Merenda Family

[LaceeM]

I am looking for any and all information I can get on the Merenda family from Calabria Italy. Please let me know if any of you have any information!

[vj]

Hello!
There appear to be at least two Merando/Merenda families in Kansas in 1920
Does your husband recognize any of these names?
Thanks!
Valarie

from ancestry. com

(click here) 1920 census image

Home in 1920:
Washington, Crawford, Kansas

head Mike Merando 39, abt 1881 IT
- immig 1900, Al (alien)
- owns house
- miner, coal mine
wife Anna Merando 29, abt 1891 IT
- immig 1900
daughter Josie Merando 10, abt 1910 KS
daughter Hellen Merando 7, abt 1913 KS
son Louie Merando 5, abt 1915 KS
son Albert Merando 2, abt 1918 KS

and

edit: added
Confirmed, this appears to be the correct family:

Home in 1920:
Washington, Crawford, Kansas

head James Merenda 37, abt 1883 IT
- immig 1904
- owns house
- miner, coal mine
wife Carmelia Merenda 32, abt 1888 IT
- immig 1905
daughter Mary Merenda 14, abt 1906 KS
son James Merenda 13, abt 1907 KS
son Louie Merenda 9, abt 1911 KS
son Joe Merenda 7, abt 1913 KS
son Tony Merenda 5, abt 1915 KS
daughter Lena Merenda 2, abt 1918 KS
boarder Joe Serra 31

[wldspirit]

Calabria is a region, similar to a state. Within Calabria are provinces, similar to counties, if you know from which province, or the exact town of origin, you may be able to pull up actual records from the following site:

Cozensa

wldspirit

[LaceeM]

Valerie-

Thanks for your help! My husband recognizes the second listing as his family. The son Joe who was 7 is actually his grandfather. I am trying to trace back as much information as I can find for when our son gets older. My husband never knew his great-grandfather as being named James so it's funny that is what is written on the census form, because that is what we named our son. How ironic. Any other information you find or anything would be great! Thank you again for your help!

[vj]

Lacee, thank you for the update.
We'll be happy to see what else we can find.
Valarie
---

Is this the correct record?

SSDI
Name: Joe Merando
Date of Birth: Saturday January 11, 1913
Date of Death: Monday July 14, 1997
Est. Age at death: 84 years, 6 months, 3 days

Last known residence:
City: Frontenac; Pittsburg
County: Crawford
State: Kansas

Social Security details
State of Issue: Kansas
Number: 512-05-xxxx
---

1945 WWII Army Enlistment

Name: Merando, Joseph
Serial Number: 37766015
Residence: Crawford, Kansas
Enlistment Place: Ft Levenworth, Kansas
Enlistment Date: 03 April 1945
Grade Alpha: Pvt
Grade Code: Private
Branch Alpha: No
Branch Code: No Branch Assignment
Enlistment Term: Enlistment For The Duration of The War or Other Emergency, Plus Six Months, Subject To The Discretion of The President or Otherwise According To Law
Longevity:
Source: Civil Life
Nativity: Kansas
Birth Year: 1913
Race and Citizenship: White, Citizen
Education: Grammar School
Civil Occupation: Semiskilled Chauffeurs and Drivers, Bus, Taxi, Truck, and Tractor
Marital Status: Married
Army Component: Selectees (Enlisted Men)

---

1940 Crawford County Directory

Merando Joe (Clara) driver Hull & Dillon Pkg Co
residence Frontenac
---

possible 1930 census

Home in 1930:
Washington, Crawford, Kansas

head Carmla Marando 43, abt 1887 IT
- owns house, $200
- widow
- married age 17
- immig 1904, al
son Jim Marando 22, abt 1908 KS
- miner, coal mine
son Louie Marando 19, abt 1911 KS
- miner, coal mine
son Joseph Marando 18, abt 1912 KS
- miner, coal mine
son Tony Marando 14, abt 1916 KS
daughter Lillie Marando 12, abt 1918 KS
daughter Angeline Marando 8, abt 1922 KS
son Leo Marando 6, abt 1924 KS
---

possible 1925 Kansas census

Home in 1925:
Pittsburg RI
Capaldo, Crawford, Kansas

head James Marando 42, abt 1883 IT
- immig 1904, Na (naturalized) 1906
- miner
wife Carmen Marando 43, abt 1882 IT
son James Marando 18, abt 1907 KS
son Louis Marando 15, abt 1910 KS
son Joe Marando 12, abt 1913 KS
son Tony Marando 8, abt 1917 KS
daughter Lillie Marando 7, abt 1918 KS
daughter Angeline Marando 5, abt 1920 KS
son Leo Marando 15M, abt 1923 KS
---

