Francis Paul LaTona

Francisco Paolo LaTona was born 28 Mar 1879 in Bagheria, Palermo, Sicily.

Bagheria is a city on the north side of Sicily, on the Tyrrhenian Sea.

He was the third of four known children born to Giovanni LaTona and Domenica Bartolone. The gaps of more than two years in the ages of the children suggests either miscarriages or infant death of other siblings. Brothers Giovanni (John, born 1866), Salvatore (Sam, born 1871) and sister Sebastiana (born 1883) were also born in Bagheria. All four came to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, although Giovanni later moved to Chicago.

The S. S. Sardegna, sailed from Napoli on 6 Apr 1904 and arrived at the  Port of New York on 20 April 1904. On board was LaTona, Francisco, age 25, male, single, fisherman, able to read/write - no; nationality - Italy; race or people - Italian; last residence - Bagheria; final destination - Milwaukee, Wis.; ticket to final destination - yes; by whom paid - himself; Whether in possession of $50 or less - $10; in US before - no; joining a relative - his brother Salvatore, 308 Jefferson St., Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Sebastiana's grandson, Mario Carini wrote in his book Milwaukee's Italians: The Early Year,
"I came to realize that no hardship that my relatives faced here in Milwaukee could ever possibly compare with 'la miseria' they had suffered in Italy. One thing which made any hardship tolerable in the States was hope that things could and would get better. In Italy, they had no hope of things ever getting better."

First record of Frank in Milwaukee is the 1905 State Census. He is living in the Second Precinct of the Third Ward. LaLona, Frank, roomer, age 25, born Italy, parents born Italy, day laborer, employed 12 months. Living with the family of Frank Crevello. 

"Once in Milwaukee, the women usually worked to supplement the family income. Some took in boarders, who were either blood relatives or paesani from the home villages, but never strangers. These paying house guests were charged as little as $2.50 per month!" From Milwaukee's Italians: The Early Years by Mario Carini.

 The 1907 Milwaukee City directory - Frank is listed with two occupations and two addresses.

Neighbors in Sicily tended to be neighbors in Milwaukee as well. Mario Carini,  in Milwaukee's Italians: The Early Years, states immigrants from Bagheria clustered on Jackson Street.

In the 1910 census Frank is living at 168 Buffalo Street with his brother Salvatore and his family. He is listed as Francesco P., brother, 31, born Italy, came to US in 1904, works odd jobs, can read and write.

Frank became a US Citizen on 1 Oct 1915. Address is given as 261 Jackson Street.

Frank's sister, Sebastiana LaTona Fricano, was friends with Maria Concetta Catalano LoSchiavo, a widow with a young daughter. Maria was the daughter of Mariano Catalano, first Sicilian to settle in Milwaukee.

Sebastiana played matchmaker and Frank and Maria married on 20 Nov 1915 at Blessed Mary Virgin of Pompeii Church

Nine months later daughter Domenica was born 25 Aug 1916. She was baptized 17 Sep 1916 at the Blessed Virgin of Pompeii Church. Godparents were Antoino Fricano and Sebastiana LaTona. The family was living at 165 Buffalo street.

Fifteen and 1/2 months later second daughter Antonina Provvidence was born on 6 Nov 1917. Her birth was given as 6 Oct 1917 on the baptism record. She was baptized 2 Mar 1918 at the Blessed Virgin of Pompeii Church. Godparents were Giovanni LaTona and Catherine Tantello. (Frank's brother and his wife). The family was living at 165 Buffalo street.

1917 City Directory - Frank is a garbage collector, living at 165 Buffalo.

1918 City Directory - Frank is a teamster, living at 303 Jackson St.

On 12 Sep 1918 Francesco Paolo Latona registered for the draft. He was a coal dealer living at 303 1/2 Jefferson, of medium height, slender build with brown eyes and chestnut hair.

1919 City Directory - Frank is a collector for the Department of Public works, living at 303 1/2 Jackson.

Fifteen months after the birth of his second daughter, third daughter Florence Providenca was born 1 Mar 1919. Her birth was listed as 28 Mar 1919. The record was changed to 1 Mar 1919, with Providenca crossed out as well. 

Prohibition began 28 Oct 1919.

1920 City Directory - Frank now has a soft drink parlor at 193 Michigan St while still living at 303 1/2 Jackson.

On the 1920 Federal Census the family is living at 303 Jackson St. Frank is 40, born in Italy, working as a teamster for the city; wife Congetta is 32, born Wisconsin; daughters Domenica, 3 years 4 months, Antonina, 2 years 1 month and Providensa, 9 months are all born in Wisconsin; step-daughter Frances Loshiava is 12 and born in Tennessee. Also with the family is August Catalano, 70, born in Italy, uncle.

The family moved between the time of the census and the time of Florence's baptism. She was baptized 30 Sep 1920 at the Blessed Virgin of Pompeii Church. Godparents were Antonio Fricano and Sebastiana LaTona. (Frank's sister and her husband). The family was now living at 365 Brady street.

From the "Proceedings of the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee for the Year Ending April 18, 1921". In June and August Frank owned a "soft drink parlor" at 193 Michigan Street. By October he has moved his family and business to 365 Brady Street.

Story goes that Maria told Frank not to touch her until she got the three out of diapers. It was 3 years 1 week until the next child was born. Marie Concetta (named after her mother) was born 8 Mar 1922. Her baptism is listed in the index of the Blessed Virgin of Pompeii church. (Records after 1920 are not online.)

