giongrasso or giongrosso or johngrass

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kidalot
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giongrasso or giongrosso or johngrass

Post by kidalot »

grandma anna concetta genova came from palermo 1906, returned to italy and back to u.s. in 1913,
the daughter of nicholas genova and gaetana giongrasso also spelled giongrosso. found their ship's manifests and the two different spellings.
learned that great grandma gaetana has a brother in indiana named "jim" "johngrass". trying to track down this family link or any other info.
zona-tortoriello-sainato-genova
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Re: giongrasso or giongrosso or johngrass

Post by vj »

Welcome to the Forum!
Does this record look possible?
1930 census

Home in 1930:
721 LaSalle St
South Bend, St Joseph, Indiana
James Johngrass 52, abt 1878 IT
- married abt 1903
- immig 1903, Na
Catherine Johngrass 50, abt 1880 IT
- immig 1903
Rosaie (Rosa) Johngrass 29, abt 1901? PA
---

Same family?

1910 census
Home in 1910:
Mahoning, Lawrence, Pennsylvania
James Johngrass 35
Cathrine Johngrass 30
Jennie Johngrass 8
Mary Johngrass 7
Rosie Johngrass 5
Annie Johngrass 3
Rosie Johngrass 19, abt 1911 PA
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kidalot
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Re: giongrasso or giongrosso or johngrass

Post by kidalot »

absolutely looks like him. on the ships manifest he is referred to as "vito" or "zito" so i have no idea how they got james out of it. i asked my mom and she had no recollection of his ever living in pennsylvania but it must be him. the pennsylvania reference was before my mom was born so of course she didn't know!!!! how can i find out where they lived in italy? is what is listed on the ship's manifest where they lived or where they sailed from?
thanks so much!
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Re: giongrasso or giongrosso or johngrass

Post by vj »

You're welcome, we're always happy to help!

Quote::
he is referred to as "vito" or "zito

One possiblity: nickname Vito/Zito could have been Vincenzo
A common americanization for the name Vincenzo was 'James'

edit: added
Another possibility (from the manifests in the next post):
brother Ignazio could have americanized his name to 'James'

For reference: Genova/Giangrasso manifests:
From Santa Flavia, Palermo, Sicily
(birth location on pg 2 of the Oct 1913 manifest)
---

Aug 1913 manifest:
Everyone lined off (did not sail) except possible brother Vito Giangrasso
1913
pg 2

15 Aug 1913 SS Canada, Palermo to NY
Vito Giangrassso, 28 (abt 1885)
- married
- stonecutter
- last residence Sta Flavia
- in Sta Flavia, wife Giuseppa Bonura
- destination New Castle (Lawrence County) PA
- in US before, 1902-1912 in New Castle
- joining his brother Ignazio at 1401 Croton Ave?
- born in Sta Flavia, Palermo
---

Sep 1913 - everyone lined off again (did not sail)
1913
pg 2
---

Oct 1913 manifest
Gaetana & children & sister in law
1913
page 2

22 Oct 1913 SS S.Anna, Palermo to NY
Gaetana Giangrasso 34 abt 1879
- last residence S Flavia
- in S Flavia, father Pietro Giangrasso
- destination New Castle (Lawrence County) PA
- in US before, 1907-1912 in New Castle
- joining husband Nicolo Genova at 1401 Croton Ave?
- born in S Flavia, Palermo
Concetta Genova 11 abt 1902
- in US before, 1907-1912 in New Castle
- born in S Flavia, Palermo
Cristina Genova 10 abt 1903
- in US before, 1907-1912 in New Castle
- born in S Flavia, Palermo
Francesco Genova 7 abt 1909
- born in New Castle PA
Note: the Francesco from the 1902 manifest may have died,
this Francesco may have been named for him or Nicolo’s father

Pietro Genova 3 abt 1910
- born in New Castle PA
Giuseppa Bonura Giangrasso 18
- sister-in-law
- married
- last residence S Flavia
- in S Flavia, father Salvatore Bonura
- destination New Castle (Lawrence County) PA
- joining husband Vito Giangrasso at the same address (as Nicolo Genova)
- born in S Flavia, Palermo
---

Gaetana & children
1906

29 May 1906 SS Liguria, Palermo to NY
Gaetana Giangrosso 28 (abt 1878)
- last residence S Flavia
- destination Hillsville, Lawrence County, PA
- traveling with husband Nicolo Genova line 52 of list
Concetta Genova 4 (abt 1902)
Cristina? Genova 2 (abt 1904)
- possible naturalization notation
Francesco Genova 6 mos (abt 1905)

Nicolo Genova, same manifest
1906 previous page

29 May 1906 SS Liguria, Palermo to NY
Nicolo Genova 33 (1873)
- non-immigrant allien
- married
- stonecutter
- last residence Bagheria (Palermo)
- destination Hillsville, Lawrence County, PA
- in US before, in Hillsville 1903-1905
- joining brother-in-law Ignazio Giangrasso Box 24 Hillsville
---

Nicolo Genova & Vito Giangrasso
Joining another brother Ignazio Giangrasso in Hillsville (Lawrence County) PA?
1903

