Antonio Russo and Vincenzino Cunti (Conti) information

[Topper]

Antonio Russo
Born: July 22, 1873 Baia e Latina Italy
Death date: August 31, 1943 New Castle, Pennsylvania

Vincenzina Cunti (Conti) may be interchangeable. Changed to Conti.
Born: May 1, 1879 Birthplace unknown
Death Date: January 1, 1946 New Castle, Pennsylvania

They were married June 3, 1895, St. Mary's Church, New Castle, PA
I haven't been able to find any passenger ship manifest on either of them. I even checked Castle Garden. They had to come over sometime before 1895. I would also like to know where my grandmother Vincenzina came from. I would appreciate any help I can find.
The following is an old note I found about my grandfather. I think I know what it says but would appreciate it if someone were abel to translate it into english for me.

"Russo Tommaso fu Andrea e fu DeSimone Teresa
nato a Baia e Latina il giorno 9 marzo 1843
e
Cunti Filomena Lucia de Francesco e Angela
DePasquale nata a Baia e Latina il 26.3.1847

I suddetti contrassero matrimonie in data 30.9.1869"

Topper

[suanj]

1920 United States Federal Census about Antonio Russo
Name: Antonio Russo
[Antonia Rousso]
Home in 1920: New Castle Ward 4, Lawrence, Pennsylvania
Age: 48 years
Estimated birth year: abt 1872
Birthplace: Italy
Relation to Head of House: Head
Spouse's name: Venginzina
Father's Birth Place: Italy
Mother's Birth Place: Italy
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Sex: Male
Home owned: Own
Year of Immigration: 1888
Able to read: No
Able to Write: No
Image: 140
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Antonio Russo 48
Venginzina Russo 40
Noluns Russo 21
Mike Russo 20
Frank Russo 16
Millie Russo 14
Lewis Russo 12
William Russo 7
Viola Russo 5
Clara Russo 2


if this is your ancestor's family, Antonio immigrated in 1888; Vincenzina in 1894...
abt the note:
Russo Tommaso late Andrea and late Teresa De Simone
born in Baia e Latina the day 9 march 1843
and

Cunti Filomena Lucia daughter of Francesco and Angela
De Pasquale born in Baia e Latina the 26 march 1847
the persons above mentioned joined in marriage the 30.9.1869
regards, suanj

[vj]

For reference:
Suanj’s find
1920 census
1910 census
1900 census

[Topper]

Thanks Suanj and VJ.....this is indeed my grandfather in all three census reports. There have been several mispelling of the Russo name. I noticed on the 1900 census it was spelled "Rose," on the 1910 census it was spelled "Rosea." Even their application for marriage license it was mispelled as "Rosso." And of course the mispelling of my grandmother's name. However, that was to be expected since both were illeterate at that time. The reason I conclude that this is the Russo family on the census report is the children and their ages. This is just another piece of info I can include in the notes on my family tree. Thanks so much. I am 76 years old and have been working on my family tree for several years and I hope that I can uncover the ships manifest on both grandparents to pass on to my descendants before I leave this life. ........Thanks again, I cant tell you how much this is appreciated.......Topper

[vj]

Topper
That’s terrific that the census records were for your
family !
Valarie
---

Another spelling, different birth date?

1918 WWI Draft Registration Card

Same addess as 1920 census
706 Pearson St New Castle
Note: end off small finger of left hand

Name: Antonio Russ
City: New Castle County: Lawrence
State: Pennsylvania
Birth Date: 20 Jul 1872
Roll: 1907346 DraftBoard: 1

since he didn't sign his card, the birth year may have
been calculated from his age??
----

Finding several ‘Cunti’ from Baia e Latina
headed to New Castle, no one joining the Russo’s

Used the Ellis Gold Form
- No name filled in
- Searched for Baia e Latina - as a ‘sounds-like’
- Checked 'Italy'

[vj]

Topper,
Looks like several of the sons are living near
their parents?
Valarie

1930 census
page 2

Home in 1930:
706 Pearson St
New Castle, Lawrence, Pennsylvania

Tony Ross 57
Virginia Ross 50
William Ross 17
Violet Ross 15
Clara Ross 12

Note: it appears that Antonio naturalized sometime between
the 1920 and 1930 census.
If you order his papers, they may contain information
on his date of immigration & ship info.

finding naturalization records
Checked the footnote database, Antonio
Russo doesn’t appear (yet)

[Topper]

Valerie, thanks so much. That is my grandfather on the 1918 draft registration. He had blue eyes and resided at 706 Pearson Street. That is my father, mother, and my older brothers that were living with them. You are right about his children living next door in an appartment house. The other mispelling was Rossi, and Ross as you saw on the 1930 census. Some of my uncles retained the name Ross, and others went by Russo. I am excited about the census records because I didnt know they lived on Division Street before. This gives me a littel more information to include in my family history which I am attempting to write. Lord help those who read it because I am no writer by any stretch of the imagination. Thanks again.....Topper

