Looking for great,great Grandfather

[pifalo]

Hi everyone,
I have been researching my fathers side of the family, and have found some records of my great grandfather Giuseppe Pifalo. The problem is I cant find his birth record so that I can confirm who his parents were. He was born in Pennsylvania about 1891. By the 1920 censes he was going by the name Joseph Lenze. I dont know why he changed his name, but I assume it was to find work.

I have found a manifest for an Antonio Pifalo and Maria Teresa Lonzo from Gildone that I think might be his parents. I would like to know for sure so that I can research the family in Italy.

I have checked Ancestry.com and Family search.org but cant find the record.

Any suggestions? Thanks

[suanj]

Hi, I believe you right abt parent's names; in 1888 a birth:
name: Maria Geueppa Pifalo
gender: Female
event: Birth
event date: 19 Apr 1888
event place: Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
birth date:
birthplace:
death date:
name note:
race:
father's name: Antonio Pifalo

father's birthplace:
father's age:
mother's name: Mariateo Pifalo

mother's birthplace:
mother's age:
indexing project (batch) number: C01166-6

system origin: Pennsylvania-ODM
source film number: 1289327
reference number:


possible death record of a oldest daughter:

name: Maria Pifilo
event: Death
event date: 18 Dec 1891
event place: Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
gender: Female
race:
age: 4
estimated birth year: 1887
birth date:
birthplace:
marital status:
spouse:
father: Andonio Bifalo
father's birthplace:
mother: Maria
mother's birthplace:
occupation:
street address:
residence:
cemetery:
burial place:
burial date:
additional relatives:
film number: 1888939
digital folder number: 004058080
image number: 01108
reference number: 12413
cemetery:
burial place: St.Marys
burial date: 19 Dec 1891
additional relatives:
film number: 1011821
digital folder number: 004047860
image number: 00590
reference number: v B p 303



1900 United States Federal Census about Antonia Plifelo
Name: Antonia Plifelo
[Antonio Peifelo]
Age: 40
Birth Date: Jan 1860
Birthplace: Italy
Home in 1900: Philadelphia Ward 22, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
[Philadelphia]
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Mary Plifelo
Marriage Year: 1890
Years Married: 10
Father's Birthplace: Italy
Mother's Birthplace: Italy
Occupation: View on Image
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Antonia Plifelo 40
Mary Plifelo 47
Joseph Plifelo 9

United States Census, 1920
name: Antonio Pifalo
residence: , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
estimated birth year: 1854
age: 66
birthplace: Italy
relationship to head of household: Self
gender: Male
race: White
marital status: Widowed
father's birthplace: Italy
mother's birthplace: Italy
film number: 1821624
digital folder number: 4384800
image number: 00362
sheet number: 2

arrival: 1883


abt the arrival:
New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 about Antonio Pifalo
Name: Antonio Pifalo
Arrival Date: 2 Jul 1902
Birth Year: abt 1853
Age: 49
Gender: Male
Ethnicity/Race­/Nationality: Italian
Port of Departure: Naples, Italy
Port of Arrival: New York, New York
Ship Name: Hohenzollern
already in USA until 1902; joining at son Filippo (?) in Germantown...


however I believe right Gildone as italian birthplace... you can try in LDS microfilms abt Gildone civil records:

Registri dello stato civile id Gildone (Campobasso), 1809-1910

Births, deaths, miscellaneous documents, marriages, banns, marriage documents, citizenship records from Gildone, Campobasso, Italy. Text in Italian.

https://www.familysearch.org/search/cat ... em%2F87536

I believe you will find the records.. what it is strange, it is that the family no appearing in 1910 census... I cannot find it..
regards,
suanj

[vj]

Great records suanj !
Valarie

---

Joseph Lenze (Pifalo)
21 Sep 1890 - 27 Apr 1963

just for reference

Marriage Record Index from Westmoreland County, PA
http://westmorelandweb400.us:8088/EGSPublicAccess.htm

Marriage Applicant Book Page Record No. Married Date

PIFALO JOSEPH 38 n/a 33333 12/12/1912
VARIALI TERESA

[vj]

here's a longshot for the missing 1910 census
several discrepancies from suanj's 1900 and 1920 census finds

http://imageshack.us/a/img145/700/1910y.jpg

Home in 1910:
316 Loyalhanna Ave
Latrobe Ward 6, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania

head Antonio Lens 56, abt 1854 IT
- married 22 yrs, abt 1888
- immig 1900 NA(?)
wife Therese Lens 50, abt 1860 IT
- 2 children born, 1 child living
son Joseph Lens 20, abt 1890 IT(?)
- shoemaker (same as his 1920 census in Westmoreland County)

for reference Joseph's 1920 census
http://imageshack.us/a/img827/2164/1920p.jpg
daughter Teresa, son Antonio

