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Italo-Americans of
Rhode Island
UBALDO U. M. PESATURO
Gc 974.5 P431 1405512
M. L
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01068 3800
ITALO-AMERICANS
of
RHODE ISLAND
AN HISTORICAL AND BIO- GRAPHICAL SURVEY OF THE ORIGIN, RISE AND PROGRESS OF RHODE ISLANDERS OF ITALIAN BIRTH OR DESCENT
By UBALDO U. M. PESATURO
SECOND EDITION
COPYRIGHT, 1940 By UBALDO U. M. PESATURO PROVIDENCE, R. I.
VISITOR PRINTING CO. PROVIDENCE, R. I.
1405512
THIS BOOK WRITTEN IN A WARRING TROUBLED WORLD IS DEDICATED To MY FELLOW CITIZENS OF THE
GREAT AMERICAN REPUBLIC WHOSE COOPERATION AND GOOD OPINION I CHERISH
Preface to the Second Edition
In 1934 I was invited by the Providence Evening Bulletin to write a series of articles on "The Italian Towns and the Contribu- tions of Their Immigrants to Rhode Island," and "Streets and Corners of Little Italy." I gladly accepted the invitation. The articles written for that great newspaper during 1934-1935 created widespread interest. In response to an increasing number of requests coming from all parts of the State as a result of those articles, I wrote my first book entitled "Italo-Americans of Rhode Island- Their Contributions and Achievements," which was issued in Octo- ber, 1936. The favorable comment accorded to my first book, has inspired me to write this second edition.
This book is a brief, readable account of important events and contributions made by Americans of Italian descent or background in Rhode Island. It is the outgrowth of forty-eight years spent with the Italian people. It is the result of my education, experiences and association with them.
It is hoped that this modest publication will help towards creating among all the American peoples that unity and mutual understanding resulting from a common citizenship and common belief in the ideals of our great American Republic.
UBALDO U. M. PESATURO
Providence, R. I.
August 1, 1940
HISTORIC BACKGROUND OF ITALO-AMERICANS OF RHODE ISLAND
COLUMBUS DAY
CHURCHES AND PASTORS RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS
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ITALO-AMERICANS OF RHODE ISLAND
DA VERRAZZANO, Giovanni
From recorded evidence we must give to Giovanni da Verrazzano, an Italian mariner of the sixteenth cen- tury, the credit for discovering our Narragansett region.
Although born an Italian, Verraz- zano was, in his earlier years, a French corsair sailing under the assumed name of Juan Florin. Much as other nations may have desired to see him swing from a yard arm, the French King befriended him, won him away from his life "outside the law" and, recog- nizing him as a most able navigator, commissioned him to sail on a voyage of exploration to the New World. From that time he was done with his piratical "alias," Juan Florin, and took back his true name, Giovanni da Ver- razzano.
In 1524 Verrazzano set out to dis- cover for France a new route to Cathay, but like all those of his period who sailed westward hoping to reach the Orient, he found the American conti- nent unexpectedly in his path, sighting land at some point on what is now the Atlantic seaboard of the United States. For a time he sailed up and down this coast in search of good anchorage and finally chose what his narrative stamps beyond question as the present New York harbor. After a short stay there he evidently devoted some little time to exploration of Long Island and then sailed to the east; probably be- tween Long Island and the mainland.
Before coming to his next anchorage he sighted what is now known as Block Island. He, however, gave it the name Luisa in honor of the Dow- ager Queen of France.
His next stopping place was, be- yond question, our Newport Harbor. Everything he has to say about this second interruption of the voyage points clearly to that fact. His account of the natives, their habits, the nature of
the country in which they lived, his statements regarding latitude and longi- tude, his description of the size, num- ber, shape and location of the islands that dotted the great arm of the ocean into which he had sailed, all serve to build up a perfect identification of Newport harbor and Narragansett bay.
Verrazzano commented on the "taw- ney" complexion of the natives, their building of canoes by the hollowing out of logs through burning and scrap- ing, their curious circular dwellings, their attempts to cure disease by the heat of fire, their habit of migration according to season, and many other points that tally perfectly with the later accounts of Adriaen Block and Roger Williams.
Verrazzano pictured these aborigines as friendly, and doubtless that report largely encouraged later comers to con- sider the Narragansett country as a good field for colonization .:
We must, then, when considering the beginnings of Rhode Island, think back further than Roger Williams, but not so far as Erikson and Herjulfson, and fix our minds on the man who first gave the world dependable information about our corner of the earth,-the Italian da Verrazzano.
THE EARLY BEGINNING OF THE ITALO-AMERICANS OF RHODE ISLAND
The first known Italian to settle in Rhode Island was Joseph Carlo Mau- ran (Giuseppe Carlo Maurani), foun- der of the distinguished Mauran family in Rhode Island. A pioneer in a new country is always an interesting per- sonage, and Joseph Carlo Mauran, who came here during the early colonial period, is an interesting personage. But Italy as an immigratory country was the last great nation to send its sons to these shores. If we except the first adventurous Italians who made their
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ITALO-AMERICANS OF RHODE ISLAND
way into these shores during the early colonial period, the earliest Italians were seamen from Genoa, like George Arduini; wandering harp players from Basilicata, like Frank Raia, Lorenzo Pennelli, Frank Gerardi and others; vendors of plaster statuaries from Tus- cany, like the Mionis, the Vennettis, the Capronis and others; farmers from Capriati al Volturno and Prata San- nita, like the Marandola, Parrillo, La Fazia, Caruolo, Cappelli and others ; groups of street organ players, special- ized artists and the like. In other words, the early Italians who came here up to the 70's were a few isolated groups. Not till the 80's did Italians take a front place as an immigratory people. From the 80's until 1914 it contributed lavishly in augmenting the population of Rhode Island.
The Italian colony of Providence commenced life as a compact group about 1880 with immigrants mainly from Barga, Basilicata, Ciorlano, Cap- riati al Volturno, Fontegreca, Froso- lone, Genoa, Lucca, Pietravairano, Prata Sannita, Raviscanina. They had settled on Spruce street, Acorn street, Cedar street and on Dean street ; in the vicinity of Brayton avenue. Smaller groups appeared about the same time on Charles street, Eagle Park, Thornton, and some few farmers at Simmonsville.
It was in the struggling period of the 80's, at a time when they were poor, unknown, and misunderstood, and were met with suspicion, contempt and hostility when they landed here that the Societa di Unione e Benevolenza Ital- iana (Italian Union and Benevolence Society) was founded. It was estab- lished on January 8, 1881, and char- tered on May 30, 1882. The history of this famous mutual aid and fraternal society is rooted with the early history of the establishing of the Italian colony in Rhode Island. Its founders were poor in this world's goods, but strong in
their faith and devotion to their new adopted country.
The early immigrants from Liguria, such as the Maurani, the Arduini, and the Calcagni (Cannon) ; and the early immigrants from Tuscany, such as the Mioni, the Iaccheri (Yockery), the Galeuzzi, the Vennetti, the Favale and the Piacentini, mixed easily with the Yankees and Celts and marriages took place.
The founders of the small Italian colony whose names are recorded here, and others whose names are unknown, were God-fearing men, simple and hardy, full of pluck and determination to succeed. They seemed to have been divinely chosen as the men most fit to lay the foundation of this great group of Italian-Americans, now an integral part of the citizenry of our beloved state of Rhode Island. These pioneers were Italians, from rural dis- tricts of Italy. They loved their native land, but being dissatisfied with eco- nomic conditions at that time prevailing in Italy, they withdrew from it and immigrated to the United States, the land of liberty. By their courage, sacri- fice, industry and loyalty, they became American citizens and won a home in the land of Roger Williams, a sacred heritage, which they have passed on to their children.
These are some of the early pioneers who settled in Providence and vicinity around the late 70's and in the early 80's, who did a great deal in laying the foundation and to start their in- coming fellow countrymen on the road to building up the present Italo-Ameri- can community.
George Arduini (Ardoene), Ferdi- nando Avallone, Batastini, Bagaglia, Amico Barone, Antonio Barone, Frank Barone, Rocco Barone, Saverio Ba- rone, Alberico Bucci, Cosmo Bucci, Vincenzo Bufalo, Luigi Burlando, Campanini, Cappalli, Cappelli, Capro- ni, Castronuovo, Castiglioni, Alfonso
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ITALO-AMERICANS OF RHODE ISLAND
Cambio, Lelio Caruolo, Cella, Corbi, Francesco Cardarelli, Calcagni (Can- non), Nicola Caldarone, Catelli, Del Ponte, Frank Di Grado, Angelo De Pasquale, Giuseppe DeGrazia, Luigi De Luca, D'Acchioli, Di Iorio, Teo- doro De Nicola, G. De Benedictis, An- tonio De Angelis, Peter Del Matto, Delfino, Domenico Di Luglio, Dom- enico Ferrara, Luigi Ferri, Andrea Forloni, Andrea Festa, Angelo Fra- tantuono, Figallo, G. Gasperi, Thomas Gattone, Giusti, Frank Gerardi, Ga- leuzzi, G. Iannetta, Iacovone (Jack- vony), Landi, Michael La Fauci, Thomas Mancini, Luigi Mainella, Mel- fi, G. Migliaccio, Louis Mioni, Peter Masso, Costantino Muccino, Maran- dola, Giovanni Maroelli, Antonio Ma- riani, John Marchi, Pasquale Mastro- buono, Alfonso Martellucci, Giacinto Pastilli, Pietro Pescatore, Luigi Pia- centini, Pettine, Michele Pelosi, Leon- ardo Pennuzzi, Lorenzo Pennelli, Pas- quale Picchione, Francesco Parrillo, Baldassare Parrillo, Oreste Rigali, An- gelo Rossi, Felice Russillo, Giuseppe Russillo, Gennaro Russillo, Donato Russillo, Alfonso Ricci, Nicola San- tangini, G. Schettini, Simonini, Henry C. Salandri, Ernesto Federico Scuncio, Pietro Spadaro, Frank Storti, Joseph Storti, Peter Storti, Vincenzo Storti, Michael St. Angelo, Leopoldo Tella (Taylor), Joseph Tuzio, Alfonso Tas- ca, Frank P. Ventrone, Antonio Vitale, Agostino Vitale, Vennetti, Vincenti, Domenico Votta, Pasquale Votta, Vot- olato, Zambarano, Pasquale Zoglio, and others whose names cannot be re- called.
MAURAN, Joseph Carlo (Giuseppe Carlo Maurani)
The Mauran family is inseparably wrapped with the early history of Rhode Island. Giuseppe Carlo Mau- rani, ancestor and founder of the Mau- ran family in Rhode Island, was born
on June 3, 1748 in Villafranca in the Province of Nice, then a part of the Kingdom of Savoy in north west- ern Italy.
About 1760 Mauran was sailing with a young relative in the Med- iterranean Sea in a small vessel be- longing to his uncle and bound for Sardinia, when the vessel was over- hauled by a British man-of-war and the two boys were impressed into the British service as cabin boys. The other boy, whose name was Sucket, died of small pox. After about two years of captivity the ship on which Mauran was cabin boy came into New London Harbor. Young Mauran was in the bow of the boat that went ashore for water and as the boat touched the land he sprang out and ran to a field where some farmers drove the sailors away and helped him to make good his es- cape. He first came to Westerly, Rhode Island, where he found a home in the family of Daniel Maxon.
Leaving Westerly in 1768, Mauran went to Barrington (then a part of Warren) and entered the employ of Joshua Bicknell, a farmer. In 1772 Mauran married Mr. Bicknell's daugh- ter Olive. She received at her marriage a parcel of land on the Barrington river just south of the old White Church, and there the Maurans built their house and made their home.
Mauran served with distinction in the war for American independence. In 1775 the Rhode Island General Assembly ordered the construction of two "row galleys" or gunboats, the "Washington"' and the "Spitfire", each to carry sixty men, but afterwards reduced to fifty. In March 1776, Mau- ran then only 28 years of age, was placed in command of the Spitfire, which, with the Washington, had sev- eral engagements with the British. In April 1776, the two vessels were sent to New York to be placed under the
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ITALO-AMERICANS OF RHODE ISLAND
orders of General Washington, but soon returned.
The Washington was "blown up" in April 1777 but she was soon re- paired and rigged as a schooner, and in June 1777 Captain Mauran was placed in command of her.
In May 1778, a body of British and Hessian troups attacked Warren and burned a number of boats, includ- ing the Washington which was under- going repairs in the Kickemuit River east of the town. The British then went to Bristol and burned a number of houses but before they could destroy the entire village they were attacked by an armed force of Americans and driven back to their landing place. It is said that Captain Mauran played an important part in this engagement by bringing up a cannon which did heavy damage to the invaders. Later in the war Captain Mauran was in command of the privateer schooner Weazle, bearing letters of marque and reprisal from the Governor of Rhode Island.
After serving in the war, Captain Mauran was the master of various vessels in ocean commerce but finally retired from his sea-faring life and spent his later years in Barrington, where he died in his 65th year on May 1, 1813.
MAURAN, Joseph, M.D.
The son of Joseph Carlo Mauran (Giuseppe Carlo Maurani) and Olive (Bicknell) Mauran, was born in Bar- rington, R. I., December 22, 1796. He was of Italian descent on his fath- er's side. His father was a native of Villafranca, near Nice, Italy.
Joseph Mauran was a graduate of Brown University, class of 1816. He studied medicine with Dr. Pardon Bowen, attended medical lectures in the Medical School of Brown Uni- versity, and finished his course of study
at the College of Physicians and Sur- geons in New York, which conferred upon him his degree in March, 1819. He devoted himself with great diligence and success to his profession, securing a very large practice in Providence and its neighborhood. He relinquished his practice entirely when he had reached the seventieth year of his age, and spent the greater part of his time in New York or at the South. During his long professional life in Providence, Dr. Mauran interested himself in many ways in departments of service con- nected with his profession. He was one of the consulting physicians of the Butler Hospital for the Insane, and a medical attendant at the Dexter Asy- lum. Twice he was elected President of the Rhode Island Medical Society. Of the college in New York which had conferred on him his degree, he was a Trustee. The present system of the Registration of Marriages, Births, and Deaths, and the office of Super- intendent of Health, are due to his interest in everything that concerned the sanitary condition of Providence. He took a great interest in the found- ing of the Rhode Island Hospital.
He married in October, 1820, So- phia (Russell) Sterry, who died in August, 1854. Dr. Mauran died in New York City, June 8, 1873, in the seventy-seventh year of his age.
(From Biographical Cyclopedia of R. I., Vol. 1, Page 263).
D'ARCAIS, Guglielmo
A native of Sardinia, Italy, was a distinguished Italian scholar who vis- ited the United States in the early 80's. He was a professor of the Italian language and literature at Brown Uni- versity from 1885 to 1888. He was a close friend of the late Dr. V. L. Raia. James M. Gillrain, of the R. I. bar was one of his students at Brown. Following his resignation at Brown he went to California.
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ITALO-AMERICANS OF RHODE ISLAND
COLUMBUS DAY IN RHODE ISLAND
Columbus Day was celebrated for the first time in Providence on Friday, October 21, 1892, on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of the dis- covery of America by Christopher Col- umbus.
The City and State paid a brilliant and impressive tribute to the discoverer of America. In the morning there was a military parade, which included school children from all the grammar and high schools.
In the afternoon there was an Ital- ian parade, which included all the Italian societies existing at that time. A banquet, reception and dance were held in the evening at Infantry Hall.
The banquet was served under the direction of L. Burlando, the well known caterer of College street. Dur- ing the banquet speeches were made exalting the achievements of Columbus. Included among the speakers were Mi- chele Pesaturo, who in his opening address saluted Columbus as the first Italian immigrant to the New World, and Dr. V. L. Raia, who assured the State and City officials that the Italian immigrants then landing in these shores in large numbers would become loyal and useful American citizens. Mr. Pesaturo's little son, Ubaldo, recited an appropriate poem dedicated to the United States and Italy.
Some of the leading Italians who took an active part in that celebra- tion were: John Caproni, Henry Cap- roni, Arthur R. Smith (Attilio Falte- ra), Alberico Bucci, Joseph Favali, L. Iaccheri, Michele Pesaturo, Frank Raia, Dr. V. L. Raia, Peter Simoni- ni, V. Storti, P. Spadaro, Alfonso Cambio, Frank P. Ventrone and others.
The municipal celebration on that day in point of magnitude and per- fection in detail, stands unrivaled in the annals of commemorative demon- strations.
It was not until 47 years later, that is, on Thursday, October 12, 1939, that Columbus Day was celebrated for the first time as a full legal holiday in Rhode Island.
The highlights of the celebration in Providence was a big parade in the afternoon, watched by thousands of spectators lining downtown streets, in which police estimated 4000 to 5000 marched. Prizes were awarded to the best floats and musical organizations in the parade and afterwards exercises were held on the State House steps, with Governor William H. Vanderbilt heading the list of speakers.
Other Parades
Woonsocket and Natick held pa- rades in the morning and in Westerly there was a parade in the afternoon, while Newport observed the day with band concerts. The Order of the Sons of Italy and the Knights of Columbus conducted exercises at the Columbus monument, at Elmwood and Reservoir avenues, and numerous sports events marked the day.
Governor Gives Address
Governor Vanderbilt in his address at the State House reminded the audi- ence of several hundred who gathered there that all in this country or their ancestors were immigrants, and whether they landed at Plymouth or Ellis Island all are Americans and instrumental in making this nation.
Other speakers were Mayor John F. Collins, Cav. Luigi Scala of the Order of Sons of Italy; Vincent Sor- rentino, director of the Department of Social Welfare; former Governor Rob- ert E. Quinn, John C. Tanner, District Deputy of the Knights of Columbus, and Erminio Migliori, chairman of the exercises, representing the Columbian Central Committee.
Frank P. Andreano, President of the Columbian Central Committee, took a bow after being introduced as the
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ITALO-AMERICANS OF RHODE ISLAND
"father of Columbus Day" by Alder- man Frank Rao, master of ceremonies.
Mayor Collins, emphasizing that Columbus had a purpose and carried it out, recalled how the famous navi- gator had, upon landing on this con- tinent, planted the cross as an evidence of his faith in the Almighty. The Mayor stressed the opportunities open to people today, compared to the time of Columbus, and said what the dis- coverer did for humanity must always be remembered.
Cav. Scala, who spoke in Italian, said that the nationality of Columbus did not much matter, "for the glory that he brought upon himself by his intrepid voyages and discoveries sur- passes that of every man of his day and removes him from the mere sphere of a national figure to place him in the realm of those few great souls who have served humanity, revolutionized the life and the habits of the entire world, and laid the foundations of new civilizations that will perpetuate his name throughout time."
Mr. Sorrentino declared the discov- ery and subsequent settlement of Amer- ica did much for the ideal of democ- racy, and it was doubtful if this idea would have been taken seriously had not America been discovered.
Gave Thanks to God
Columbus, declared former Gover- nor Quinn, made the most memorable voyage in the history of the world, and the first thing the voyagers did when they landed was to kneel down and give thanks to Almighty God.
He said the significant thing about the American nation is that its people believe in God, democracy and religious liberty.
Mr. Migliori, speaking briefly, com- mended all who had waged the suc- cessful fight to have the day established as a full holiday.
Governor Vanderbilt, accompanied by his military aide, Lieut. Albert Car- lotti, and Mayor Collins, who marched in the parade at the outset, dropped out of the line upon reaching City Hall and took their places on the re- viewing stand.
Also leaving the line at City Hall were Alderman Rao, chairman, and members of the City Council commit- tee on the Columbus Day observance.
On Reviewing Stand
Included among others on the re- viewing stand were Aldermen John E. Duggan and Charles H. Eden ; Coun- cilmen James F. McCaffrey, Frank H. Brady, Thomas J. Tooney, Ph.lip V. Marcus, Albert C. Rider, Walter E. O'Neil, A. Smith Mitchell, James; F. Jackson, Alf R. Ferreira and Hen- ry J. Donovan; former Councilman Paul D'Agenica, Commissioner of Public Works Thomas F. Coleman, Jr., Francis A. Chapman, chief clerk in the office of Governor Vanderbilt, and Representative Bernard I. McEl- roy.
Other members of the City Council in line near the lead as the parade got under way, serving as members of the honorary staff of Capt. Angelo Martella, chief marshal, were Alder- man Thomas S. Luongo and Council President William C. Coleman, Coun- cilmen Anthony Viola, Jr., Umberto Patalano, Stanley W. Phillips, Vincent A. Bucci and Ralph Matera. Deputy City Clerk Fred Colagiovanni, clerk of the Columbus Day committee, was in the group.
Others prominent in the large staff were Lieutenant Governor James O. McManus, Representative James H. Kiernan, U. S. Attorney J. Howard McGrath, Francis Chiaverini, former chief of the Division of Public Build- ings, and Dr. Wasili Leps, director of the Providence Symphony Orchestra.
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ITALO-AMERICANS OF RHODE ISLAND
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HOLY GHOST CHURCH
HOLY GHOST CHURCH
The oldest and largest Italian parish in Rhode Island.
1889. Holy Ghost Church organ- ized by Rev. Luigi Paroli, its first pastor.
1890. First edifice was blessed and dedicated on August 17, 1890.
1892. Rev. Antonio Franchi be- comes pastor.
1894. Rev. Paolo Novati fills the
place held by Rev. Franchi. During the interval which elapsed between 1894-1905, was a period of intensive expansion and growth under Rev. No- vati.
1901. Corner stone of the new Holy Ghost Church dedicated by Bish- op Scalabrini of Piacenza.
1905. Rev. Domenico Belliotti be- comes pastor.
1910. New temple of Holy Ghost opened to the public.
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ITALO-AMERICANS OF RHODE ISLAND
1920. Rev. Angelo Strazzoni be- comes pastor.
1922. Rev. Flaminio Parenti be- came pastor of Holy Ghost Church in February, 1922.
Rev. Flaminio Parenti, present pas- tor of Holy Ghost Church was born in Piacenza, Italy, December 4, 1885. When eleven years old, he entered the College of Missionaries of San Carlo Boromeo, founded by Most Reverend Giovanni B. Scalabrini, Archbishop of Piacenza. Father Parenti was ordained to the priesthood on September 19, 1908, and for the following eight months he served as rector pro tempore of the college where he had studied.
The young missionary came to the United States in May 1909, and for more than eleven years discharged his mission with distinction at the church of The Madonna of Pompeii in New York City. In 1920 he became acting pastor of St. Michael's Church in New Haven, Connecticut, and later, in that same year, he was appointed pastor of the church of San Bartolomeo in Providence, Rhode Island.
Father Parenti has been pastor of the Holy Ghost parish since February 1922. His parishioners cannot ade- quately express in words the deep af- fection that they entertain for him be- cause of his untiring efforts in the cause of their spiritual and material welfare. He has led them to renewed faith in the religion of their forefathers, which, from the See at Rome, spreads eternally the gospel of truth, love and justice throughout the world.
During his pastorate, Father Parenti has reorganized existing church societies and founded new ones. The Holy Name Society, The Children of Mary, the societies of St. Agnes, St. Aloysius, St. Vincent de Paul, St. Ann's, The
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