Giuseppe Calamia (abt. 1844 - 1921)

Born about 1844 in Gibellina, Trapani, Sicilia

Descendants

Died 5 Jun 1921 at about age 77 in Gibellina, Trapani, Sicilia, Italia

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Biography

Giuseppe Calamia was born around 1844 in Gibellina, in Trapani province, Sicily, a son of Santo Calamia and Carmela Palermo.^[1]

Giuseppe married Antonina Fontana in Italy, c.1774.^[1] They had at least one child, Santo. Santo was born in Gibellina on 31 August 1875.^[2] He was also known as "Joseph," ^[3] the name under which he was naturalized in 1904.

Giuseppe and Santo both lived in New Orleans for many years. Their immigration records have not yet been found. Cascio-10 02:19, 4 February 2019 (UTC)

Santo married Teresina Saltaformaggio on 30 January 1901 in Orleans Parish, Louisiana.^[4][5]

In the 1910 federal census of New Orleans, Ward 5, taken 16 April, Giuseppe Calamia, age 35 (b. 1875), heads a household at 925 Decatur St. with his wife of 9 years (m. 1901), Teresina, 24 (b. 1886). She has had 5 children, all living. This is their first marriage. Giuseppe was born in Italy, emigrated in 1889, and is a naturalized citizen. He is an employer, the keeper of a bar room. His wife and children were born in Louisiana. Their children at home are Giuseppe, 8 (b. 1902), Amee (Anna), 7 (b. 1903), Carrie (Catherine), 6 (b. 1904), Carmila (Camille), 5 (b. 1905), and Mamie (Mary), 3 (b. 1907). Also living with them are Giuseppe’s father, also named Giuseppe Calamia, 65 (b. 1845), a widower, born in Italy, who emigrated in 1907; his sister Carmela Calamia, 28 (b. 1882), single, born in Italy, emigrated in 1907; aunt Francesca Fontana, 47 (b. 1863), single, born in Italy, emigrated in 1906; and cousin Antonio Calamia, 20 (b. 1890), single, born in Louisiana of Italian parents. All three of his Italian relations are alien residents. Antonio is a helper in a bar room. Close neighbors, John Radetich, an Austrian, and his boarder Mitchel Perovich, are bartenders in a bar room. Another neighbor, Giuseppe Manzella is also a bar keeper; two of his family members are helpers in a bar room.^[6]

On 26 February 1910, Giuseppe was arrested in New Orleans, in connection with the murder of New York police lieutenant Petrosino in Palermo. Sources in the Italian community in New Orleans said Calamia was one of the instigators of the plot against Petrosino. It was reported that Giuseppe, with a companion, fled Italy after an investigation into Petrosino's death began. Before coming back to the US, he went to Paris, then New York, where he hid for several months.^[7] Giuseppe was found and arrested at 927 Decatur St. in New Orleans,^[8] very close to the French Market. (See Google Maps: Google Maps, a 1924 map overlaid upon a contemporary one). It was reported that Giuseppe was arrested in the heart of Little Italy and it was believed that his friends were trying to shelter him until he could escape to the Pacific coast.^[8] In coverage of Giuseppe's arrest, it was noted that he was the father of Santo, who was arrested some time before in connection with another murder.^[7]

Death of Giuseppe

Giuseppe died in Gibellina at age 77 (b. 1844) on 5 June 1921.^[1]

Santo died on 5 April 1922 in Gibellina, at age 47 (b. 1875).^[9] He traveled to his hometown to arrange for his father's interment.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} "Italia, Trapani, Stato Civile (Archivio di Stato), 1906-1928," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2HH-QBZL : 16 March 2018), Giuseppe Calamia, 05 Jun 1921; citing Death, Gibellina, Trapani, Italy, certificate number 82, Archivio di Stato di Trapani (Trapani State Archives, Trapani).
2. ↑ "United States Passport Applications, 1795-1925," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-9965-N4SN?cc=2185145&wc=3XZM-VZ7%3A1056306501%2C1056487601 : 22 December 2014), (M1490) Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925 > Roll 1712, 1921 Aug, certificate no 73500-73875 > image 415 of 764; citing NARA microfilm publications M1490 and M1372 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.)
3. ↑ Critchley, David. The Origin of Organized Crime in America: The New York City Mafia, 1891-1931. Routledge: New York, 2009.
4. ↑ "Louisiana, Parish Marriages, 1837-1957," database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKJH-WDNP : 12 March 2018), Sante Calamia and Teresina Saltaformaggio, 30 Jan 1901; citing Orleans, Louisiana, United States, various parish courthouses, Louisiana; FHL microfilm 911,492.
5. ↑ "Louisiana, Parish Marriages, 1837-1957," database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKJ4-QNT2 : 12 March 2018), Santo Calamia and Teresina Saltaformaggio, 14 Feb 1901; citing Orleans, Louisiana, United States, various parish courthouses, Louisiana; FHL microfilm 907,709.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RVF-QBZ?cc=1727033&wc=QZZW-NL5%3A133638601%2C134935101%2C138902201%2C1589088854 : 24 June 2017), Louisiana > Orleans > New Orleans Ward 5 > ED 71 > image 6 of 50; citing NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} "Arrest Petrosino Suspect," The Sun (New York, NY, 27 February 1910) p. 1.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} “Alleged Assassin Held,” The Sunday Star, (Washington DC, 27 February 1910) p. 1.
9. ↑ "Italia, Trapani, Stato Civile (Archivio di Stato), 1906-1928," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2HH-7Q84 : 16 March 2018), Santo Calamia, 05 Apr 1922; citing Death, Gibellina, Trapani, Italy, certificate number 1, Archivio di Stato di Trapani (Trapani State Archives, Trapani).