28 Jul 1903 SS Umbria, Napoli to NY
Nicolo Genova 30 (abt 1873)
- married
- stonecutter
- last residence S Flavia
- destination Hillsville, Lawrence County, PA
- not in US before
- joining brother-in-law Ignazio Giangrasso Box 36 Hillsville
Vito Giangrasso 18 (abt 1885)
- single
- stone cutter
- last residence S Flavia
- destination Hillsville, Lawrence County, PA
- not in US before
- joining brother Ignazio Box 36 Hillsville

---

Which brother would be James Johngrass?
Vito or Ignazio?, My guess would be Ignazio :D
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Re: giongrasso or giongrosso or johngrass

Post by vj »

Nicolo Genova
& Gaetana & family

1910 census

Home in 1910:
Hickory, Lawrence, Pennsylvania

Nico Jenis 40, abt 1870 IT
- immig 1907
- married 10 years, abt 1900
- quarryman, limestone
Grata Jenis 35, abt 1875 IT
- immig 1907
- 3 children born
Anna Jenis 7, abt 1903 IT
- immig 1907
Jennie Jenis 6, abt 1904 IT
- immig 1907
Frank Jenis 5, abt 1905 IT
- immig 1907

Probably James Johngrass

1918 WWI Draft Registration Card
Ignazio Giangrasso
Box 54 Hillsville, Lawrence, PA
Born 12 Nov 1875
Naturalized
Laborer, Limestone Company in Hillsville
Wife Caterina Giangrasso in Hillsville
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Re: giongrasso or giongrosso or johngrass

Post by vj »

It appears that the Family History Library has microfilms of
Santa Flavia’s civil records that you can order and view at
your local Family History Center (they’ll be in Italian)

FamilySearch homepage, to locate a center near you

Film information

Topic:
Italy, Palermo, Santa Flavia - Civil registration
Title:
Registri dello stato civile di Santa Flavia (Palermo), 1885-1902
Santa Flavia (Palermo).
Ufficio dello stato civile
Details:
Civil registry - births, banns, marriages, citizenship records, deaths,
from Santa Flavia, Palermo, Italy

Italy Research Guide
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pjthomas
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Re: giongrasso or giongrosso or johngrass

Post by pjthomas »

I just started searching my Italian roots and I found the Giangrasso posting. Ignazio and Caterina were actually my great grandparents on my mother's side. If you review the 1930 census (south bend) Peter and Laura Mustak were my grandparents and France is my mother. It appears that they may have lived in the same house on LaSalle street.
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Re: giongrasso or giongrosso or johngrass

Post by tonij16102 »

kidalot wrote:absolutely looks like him. on the ships manifest he is referred to as "vito" or "zito" so i have no idea how they got james out of it. i asked my mom and she had no recollection of his ever living in pennsylvania but it must be him. the pennsylvania reference was before my mom was born so of course she didn't know!!!! how can i find out where they lived in italy? is what is listed on the ship's manifest where they lived or where they sailed from?
thanks so much!
If you need any further help with this family I can help. They are still living in New Castle, Pa and Hillsville my family and I know them. So if I can help please let me know. This family actually lives nearby my family in Hillsville, Pa.

Toni
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pjthomas
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Re: giongrasso or giongrosso or johngrass

Post by pjthomas »

My sister just sent these two pictures of Caterina and Ignazio Giangrasso. Also, Caterina's maiden name was: Affatigato


Paul
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Re: giongrasso or giongrosso or johngrass

Post by skier »

Nicola and Gaetana Giangrasso Genova were my grandparents. I lived next door to them as a child. My dad, Raymond, was their youngest son.

Ignazio was Jim Johngrass. I visited him many years ago in South Bend. Vito was his brother.
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Re: giongrasso or giongrosso or johngrass

Post by pjthomas »

Skier, when you visited Ignazio in South Bend did you meet anyone with the last name of Mustak? Ignazio's daughter Laura (my grandmother) married Peter Mustak.

Paul
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Re: giongrasso or giongrosso or johngrass

Post by skier »

Paul,
Ignazio (Jim) was my dad's uncle, making him my great uncle. I was about 16(1964) when dad and I visited South Bend. Was the first time I met Uncle Jim. He had a daughter staying with him. Her name was Rosalie. While there I remember meeting Peter Mustak, but I can't remember meeting Laura. Maybe.
I also have other names in the family if you're interested.
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Re: giongrasso or giongrosso or johngrass

Post by pjthomas »

Skier, I would be interested in the other names in the family. All Ignazio's daughters (5) except for Rosalie would have been married by 1964. Also, Peter pasted away in 1963, so it may have been early when you visited South Bend. Rosalie, my great aunt, had an illness when she was young that left her deaf. After Ignazio (1965) and Caterina (1961) pasted away she live with my grandmother (Laura). I'll ask my mother if she knew Vito. I posted pictures of Ignazio and Caterina, but I don't see them on this site. I just see the place holders for them. Let me know if you can see them if not I post them again.

Thanks

Paul
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Re: giongrasso or giongrosso or johngrass

Post by pjthomas »

Skier, my brother was out in Hillsville and stopped by St. Lawrence cemetery last week and took some pictures of some headstones of the Johngrass'. Is Josephine Johngrass Genova a relative of yours? If you would like to chat off line you can email.

Thanks

Paul
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