Sebastiana LaTona

Sebastiana LaTona was born 14 Jan 1883 in Bagheria, Sicilia, the youngest known child of Giovanni LaTona and Domenica Bartolone.

She was married in Bagheria to Antonio Fricano.

Antonio Fricano came to America on the SS Gera, leaving from Genoa and Naples and arriving in New York on 10 Apr 1903. Antonio is listed on line 8, age 28. He is traveling with Sebastiana's brother, Salvatore LaTona, 32. Both are listed as born in Bagheria, can read and write, going to Milwaukee to join brother-in-law Salvatore Crivcelo at 309 Jackson Street.

Antonio went back to Bagheria at some point, returning to America aboard the S.S. Sicilia. He left Napoli on 4 May 1905 and arrived in New York 18 May 1905. Antonio is passenger #206 (line 18). Passenger #205 is Giovanni LaTona, brother of Antonio's wife.

Daughter Rosa was born 18 Dec 1905 in Bagheria.

1907 Milwaukee City Directory has Antonio working as a laborer, living at 146 1/2 Buffalo.

In 1908 Sebastiana and Rosa joined Antonio. They left Palermo on 23 Sep 1908 aboard the SS Re D'Italia, arriving in New York on 8 Oct 1908.

Sebastiana is passenger #75 line 16, age 24, joining husband Fricano, Antonio, 148 Buffalo St., Milwaukee, Wisconsin, nearest relative in Italy is brother-in-law, Diego Fricano of Bagheria. She is described as fair with brown hair and grei [grey?] eyes. Rosa is 3, joining her father.

Sebastiana and Rosa then took a train to Chicago where Antonio meet them.

Picture of Antonio, Sebastiana and Rosa taken in Milwaukee around 1908-1909.

Daughter Dominica was born 10 Oct 1909 in Milwaukee, the first of the children to be born there.


Photo of Rosa taken around 1910.

The 1910 Federal Census finds the family living at 241 Jackson Street, Antonio is 30, born in Italy, married 5 years, came to US in 1903, works odd jobs; wife Sebastiana is 26, born in Italy, married 5 years, 2 children born, 2 children living, came to US in 1908; daughter Rosa is 4, born in Italy, daughter Dominica is 6/12, born in Wisconsin.

Antonio's petition for naturalization says he first came to the US 25 March 1903, but that passenger list has not yet been located. He applied to become a citizen on 16 Feb 1911 and took the oath on 20 Sep 1911.

Son Isidoro was born 6 Jun 1911. Sadly both baby Isidoro, aged 8 months and Dominica, aged 2 1/2 died on the same day in 1912 from either measles or scarlet fever.

Daughter Dominica [called May] was born 1 May 1913,

Ever the match maker, Sebastiana tells her friend, widow  Maria Concetta Catalano LoSchiavo, "I have a man for you" and introduces Maria to Sebastiana's older brother Francis LaTona. The couple married in 1915.

Antonio and Sebastiana have two more children, Charles on 14 Jan 1915 and Concetta on 31 Mar 1918.

On 12 Sep 1918 Antonio (Anthony) registered for the WWI draft. Residing at 203 Jefferson he states he is employed as a garbage collector for the city. He is of medium height and build, brown eyes, black hair. Gives wife's name as Bastiana.

By the 1920 Federal Census the family is living at 203 Jefferson. Family consists of Tony, head, 46, to US 1902, naturalized citizen in 1909, born Italy, wagon driver at city garbage plant; Bessie, wife, 36, to US 1908, naturalized citizen, born Italy; Rose, 15, daughter, born Italy, candy maker at candy factory; May, 6, daughter, born Wisconsin; Charles, 4 11/12, son, born Wisconsin; Congetta, 1 8/12, daughter, born Wisconsin.

The children would have attended Detroit Street School.

The family attended Blessed Virgin of Pompeii Church. From 1919 to 1923, in addition to his regular job, Antonio was caretaker for the church, receiving free rent in a house located south of the church. In 1924 he was able to purchase a house at 175 Jefferson in partnership with his brother-in-law Salvatore LaTona.