This looks like the same family in 1915
Name may have been shortened by the person giving the information or the census taker

possible 1915 Kansas census
page 2

Home in 1915:
Sheridan, Crawford, KS

Jim Moran 30 (abt 1885) IT
Mary Moran 25 (abt 1890) IT
Mary Moran 9 (abt 1906) KS
Jimie Moran 8 (abt 1907) KS
Louie Moran 5 (abt 1910) KS
Joe Moran 2 (abt 1913) KS
Geo R Baggs 6 (1909) KS
---

1910 census

Home in 1910:
Sheridan, Crawford, Kansas

head James Moran 27, abt 1883 IT
- married 5 yrs, abt 1905
- immig 1901, Pa (filed 1st papers for naturalization)
wife Hamelia (Carmela or Camilla) Moran 24, abt 1886 IT
- 3 children born, 2 children living
daughter Mary Moran 4, abt 1906 KS
son James Moran 3, abt 1907 KS
mother Mary Moran 52, abt 1858 IT
- widow
brother Frank Moran 17, abt 1893 IT
---

possible 1905 Kansas census
page 2

James, mother Mary & brother Frank from 1910 census?
Just after they immigrated, perhaps before James was married - or before his wife arrived from Italy?

Home in 1905:
Beulah Camp, Sheridan, Crawford, KS

line 6 James Moran 22 (abt 1883) IT
line 7 Frank Moran 14 (abt 1891) IT
line 8 Sarah Moran 20 (abt 1885) IT
line 13 Mary Moran 46 (abt 1859)

note: other folks in the same residence may be related
---

Since it appears that most of the US vital records for the family will be in Crawford County, this site may help:
http://www.crawfordcountykansas.com/general/geneaology

[vj]

James Merando/Merenda

It is possible that James Merando's name was originally Gaetano.

Could this information from Find-A-Grave be for Louie Merando, James & Carmela's son born abt 1910?

link with picture:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cg ... 55&ref=wvr

Gene Louie Merando
Birth: Dec. 10, 1910
Death: Aug. 2, 1991
Pittsburg
Crawford County
Kansas, USA

Husband of Angela Arduino Merando, father of Angelo Merando and Frank Merando, grandfather to Joel Merando, and Rick (Merando) Hopper
Original name: Luigi Merenda
Son of Gaetano Merenda and Carmella Serra Merenda (nee Carmenuzza Serra), both from Calabria, Italy.

Burial:
Garden of Memories Cemetery
Pittsburg
Crawford County
Kansas, USA

---

A check of Ellis Island revealed a lot of folks, including Merenda's, immigrating from Paterno Calabro, Cosenza, Calabria to Weir (City), Cherokee County, Kansas at the turn of the century
http://stevemorse.org/ellis2/ellisgold.html
---

James Merenda?

possible 1918 Draft Registration WWI Card

Gaetano Merenda 37
1 Pittsburg, Crawford, KS
born 5 Feb 1881
Naturalized
Miner for Jackson Walker Coal Co
15 Mine Frontenac Crawford, KS
Nearest relative: Carmen Merenda same address
---

Find-A-Grave entries for Gaetano & Carmella Merenda
with pictures

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cg ... id=8860024&

Gaetano Merenda

Birth: Feb. 14, 1882, Italy
Death: Jan. 29, 1926
Capaldo
Crawford County
Kansas, USA

He was married to my Great-Great Aunt Carmella. Gaetano was only in his forties when he died. Even though he wasn't a relation to my Great-Grandfather Luigi, but by marriage. He was my Great-Grandmother Concetta's 1st Cousin.