365 Brady Street is now 1401 E. Brady and the saloon is now the Nomad World Pub on the corner of Brady and Warren.

From Nomad's History goes back to the 1880's:

"In 1930, Frank Latona sold soft drinks here. It was Prohibition, and soft drinks were not all that was being sold here, or at the saloon across the street, or at any of the 1,000 or so licensed “Soft Drink Parlors” in the city. They could legally pedal beer with as much as 0.05% alcohol, but commonly illegally sold brew of higher alcoholic content. In 1932, the property was assessed at $3,000 for the land, and an equal amount for the tavern, for a total of $6,000.

In 1934, with Prohibition ended, Latona was listed as the owner of the building, and Joseph Peplinski, who lived in the apartment above, was listed as the operator of the tavern. The former use of the space? “Tavern,” of course. By 1940 Harry Zielinski and his wife Harriet lived upstairs, operating the space below as the Warren Cafe."

Sylvester Nolde owned the building from 1955 to 1995.

As it appears 2016

Picture of the original tin ceiling - 2016

Wisconsin History Property Records

Pictures of the Historic East Brady District

Hidden gem: Nomad World Pub

Milwaukee City Directory - 1923

The Milwaukee Journal of 10 Apr 1923 says Frank Latona is asking for $10,000 of behalf of his step-daughter, Frances Loschiavo. It mentions that Leo Fricano promised to marry her, but doesn't mention that Leo fathered her son, Joseph, born in November of 1922. Donna, who would have been age 6 in 1922, remembered the baby as always crying. Baby Joseph died in November 1923 and was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery.

Milwaukee City Directory 1924

Son John Anthony was born 24 Mar 1924.

Donna and Annette at their first communion (1924?)

Milwaukee City Directory 1925

Milwaukee City Directory 1926

Children John, born 1924, and Marie, born 1922.

Milwaukee City Directory 1927

Milwaukee City Directory 1928

There was a birth announcement for Anna (later called Roseann) published in the Milwaukee Journal of 5 May 1928.

Frank and son John around 1928

On 29 Oct 1929 the stock market crashed, starting the "Great Depression."  When asked by her grandchildren, Marie (born 1922) said her family did not feel the depression, life went on as usual for the LaTonas.

Photo of  Marie, John and Roseann, date and location unknown.

Milwaukee City Directory 1929

It was the custom to ask a girl's father for his permission to marry his daughter. Since Frances' father was deceased Emilio (called Tom) asked Maria for her permission, which she granted. Maria did ask Frances to wait until the baby was out of diapers, but Frances did not wait. The marriage took place before Anna's second birthday.

The Milwaukee Journal 23 Nov 1929 reports the marriage license for Frances Loschiavo and EmilioTorra.

The 1930 Federal Census sees the family at 365 Brady Street. Frank is 51, married for the first time at age 36, laborer - general; Concetta is 42, says she was married for the first time at age 27, [she was 18 when she married her first husband]; children are Mamie, 13; Antoinette, 12; Florence, 10; Concetta, 8; John, 6 1/2 and Anna, 1 4/12.

Pictures of Frank taken 12 Jul 1930 at Wisconsin Dells

1932 City Directory - Frank still owns a soft drinks parlor, address is now 1401 E. Brady, and lives upstairs (1403 E. Brady)

1936 City Directory sees the addition of both Annette and Donna into the work force, Frank P. is now a tree trimmer and the family lives at 125 N. 79th Street.

Roseann in the 3rd Grade at Pius XI

In the 1940 Federal Census the family is living at 140 S. Hawley Rd. Frank P. Latona, 61, gave info, b. Italy, states they lived in the same house in 1935, laborer at park maintenance project; Marie C., wife, 52, b. WI housekeeper at home; Donna, daughter, 23, b. WI time keeper - sewing project; Annette, daughter, 22, b. WI assistant at home; Florence, daughter, 20, b. WI assistant at home; Marie C., daughter, 18, b. WI; John A., son, 16, b. WI; Rose Ann, daughter, 11, b. WI

At age 63 Frank registered for the draft for World War II. For place of birth he gives Italy in Europe.

The Milwaukee Journal 23 Apr 1942

The Milwaukee Journal 16 Apr 1943 - Women's Army Corp recruits Florence and Marie.

Besides his two older sisters, John also served his country, enlisting in the Army in 1943.

Photo of Frank's wife Maria and daughter Marie. Daughter was 5 ft 2 inches so wife was a short woman. Taken at 3020 W. Park Hill.

While the library card expires in 1949, after Frank's death, Maria and her children moved to 1734 S. 60th Street in 1947 so the Park Hill address would be before then.

Enlarging this photo shows the 3020 house number next to the door (and an unidentified person peeking out.)

Frank died 5 Dec 1946 in Milwaukee and is buried at Holy Cross.

An obituary has not been found but the Milwaukee Journal of 11 Dec 1946 had this card of thanks.

In Memoriams were published in the Milwaukee Journal 28 Mar 1948 and 28 Mar 1949.

Gavin Schmitt in his book Milwaukee Mafia says all the members of the Milwaukee Mafia were from Bagheria. It is unknown that Frank took part, but he would have known the people who were members. Nephew Joseph Latona (son of Frank's brother Salvatore) owned a home on Warren St. and his activities were in the Milwaukee Journal often, including his 1957 arrest for running a brothel.

STORIES

Unfortunately Frank died before seeing any of his children married and before the births of his 10 grandchildren. The only memories are of stories told.

Even though he had five daughters and one son when he wanted the kids to go somewhere with him he always said "Come on boys." The kids called him Buck.

If Frank didn't like the book he was reading he would through it out the window.

Once when the bar was raided by the police Frank stalled them while step-daughter Frances poured the gin down the drain. She came out with her hair damp and told the police she had been taking a bath.

When Frank would cook pasta he would "taste" the cooking pasta frequently...too frequently. He would eat a good deal of it at the stove before he would declare it ready for everyone else.


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