultural community of Sonoma county, Louis Stornetta, of Petaluma, is a fine representative of the self-made men who have come to California from across the seas, and while laboring hard to advance their own prosperity, have not been unmindful of the material inter- ests of their adopted country. A little over twenty years ago Mr. Stornetta came to the Pacific coast empty-handed and alone, and by the application of native energy and perseverance he has in the meantime become the owner of a fine ranch near Petaluma and has acquired a standing and recognition among his fellow-citizens of which he is in every way deserving.
Louis Stornetta was born in Switzerland in March, 1870, the son of Joseph and Louisa (Mossi) Stornetta, they too being natives of that country. The father was a farmer and dairyman and all of his children were brought up to a practical knowledge of the business whereby he was enabled to maintain his family, which consisted of five sons and one daughter, Charles, Vincenzo, Rocco, Dominico, Louis and Mary. The eldest son, Charles, married Mary Crivelli and has two children. Vincenzo is also married and the father of two children. Rocco and his wife, formerly Josephine Bassi, have one daughter. Dominico is also married and the father of one child.
When he was eighteen years of age Louis Stornetta felt competent to strike out in the world in his own behalf, and the year 1888 found him among the immigrants who landed on our eastern shore. California was his ultimate des- tination, however, and the same year found him in Sonoma county, where his quest for labor on the dairy ranches which abound here met with a ready re- sponse, for his knowledge of the business was quickly recognized. From the first his services were in demand, and he continued in the employ of others until he was financially able to purchase the stock and lease the ranch on which he now lives, consisting of two hundred and thirty-six acres of excellent land
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not far from Petaluma. Here he maintains a dairy business supported by forty-five cows, besides which he has young stock which will ultimately increase his dairy business. Besides the stock mentioned he has four head of horses and a number of hogs and between one thousand and two thousand White Leg- horn chickens. Not only is Mr. Stornetta steadily increasing the size of his dairy, but he is also giving special attention in this direction to his poultry busi- ness, for in this department of agriculture he sees remarkable possibilities. At the present time the earning capacity of each hen is $1. Taken in its entirety the ranch which he leases is one of the most productive in this section of the county, and he is looked upon as an authority in both the dairy and poultry industries, an honor which is justly his, for he has made a scientific study of both and brought them to a high point of excellence.
Mr. Stornetta's marriage united him with Miss Mary Cattaneo, who was born in Switzerland in 1884. and three children have been born to them, Joseph C., Theodore G. and Louis A. Mrs. Stornetta was one of a large family born to her parents, George and Mary (Antognini) Cattaneo, both natives of Swit- zerland, the former born in the year 1850. Politically Mr. Stornetta is a Re- publican, and with his family he is a communicant of the Roman Catholic Church of Petaluma. Fraternally he is identified with the Druids Lodge of Sonoma, and also with the Swiss Benefit Association of San Francisco.
LOUIS VALENTINI.
The densely populated countries of the old world have contributed of their sons to aid in the agricultural development of the western continent. A considerable proportion of these immigrants have come from Italy, bringing with them their capacity for hard work and willingness to forego every luxury until a foothold has been gained in whatever section of country in which they elect to locate. Sonoma county, Cal., has profited by a goodly representation of these thrifty settlers, and among the number mention may be made of Louis Valentini, whose ranch near Gerneville is indicative of the industry of the owner.
Born near the city of Lucca, Italy, in 1862, Louis Valentini continued in the country of his birth until grown to manhood years, and he had been married ten years when, in 1900, he set out with his wife and little family for the land of the free. A voyage across the Atlantic ocean of several days finally brought them to the new world, and from the port of landing they immediately made arrangements for transportation to the Pacific coast, where it was the purpose of the parents to settle and rear their children. In Sonoma county, Cal., near Gerneville, Mr. Valentini and his partner, Napoleon Valentini, selected a fine tract of two hundred and thirty-four acres, the greater part of which was in timber, but of this six acres have been cleared and placed under cultivation to the grape, and it is their intention to continue the clearing of the land as rap- idly as possible and enlarge the vineyard.