Burial:
Mount Carmel Cemetery
Frontenac
Crawford County
Kansas, USA
Plot: Section 4: South Part in front: N to S

---

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cg ... id=8859999&

Carmella "Carmenuzza" Serra Merenda

Birth: 1886
Calabria, Italy Death: 1962
Capaldo
Crawford County
Kansas, USA

She was my Great-Great Aunt, who was a sister to my Maternal Great-Grandfather Luigi Serra. Her husband Gaetano died early and she raised her children by herself.

Burial:
Mount Carmel Cemetery
Frontenac
Crawford County
Kansas, USA
Plot: Section 4: South Part in front: N to S

[LaceeM]

Wow that is all great stuff! I can't wait to show my husband! As for the find a grave stuff we went by all the cemetaries where we know that they are buried and got years of birth and death off the headstones. I will try and get that typed in this afternoon. Thank you for all your help the Ellis Island stuff is great! I am so excited about how much information you have found that we would have never b een able to find had I not stumbled on this site!

[LaceeM]

James Merando was Gaetano and the Louie is my husband's Uncle Luigi. The Moran information you found isn't on his family, but the rest of this information seems to be.

[LaceeM]

Okay here is what I gathered from the cemetaries on the Merando/Merenda Family

Gaetano Merenda 1882-1926
Carmella 1886-1962
Francesco Merenda March 9, 1862- September 15, 1918
Zachary Thomas Merando July 6, 2000
Maria Serra 1851-1944
John F. Serra February 18, 1925- April 23, 1985
Mary Merenda Naccarato 1905-1995
Frank Naccarato 1896-1972
Rosez M. Morey Kritzer 1927
James W. Kritzer 1927-1982
Christine Yanko 1917-1989
Frances C. Yanko 1911-1980
Joseph Merenda 1913-1997
Clara Mae Morey Merenda 1916-1994
James V. 1907-1978
Valerie 1909-2000
Diane Merando February 2, 1949 to December 5, 1993
Leo K. Merando 1923-1984
Verna L. 1926-2000
James E. Morey Feb. 25, 1911 to December 13, 2002
Michael Earl Morey July 25, 1948
Mary Catherine Morey 1914-1915
Mary A. 1891-1946
Earl H. Morey, Sr. 1888-1951
Maryann Moriconi July 29, 1960- August 15, 1960

[nuccia]

Okay here is what I gathered from the cemetaries on the Merando/Merenda Family

Gaetano Merenda 1882-1926
Carmella 1886-1962
Francesco Merenda March 9, 1862- September 15, 1918
Zachary Thomas Merando July 6, 2000
Maria Serra 1851-1944
John F. Serra February 18, 1925- April 23, 1985
Mary Merenda Naccarato 1905-1995
Frank Naccarato 1896-1972
Rosez M. Morey Kritzer 1927
James W. Kritzer 1927-1982
Christine Yanko 1917-1989
Frances C. Yanko 1911-1980
Joseph Merenda 1913-1997
Clara Mae Morey Merenda 1916-1994
James V. 1907-1978
Valerie 1909-2000
Diane Merando February 2, 1949 to December 5, 1993
Leo K. Merando 1923-1984
Verna L. 1926-2000
James E. Morey Feb. 25, 1911 to December 13, 2002
Michael Earl Morey July 25, 1948
Mary Catherine Morey 1914-1915
Mary A. 1891-1946
Earl H. Morey, Sr. 1888-1951
Maryann Moriconi July 29, 1960- August 15, 1960

Well since vj has found much of the US info for you, you now need to decide what do do next.

Have you been able to chart these people into a software program and match them all up? There is quite a bit of info and unless you organize it somehow it can be pretty overwhelming.

Through the Cosenza archives you can continue to search for family, or you can rent films from your local FHC for Paterno and see if you can find birth and marriage acts which will take you back a generation further.

You let us know how to proceed so we know how to direct you.

[dominique426]

My 3rd great grandmother, Maria Giuseppa Merenda, was born in Roggiano Gravina, Cosenza, Calabria. Her brother was Angelo Merenda and their parents were Giuseppe and Maria Merenda.