The 1922 Milwaukee City Directory finds the family living at 303 Jackson, while Anton is working at the soft drinks store of his brother-in-law, Francis LaTona, at 193 Michigan.

In the 1924 directory Anton is a laborer, still living at 303 Jackson

The 1927 directory has Antonio, laborer, living back at 203 Jefferson.

Oldest daughter Rose was married to Steve Carini in 1927 and their first child, Margaret, was born in 1929, making Antonio and Sebastiana grandparents.

In 1930 the family is living at 203 Jefferson according to the Federal Census.  Tony is 55, married at 30, born in Italy, to US in 1905, naturalized citizen, collector at garbage, pays $25 per month for rent. Wife Bessie is 47, married at 22, born Italy, to US in 1909; children are Memie, 16, Charley, 15 and Concetta, 12 - all born in Wisconsin. At 205 Jefferson is daughter Rose, 24, married at 21, born Italy, her husband Steve Carini, 28, married at 25, born Wisconsin, labor at construction, pays $30 per month for rent, and their daughter Margaret, 1, born in Wisconsin.

The Milwaukee Journal of 20 Mar 1934

1940 Federal Census - Third Ward Milwaukee
177 Jefferson - Carini, Steve, 37, completed 8th grade, born Wisconsin, operator at plastic business; Rose, 33, wife, completed 7th grade, born Italy, naturalized citizen; children: Margaret Mary, 11, Bessie, 10, Anna Marie, 7 and Minon A., 2, all born Wisconsin. The family lived in the same house in 1935.

175 Jefferson - Fricano, Anthony, 65, completed 3rd grade, born Italy, naturalized citizen, laborer at D.P.W. [Department of Public Works]; Bessie, 58, wife, completed 3rd grade, born Italy, naturalized citizen; children Mamie, 27, completed 6th grade, born Wisconsin, office clerk at music company, Charles, 25, completed 8th grade, born Wisconsin, office clerk at stocking company; Connie, 22, completed H-2, born Wisconsin, office clerk at [unreadable]. The family lived in the same house in 1935.

Anthony died 8 Apr 1955. His obituary from the Milwaukee Journal of the same day.

Holy Card:

Sebastiana died 17 Jan 1961. From the Milwaukee Journal:

From the Milwaukee Sentinel 18 Jan 1961

From the Milwaukee Sentinel 19 Jan 1961. 

Holy Card:

Antonio and Sebastiana are buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Milwaukee, block 31, lot 186, graves 1 and 2.


Stories:

In his book "Milwaukee's Italians: The Early Years" Mario Carini writes of the women in the Third Ward who took in boarders. "Besides taking care of my mother [Rose], two toddlers and grandfather [Antonio], my grandmother [Sebastiana] had to look after the needs of "boarders:" a brother, brother-in-law, a nephew and a first cousin."

Antonio worked at the quarries in Bagheria and for the Northwestern Railroad Company when he first came to Milwaukee according to an interview his daughter Rose Fricano Carini gave in 1991. She also told of Sebastiana doing embroidery work for Gimbels, T.A. Chapmans, and Boston Store, plus others.
Link to interview

Peter Limbach

Peter Limbach was born 6 Jan 1793 in Palmersheim, Euskirchen, Nord-Rhine, Germany, oldest of three known children born to Christian Limbach and Anna Margaretha Diedrich. He was baptized on 7 Jan 1793 at the Catholic Church (vol. F626 page 78).

Flamersheim and Palmersheim are in the lower right of the map.

"The church of Flamersheim can look back on a moving history characterized by numerous architechtural changes. Possibly in 1058, a flat-roofed three-aisled basilica with five yokes and an east choir was built. Representations of the church from the mid-19th century show the Romanesque choir, which had a Romanesque predecessor. The building, which until then had presumably owned only one ridge turret, received a tower over the western nave yoke around 1400, giving the western front the still existing view. In 1666, the roof of the church was destroyed by fire in 1671 and renewed in 1671." [As written].