In Italy. in 1890, Mr. Valentini was united in marriage with Miss Zaira Giannini, and the following children have been born to them: William, Renaldo. Armado, George, Valentino and Mary. Both Mr. and Mrs. Valentini were
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reared in the faith of the Catholic Church, and they in turn are rearing their children in the same faith. As a citizen Mr. Valentini exhibits a hearty interest in the promotion of the well being of his community, and takes a deep interest in the welfare of the state and nation, and each year he realizes more and more forcibly what his removal to this country has meant to him and to his family, not only in a financial sense, but in breadth of sympathy for his fellowmen and for humanity in general.
GENESIO ROSSELLI.
The acquisition of large landed tracts in Sonoma county either by purchase or by lease is indicative of the thrifty, progressive spirit of our Swiss-Amer- ican citizens, who, coming across the ocean with no capital except industrious habits and robust constitutions, have risen to positions of local prominence solely through their unaided efforts. As tillers of the soil they are energetic and saga- cious, while in the dairy industry they display a wise discrimination and pru- dent management excelled by no race represented in the west. The qualities possessed by Mr. Rosselli will place him in the forefront among his country- men in this locality. While his residence in this county is not of long duration (dating from the year 1902), he has become well known as a shrewd, resource- ful rancher, alert in everything pertaining to his chosen occupation. The estate which he operates consists of one hundred and eighty-five acres of land. a part of which is utilized for the raising of farm crops and the balance fur- nishes a pasturage for thirty head of cows and four work horses. Considerable attention is being given now to the poultry industry and the yards contain fifteen hundred chickens, the output of eggs and fowls adding materially to the annual income.
Born in Switzerland in 1862, Genesio Rosselli is a son of John and Candida (Bazzini) Rosselli, also natives of that country, the father born in 1832 and reared and married in his native land. As early as 1856 he sought the mines of California. The trip was one of indescribable hardship. Provisions on the ship became so nearly exhausted that the passengers subsisted on hard tack and stale butter. Finally, after a voyage of six months around the Horn, the vessel cast anchor in the harbor of San Francisco and relief came to the suffer- ing men on board. The Swiss emigrant proceeded to the mines of Placer county, and for some time he endeavored to find a fortune in the earth, but his luck was only that of the average miner and, disappointed, he returned to his home in the old world. There were five sons in his family, Genesio, Peter, Joseph, Theodore and Mario. The second-named married Mary Pedretti and has two children. Joseph is married and has four children, three of whom are living, Virgilo, Victorina and Jennie.
After having completed the studies of the Swiss common schools and later having acquired a thorough knowledge of the dairy business, in 1884 Genesio Rosselli came to the United States, sailing on a steamer from Havre to New York City and thence traveling to the western coast by train. Immediately after his arrival he secured employment on a ranch and for eighteen years he worked in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, whence he came to Sonoma county and settled on a ranch near Petaluma. To aid him in his effort
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to secure a competency he has had the assistance of a capable, economical wife, who possesses the amiable and industrious qualities for which the Swiss women are noted. Born in Switzerland in 1866, Mary Bazzini was one of four chil- dren, the others being John, Mark and Agata, Mrs. Moses Manni. John mar- ried Mary Berta. Mark chose Eda Carigiti as his wife and they now have five children, Richard, Emiliel, Louisa, Victorina and Evaline. Mrs. Manni has one son, Damiano, a namesake of her father, Damiano Bazzini, who was a life- long resident of his native Switzerland. The family of Mr. Rosselli comprises two sons and one daughter, Elvezio, John and Candida. In religious faith Mr. Rosselli is devotedly attached to the doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church, and he and his wife have been generous in their contributions to its maintenance. Since becoming an American citizen he has voted with the Republican party at all national elections and in every way he has endeavored to discharge the obligations resting upon him as a patriotic, progressive resident of our state.
ANTONIO MAESTRETTI.
We who have always enjoyed the privilege of citizenship in a free country, where the rights of each are limited only as they encroach upon the rights of others, can scarcely realize the sense of freedom with which those born under less favorable conditions come to our shores, and after finding the particular locality in which they wish to settle, devote all their energies faithfully to the improvement of the land and their sympathies and activities to the upbuilding of the community. Among those who have taken advantage of the privileges which the United States offers to young men of undaunted perseverance is A. Maestretti, who though a native of the republic of Switzerland, realized early in life that this larger and older republic offered a larger field of activity than his own.
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