Vito Bonventre (1875 - 1930)

Born 1 Jan 1875 in Castellammare del Golfo, Trapani, Sicilia, Italy

Died 15 Jul 1930 at age 55 in Brooklyn, Kings, New York, United States

Biography

Vito Bonventre was born on January 01, 1875 in Castellammare del Golfo, Trapani, Sicilia, Italy. He married Rosa Desalvo.

He emigrated to the United States on the North America and arrived in the Port of New York on 26 Oct 1905. His naturalization document has his occupation as Baker. He lists two children: Rose b 5 Aug 1910 and Josephine b 1 Jun 1913. Witnesses: Joseph Fontana and Andrew Yacenda. Occupations - Real Estate. His petition for naturalization was granted on 16 Dec 1916.^[1][2]

On 13 Sep 1919, Vito and his daughter Rosa made a trip to Palermo, Italy. They returned to New York on 26 Feb 1920 passing through Ellis Island.^[3]

Children of Vito and Rosa

1. Rose b 5 Aug 1910
2. Josephine b 1 Jun 1913
3. Pasquale Bonventre
4. Josephine Bonventre
5. William V Bonventre b 28 Sep 1922, d 9 Apr 1970^[4]
6. Angelica Bonventre b 26 Nov 1924, d 21 Oct 1925^[5]
7. Eleanor Bonventre b 1924
8. Casper
9. Frances
10. Yonada

Although he was listed as a Baker on his Naturalization papers, he was a New York mobster involved in bootlegging with Brooklyn mobster Cola Schiro throughout the Prohibition era.^[6]

Bonventre later served as underboss to New York mob boss Salvatore Maranzano during the Castellammarese War. During the early months of the war, Bonventre became a target as the Brooklyn-based Castellammarese began to threaten Joe "the Boss" Masseria's domination over Italian organized crime. On July 15, 1930, Bonventre was gunned down by Masseria gunmen outside his garage.^[7]

He was buried at Calvary Cemetery in Woodside, Queens, New York.^[8]

Census

1915 New York Census Brooklyn, Kings New York A.D. 14 E.D. 09^[9]

Vito 40 Head Italy Baker

Rosia 35 Wife Italy Housewife

Rosa 04 Daughter US

Josephina 9 Daughter US

Angelina 27 Sister Italy Housework

Francis 25 Sister Italy Housework

Sabestian 35 Brother Italy Baker

Anna 35 Sister in Law Italy Housework

Aspera 4 Nephew US

Joseph 1 Nephew US

1925 New York Census Brooklyn, A.D. 14, E.D. 13, Kings, New York, United States 115 Roebling Street^[10]

Vito Bonventre 50 Father Baker

Rose Bonventre 41 Mother Housewife

Rose Bonventre 14 Daughter Business School

Josephine Bonventre 13 Daughter

Frances Bonventre 8 Daughter

Casper Bonventre 6 Son

Vito Bonventre 3 Son

Yonada Bonventre 7mth Daughter

Elenor Bonventre 7mth Daughter

Sources

1. ↑ "New York, County Naturalization Records, 1791-1980," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPRY-R4NN : 9 September 2019), Vito Bonventro, 1915; citing Naturalization, Kings, New York, United States, citing multiple County Clerk offices of New York; FHL microfilm 005412239.
2. ↑ United States Passport Applications, 1795-1925," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV5B-2KKW : 16 March 2018), Vito Bonventre, 1919; citing Passport Application, New York, United States, source certificate #106534, Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925, 871, NARA microfilm publications M1490 and M1372 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
3. ↑ "New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J6ZX-STP : 30 January 2018), Vito Bonventre, 1920.
4. ↑ California Deaths and Burials, 1776-2000", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HGWV-N6ZM : 4 February 2020), Vito Bonventre in entry for William Vito Bonventre, .
5. ↑ "New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2W1F-9WZ : 10 February 2018), Vito Bonventre in entry for Angelica Jolanda Bonventre, 21 Oct 1925; citing Death, Brooklyn, Kings, New York, United States, New York Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 2,048,057.
6. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Vito Bonventre," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vito_Bonventre&oldid=707592008 (accessed April 9, 2016).
7. ↑ "New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2WVT-JMZ : 20 March 2015), Vito Bonventre, 15 Jul 1930; citing Death, Brooklyn, Kings, New York, United States, New York Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 2,069,169.
8. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #20804
9. ↑ New York State Census, 1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K9R5-3J4 : 8 November 2014), Vito Bonvento, New York, Kings, New York, United States; from "New York, State Census, 1915," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2012); citing p. 43, line 26, state population census schedules, 1915, New York State Archives, Albany.
10. ↑ New York State Census, 1925," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K9BK-3SF : 8 November 2014), Vito Bonventre, Brooklyn, A.D. 14, E.D. 13, Kings, New York, United States; records extracted by Ancestry and images digitized by FamilySearch; citing p. 58, line 35, New York State Archives, Albany.