[vj]

This may help explain the 1910 census in Westmoreland County, PA

1905 ship manifest (from ancestry. com)
http://imageshack.us/a/img171/3390/1905p.jpg

Ship Name: Konigin Luise
Arrival Date: 13 Apr 1905
Port of Departure: Naples, Italy
Port of Arrival: New York, New York

lines 17-18
Maria Teresa Lonzo 53, abt 1852
- last residence Gildone
- destination Latrobe (Westmoreland County) PA
- in US before, Philadelphia 1894-1904 (originally written 1886-1901?)
- joining husband Antonio Pifalo at 405 Lloyd Ave, Latrobe
son Guiseppe (Giuseppe) Pefalo (Pifalo) 14, abt 1891

[vj]

...
Joseph Lenze (Pifalo)
21 Sep 1890* - 27 Apr 1963

just for reference

Marriage Record Index from Westmoreland County, PA
http://westmorelandweb400.us:8088/EGSPublicAccess.htm

Marriage Applicant Book Page Record No. Married Date

PIFALO JOSEPH 38 n/a 33333 12/12/1912
VARIALI TERESA

note: different birth date for Joseph Pifalo: 21 Aug 1890*

http://imageshack.us/a/img854/3047/1912dl.jpg
from FamilySearch
Marriage Record

event: Marriage
event date: 12 Dec 1912
event place: Greensburg, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, United States
license issued 8 Oct 1912

name: Joseph L. Pifalo
residence: Latrobe PA
birth date: 21 Aug 1890 in Philadelphia, PA

spouse: Teresa Variali
residence: Latrobe PA
birth date: 5 Sep 1890 in Italy

reference number: p. 183 No. 33333
film number: 1316396
digital folder number: 004460768
image number: 00215

[vj]

from Familysearch
1890 Birth Record (no image available)

name: Joseph Lenz
event type: Birth
event date: 21 Sep 1890
event place: Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
gender: Male
father's name: Antonio Lenz
mother's name: Teresa Lenz
reference number: 151
film number: 1289329
digital folder number: 004015777
image number: 00558

[suanj]

Great find Valarie!
Hugs,
suanj

[vj]

Thank you suanj - you provided the key records, especially in Philadelphia
I think the poster already had the 1905 manifest with Giuseppe and his mother.
Do you think LONZO is the correct surname for his mother Maria Teresa?
Perhaps they used a variation Lenze/Lenz/Lens on some of their US records?
Thank you!
Valarie

[suanj]

No one of this variation in Gildone or Campobasso area, but it exist LANZA in Campobasso town no far from Gildone, so maybe the surname was also in Gildone in the past)
Hugs,
suanj

[pifalo]

Wow, thanks everyone for the help!
First off, the Joseph Lenze (Pifalo) and Teresa Variali some of you found are my great grandparents. Its Joseph's parents I have been trying to find.

I always assumed it was Joseph who first started using the surname Lenze, but I never thought his parents would have. Vj, your find has opened my mind to that possibility. I know Joseph was a shoe maker, so it stands to reason that his father was too.
As far as the name Lenze is concerned, I dont think it was a misspelling of Lonzo, I think because they lived in a mostly German community, they wanted to fit in. I dont know for sure, just speculation. I do know that the name wasnt legally changed until 1945, I have copies of the court papers.

There is a LDS family history center here where I live, and I would like to search some records in Italy if I could confirm Joseph's parents. Can I find Joseph's birth record from the LDS center, or do I have to get it from Pennsylvania?
Thanks again everyone for all the help, it is much appreciated

[Tessa78]

from Familysearch
1890 Birth Record (no image available)

name: Joseph Lenz
event type: Birth
event date: 21 Sep 1890
event place: Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
gender: Male
father's name: Antonio Lenz
mother's name: Teresa Lenz
reference number: 151
film number: 1289329
digital folder number: 004015777
image number: 00558

This posting by Valarie lists the actual film number to order from LDS Family History Center.
Since the birth took place in Philadelphia, PAA, you would need to request a copy from them if you don't find it in the microfilm records...

T.