[Topper]

My father recorded some information about his mother's father. He must have been a genealolgist at heart. This is what I found in an old notebook in his handwriting:
Francesca Cunti
Born July 13,1846
Marrried Costance Nocera on Februrary 1874 in Italy
I dont know when he first came to this country but he returned to Italy
Then returned to USA on February 18, 1887
He was naturalized Sept 10, 1897
His father's name was Giacomo Cunti
His children:
Giacomo - started and owned a fireworks company in New Castle, PA
Vincenzina - my grandmother
Anthony (Antonio)
Mary (Maria)
Nicholas (Nichola)

I have no information about where he lived in Italy

[vj]

Topper, what wonderful information from your father!
Valarie

Cunti/Conti Family
Note: possible wife Costanza was Maria Costanza (Nocera)

possible 1900 census
page 2
Home in 1900:
175 Pearson Street, owns house
Newcastle Ward 4, Lawrence, Pennsylvania

Head Frank Conts (Conti) 52 (Sep 1847) IT
- married 25 yrs (abt 1875)
- immig 1879 NA, in US 21 yrs
Wife Mary Conts 42 (Jul 1857) IT
- 5 children born, 4 children living
- immig 1895, in US 5 yrs
Son Jake Conts 25 (Nov 1874) IT
- immig 1895, in US 5 yrs
Daughter Jennie Conts 19 (Apr 1881) IT
- immig 1895, in US 5 yrs
Son Antonio Conts 15 (May 1885) IT
- immig 1895, in US 5 yrs
Son Nick Conts 2 (Feb 1898) PA

Boarder Joseph Borralli 38
Boarder Louis Borralli 36
Boarder Antonio Pirrino 61
---

possible 1910 census
Same census page as Antonio & Vincenzina Russo
& family
---

possible 1930 census
313 E Division St
---

A few more immig clues for missing manifest

Vincenzina's brother Giacomo Cunti/Conti?
Various immig years 1894-1895
Note: WWI Draft Registration Card not avail - mislinked on ancestry,
Prob born 5 Nov 1876
1910 census
1920 census
1930 census

[Topper]

Valerie, I cant even begin to express my thanks for all the infomation you have provided me. I have been able to clear up a lot of things that have been fuzzy or not even known. All the census you have given me are all on my family....some discrepancies in birthdates but everything else matches. I have been busy extrapolating and comparing information so I appologize for not responding sooner. Thanks again......Topper

[vj]

Topper, not to worry !
It is a lot to absorb.

The Cunti/Conti family
No luck locating Antonio (or Nicholas) after 1900.
Do you have a location for Antonio abt 1917-8?
If we could find his WWI Registration Card, it may
have his birth location.
So far no luck on the manifest(s)
Valarie

[Topper]

Hi Valerie, This is the information I have regarding Anthony and Nick Cunti/Conti.
Anthony had moved to Hillsville, PA with his wife and children. When I dont know. He was murdered on June 8, 1907 by a young man 19 years old named Rosario Serge. It was the action of the Black Hand which was prevalent in that area. The "Black Hand" or "La Mano Nera" was an extortion rackect by Italian criminals, preying on fear, demanding money or suffer bodily harm.
Nick served in WWI and died on August 23, 1923 at 25 years of age. I dont know the circumstances of his death, but I was always told as a child that he was killed in the war. However, WWI ended in 1919.

According to New Castle News articles dated 3/6/1907 and 5/17/1907, Jake Cunti/Conti lived on East Division Street in New Castle, PA. I have a copy of the articles to substantiate that fact.

Here is an interesting point I just thought of that could account for discrepancy of age by one year. My mother-in-law was born and raised in Italy and came to this country in 1920. Every birthday we would ask her age and she always said she was one year older than her actual age. She said in Italy on your birthday you finished that year and now began your new year which is the age they used. So when she was in actuality 60 years of age and asked her age she said she was 61....Interesting.

Thanks again Valerie......Topper

[vj]

Hello Topper ,

Thank you so much for telling us about
Anthony and Nick Cunti/Conti.

Finding the family's manifest(s) is becoming
quite a challenge.

Valarie

[moluigi]

Hi Topper,

Are you my Uncle Vincy? If not we are related since I too am a descendant of Antonio Russo. Looks like you have made great progress on the family and I would like to get a copy.

Lou Ross, Jr.
Columbia, MO

[drivingalong]

A stretch, but... I ahve to ask. Do you have any record of a Russo in your tree married to a man with the surnam Picerno? They'd be my great-great-grandparents. I've not yet learned their first names.

Jim
Rocklin, CA