On 13 May 1818 also in Palmersheim, Peter married Margaretha Thuringen, daughter of Johann Thuringen and Anna Langen,

The couple had seven children:
Peter, born, 16 Jan 1819 (died 5 Feb 1820)
Anna Barbara, born 14 May 1820
Magdalena, born 9 Nov 1822
Wilhelm, born 28 Jan 1825
Christian, born 21 Jun 1827
Peter Joseph, born 7 Jan 1830
Catherine born 1837

Only four of the children came to Wisconsin with Peter and Margaretha.

German Emigration Index - line 33979: Limbach, Peter, b. 1793 in Palmersheim, linen weaver [leinweber] left 1845 to Nordamerika, Bestand BR 1040, Lfd. Nr 625, Seite in der Akte 109.

The passenger manifest for the the ship Brutus, which sailed from LeHavre, France and arrived in New York on 2 Jul 1845 lists Peter Limbach, 51, farmer, from Germany to USA, Margaretha, 49, Barbara, 22, Magdalina, 18, Christian, 16, and Catherine, 7.

28 Jun 1846 finds daughter Magdalena marrying Wilhelm Zingsheim in Milwaukee. They were married by a justice of the peace and not a priest.

In 1846 St. Hubert Catholic Church was organized and a log church built in section 22 [Address today is 3727 Hubertus Rd.]

Peter purchased land on 1 Mar 1848 with Matthias Shoemaker.  Recorded in vol 282 page 422 they bought the East 1/2 of the Southwest 1/4 of section 22, township 9 north, range 19 east, a total of 80 acres.

Son Christian married on 20 Jan 1850 to Barbara Feither.

The answers for 1850 federal census, Richfield, Washington, Wisconsin, were given by someone other than Peter. Taken on 9 Aug 1850 the household is given as Peter, age 58, C, age 55, Jacob, age 30 and Mariah, age 14.

The map of 1859 shows the Limbach and Schumacher farms in section 22. Christian is shown as the land owner.

By the 1860 federal census son Christian is head of family, age 42, farmer, value of real estate is $1,000, value of personal estate is $295. Also in the family are Barbara, 38, Margaretha, 10, Peter, 8, Catharine, 7, Martin, 5, John, 4, Anna M., 2, Peter, 67 and Margaretha, 64.

The 1870 federal census finds Peter and Margaretha still with Christian's family. Christian, 40, farmer, real estate valued at $1,000, personal estate valued at $345., Barbara, 48, Margaret, 21, Barbara, 19, Peter, 17, Martin, 15, Mary, 13, Elizabeth, 11, John, 9, Peter, 77 and Dorothea, 75.

Margaretha died 10 Feb 1872 in Richfield.

1873 map of section 22

The 1880 census for the Town of Jackson house #109 has Rev. Mueller, age 22, minister, and 35 persons listed as paupers, including Peter Limbach, age 83. It is unknown why he isn't still living with his son and family.

"The county farm originally was located in the northern part of the town of Jackson, and on it was the Poor home property." It was also called the Washington County Asylum for the Chronically Insane and the Samaritan Nursing Home.  Below is from Washington County, Wisconsin: Past and Present, published in 1912.

Peter's death date is unknown.

1892 land map shows Christian as still owning the farm.

Christian died 14 Dec 1903 and is buried in St. Hubert cemetery.

By 1915 the farm is owned by J. Limbach [John].

1929 map still lists J. Limbach.

A sign on the barn - Richfield Remembers The Past 1846-1996 P. Limbach Homestead.

Giovanni LaTona

Giovanni LaTona was born 28 Aug 1866 in Bagheria, Palermo, Sicily, the eldest son of Giovanni LaTona and Domenica Bartolone.

In approximately 1893 Giovanni married Caterina Tantillo (daughter of Ciro Tantillo and Vincenza Morici) in Bagheria. Six children are born to the couple in Sicily; Providence, c1894, Vincenza, c1896, Giovanni, 14 Mar 1899, Domenica, 14 Feb 1904, Ciro, cAug 1909 died 1910, and one birth and death unknown.

Giovanni first came to America in 1905. He left Napoli on 4 May and arrived in New York on 18 May aboard the SS Sicilia. He is listed on line 205, age 38, occupation countryman, from Bagheria, going to Milwaukee. Line 206 is Antonio Fricano, 30, occupation pioneer, also from Bagheria, going to Milwaukee. Antonio is the husband of Giovanni's younger sister Sebastiana.

According to his arrival card issued in 1921, Giovanni also came to America aboard the SS Campania, arriving in Milwaukee on 16 Apr 1909.

Wife Caterina and the children attempted to join Giovanni. The SS Lombardia, sailing from Palermo on 11 Mar 1910 lists #36 Tantillo, Caterina, 36, housewife, from Bagheria to Milwaukee, with children surnamed Latona, Provadence, 16, Vincenta, 14, Giovanni, 11, Dominica, 6 and Ciro, age 6 months. Their names are crossed out as they did not travel at that time.

Caterina and the children did make it to America aboard SS Lazio which left from Palermo on 4 Apr 1910. #358/24 lists Tantillo, Caterino, 36, housewife and her children surnamed LaTona: Providenza, 17, Vincenza, 14, Giiovanni, 11, Domenica, 6 and Ciro, age 8 months. Ciro's name is crossed through and the comment added that he died. It is unknown if this means he died before the trip or at sea.

By May 5th the family is back together, living on Cass Street in Milwaukee. The Federal Census lists Giovanni, head, 44, married once, married for 17 years, born Italy, to US in 1904, driver for city work; wife Katie is 37, has given birth to 6 children but only 4 are living, born Italy, to US in 1910; children are John, 11, Providenca, 16, Vincent, 13 [listed as son but is daughter Vincenza] and Dominica, 6. All the children were born in Italy and came to the US in 1906.

The family doesn't stay in Milwaukee for long, as their first child born in America is Rose Maria, born 14 Feb 1911 in Chicago. She was baptized on 19 Feb at St. Philip Benizi Parish. Giovanni's brother Francis has come down from Milwaukee to be her godfather.

Inside of St. Philip Benizi.

Son Cyril is born 1 Jan 1913 in Chicago and baptized as Cirum on 12 Jan at St. Philip Benizi Parish.

Daughter Providenca married Matteo Rizzo on 20 Apr 1913 in Chicago at St. Philip Benizi Parish.

Daughter Angelina Petrina is born 1 Jan 1915 in Chicago. She is baptized on 17 Jan St. Philip Benizi Parish.

Giovanni filed a Declaration of Intention to become a citizen on 26 Nov 1918. He states he is dark complextion, 5 ft. 5 inches tall, 155 lbs, brown hair, blue eyes.

On 13 Oct 1921 Giovanni petitions to become a citizen. Citizenship is granted 24 Feb 1922.

Daughter Domenica (Mamie) Latona files her declaration of intent on 14 Mar 1927. She says she has a fair complexion, and is 5 ft tall, 148 lbs, with brown hair and eyes. She also states she is not married.

On 1 Jun 1932 Domenica LaTona D'Amico petitions for citizenship, which is granted 6 Oct 1932. She explains that her husband Angelo died 1 Aug 1922 and he was not a citizen. [Her sisters became citizens when their husbands were naturalized.]

The 1930 Federal Census finds the family living in a multifamily building at 330 Goethe Street in Chicago. John is 65, married at 27, born Italy, a packer at a macaroni company; wife Catherine is 58, married at 20, born Italy; daughter Mamie is 26, , born Italy, widowed, married at 15, a machine operator at Cotton goods; daughter Rose, 19, born IL, is also a machine operator at Cotton goods; son Syril is 17, born IL, a shipping clerk at Amer. Book Co.; daughter Angeline is 15, born IL. Son John, 31, married at 21, born Italy, is a chauffer for a private family; his wife Louise, 27, married at 17, born Maryland and sons John, 8, born IL and Albert 3 11/12 born IL, also live at 330 Goethe St.

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Giovanni died 2 Mar 1933 in Chicago. He is buried at Mt. Carmel, lot 116, block 18, section 28.

Son Giovanni (John) files his declaration of intention on 13 May 1936. He describes himself as fari complexion, brown eyes, dark brown hair, 5 ft 8 inches, 140 lbs. and his picture is included. He has separated from Louise.

His petition for naturalization is filed 22 Nov 1935 and citizenship was granted 26 Apr 1939.

Caterina Tantillo LaTona died 9 Nov 1939 in Chicago.

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