Giuseppe Catania (1902 - 1931)

Born 1 Oct 1902 in Palermo, Palermo, Sicilia

Ancestors

Died 4 Feb 1931 at age 28 in Bronx, New York, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Justin Cascio [send private message]

Biography

Joseph Catania, is born Giuseppe Catania on 1 October 1902 in Palermo, Italy^[1], the son of Antonino (Anthony) Catania and Francesca La Scala (aka Frances Lascala).^[2]

He emigrates in early infancy. On the Trojan Prince, sailing from Palermo and arriving 1 May 1903 in New York, Francesca La Scala, 23 (b. 1880), married, travels with her children Calogero Catania, 2 (b. 1901), and Giuseppe Catania, six months (b. 1902). They appear in lines 1-3 of the manifest. They were born in Palermo and are going to 351 E. 104th St., New York. They are discharged at the pier to Francesca's husband, Antonino Catania.^[3]

In the 1905 New York state census, taken 1 June, Antonio Catena (Catania), 32 (b. 1873), heads a household at 402 E. 106th St. with his wife Frances, 24 (b. 1881), children Calogero (“Gallogeo”), 4 (b. 1901), Giuseppe, 3 (b. 1902), and Andrew, nine months (b. Oct 1904), parents Calogero, 62 (b. 1843), and Anna, 50 (b. 1855), and sisters Antonette, 17 (b. 1888), and Josephine, 16 (b. 1890). Antonio, his wife, oldest son, parents, and sisters were born in Italy and the two younger children were born in the US. Antonio is employed as a baker. Josephine is a dressmaker.^[4]

Giuseppe's paternal aunt, Tessie Catania, marries Ciro Terranova, the "Artichoke King," in 1909. Ciro and his brothers are among the earliest Sicilian Mafia members to establish themselves in New York City.

In the 1910 federal census of New York City, taken 19 April, Anthony Catania, 38 (b. 1872), his wife Francesca, 28 (b. 1882), both born in Italy, head a household at 236 107th St that includes their children, parents, and extended family. Anthony and Francesca have been married 14 years and they have 4 children, all living. The two older children, Calogero, 9 (b. 1901), and Joseph, 8 (b. 1902), were born in Italy. Their two younger children, Andrew, 5 (b. 1905), and Isidor, 2 (b. 1908), were born in NY. Also in the household are Anthony’s parents, Calogero Catania, 64 (b. 1846), and his wife Anna, 54 (b. 1856), who have been married 39 years (m. 1871) and have seven children, six living. Francesca’s widowed mother, Rosalia la Scala, 64, who has had 4 children, two living. Anthony’s widowed sister in law, Teresa Lima, 31 (b. 1879), who has had 3 children, all living and her children Rosalia, 12 (b. 1898), Rosaria, 10 (b. 1900), and Victor, 9 (b. 1901), all born in Italy, complete the household. Anthony immigrated in 1902, his wife and older children in 1903, his parents in 1904, his MIL and nieces in 1905, and his SIL and nephew in 1909 (Victor may have come in 1904). Anthony and his father, