The family of Vincenzo “James” Veneziano may hold the
DNA key to my identifying my paternal grandfather. Vincenzo was the Informant
on the Death Certificate for Carlo A. Veneziano (21 September 1930) and
provided information that leads me to think that Vincenzo and Carlo were
related.
Vincenzo Veneziano is listed in the 1930 Federal
Census, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, Ward 25 on 2 May 1930. He is living at 823 Leavitt Street. He has taken the name James and is the head
of household. He owns his home valued at
$6500 with a radio. He was married at
age 27 and is currently 35 years old. He
was born in Italy as were both his parents.
He is working as a laborer at a candy manufacturer. He is a naturalized citizen who arrived in
1913. Angeline is listed as wife, female, white, 27 years old first married at
age 18. She immigrated in 1920 and works
as a seamstress at a tailor shop. Joseph
is a son born in Illinois as are his two siblings. He is 8 years old. Frances is a daughter who is 6 years old and
Carlo, a son, is 4 years old.
The new Liberty Ellis Island website (http://www.libertyellisfoundation.org/passenger-details/czoxMjoiMTAwNzc3MTAwMjYzIjs=/czo5OiJwYXNzZW5nZXIiOw==)
records a Vincenzo Veneziano, 18 years old and single. arriving on the ship
Verona from Palermo on 22 October 1913.
His residence had been Calascibetta, Sicily, Italy and he is on his way
to see his brother Agostino who lives in St. Louis at 901 Franklin. There were 14 people including Vincenzo who
arrived on that day and ship! Exploring
the information contained in the ship manifest leads to the BIG BINGO. My paternal grandfather Agostino was living
at that address with his wife Mary and their three children, June, Pauline and
Benjamin (my father)!! [So the Foundation is now $58.69 better off and I
will have copies of the original ship manifest!]
He apparently registered for the WW I draft:
Vincenzo Veneziano registers for the World War I draft
on the 5th of June 1917. He is living at
1044 W. Taylor and his birth date is Nov 14th 1892. He is an alien. He was born in Calasibetta, Calanisetta,
Italy. He is a citizen of Italy. He works as a laborer at the Symore Peck Co.
in Chicago. His father is dependent on
him for support. He is single and white
and has had no military experience. He
claims exemption to support his father.
He leaves his mark for signature.
He is of medium height and build and has brown eyes and Dark brown
hair. He is neither bald nor disabled.
I am still looking for him in the 1920 Federal Census.
Again, Vincenzo Veneziano is listed in the 1930 Federal
Census, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, Ward 25 on 2 May 1930. Joseph
is a son born in Illinois as are his two siblings. He is 8 years old. Frances is a daughter who is 6 years old and
Carlo, a son, is 4 years old.
[Is Joseph named for his paternal grandfather and is
Frances named for her paternal grandmother? Is Carl named after Carlo A.
Veneziano? When Carlo A. Veneziano dies
his residence address is listed at 823 So. Leavitt! ]
Son Joseph (Guiseppe) is born 24 March 1923 at 2162
DeKalb Street to Vincenzo Veneziano and Angelina Giliberto. He is the first born.
Daughter Frances (Franccesca) was born 20 March 1924 at
2162 DeKalb Street to Vincenzo Veneziano and Angelina Giliberto. Born alive and now living 2.
Carlo (Carmelo) was born 20 December 1925 at 2162
DeKalb Street to Vincenzo Veneziano and Angelina Giliberti. Vincenzo is a 32 year old laborer born in
Italy. She is a 24 year old housewife
born in Italy. Carmelo is number 3 in
birth order.
Vincenzo Veneziano is listed in the 1940 Federal
Census, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, Ward 25 on 11 April 1940. He is living at 823 Leavitt Street. He has
taken the name James and is the head of household giving the information for
the family. He is male, white, 47 years
old who is married born in Italy. James
is a naturalized citizen. He is a proprietor of the retail grocery store. Angeline is listed as wife, female, white, 37
years old, married with 4 years education.
She was born in Italy and is a naturalized citizen. Joseph, son, male, white, 17 years old is
single with 3 years high school, born in Illinois and works as a clerk in a
retail grocery store. Frances, daughter,
female, wife, 16 years, single, with two years high school born in Illinois
works as a clerk in a retail grocery store. Carl, son, male, white, 14 years
old, single with 8 years education and born in Illinois. They all lived in the same house in 1935.
Vincenzo Veneziano registers for the World War II
Draft listing his residence as 823 S.
Leavitt, Chicago, Cook, Ill which is his mailing address. He has a telephone
(Canal 5635) and is 47 years old with a birth date of November 14, 1894 in
Calasibetta, Carlasbetta, Italy. The
person who will know his address is Angie Veneziano at 823 S. Leavitt. He has his own business at 823 S. Leavitt in
Chicago, Cook, Ill and signs his name. (Signature very similar to that on the
Death Certificate for Carlo A. Veneziano.)
James (aka Vincenzo) Veneziano dies in Burbank, Los
Angeles, California on 5 June 1955 at 7:15 PM. His date of birth is listed as November 14, 1894 and
his place of birth Italy. He was a
proprietor of a retail grocery. His
father Joseph Veneziano was born in Italy as was his mother Maria (Unk
surname). His spouse Anglina Veneziano
is the Informant. He had been in Burbank
six weeks. He died at St. Joseph
Hospital, 501 South Buena Vista. He was
buried 6 June 1955 at San Fernando Mission Cemetery. The funeral director was Glendale Mortuary.
His death was coronary heart disease of about ½ year.
Angelina Veneziano dies in Glendale, Los Angeles,
California 16 September 1992 and is buried at the San Fernando Mission
Cemetery. Her Social Security Death
Index lists her birth as 8 October 1901.
Her obituary in the Daily News of Los Angeles is brief: “Veneziano,
Angelina, 91, of Glendale, retired seamstress…” with no family information
offered.
So the DNA hunt for the sons Joseph and Carl
need to be found. This is where the
story says “to be continued”.
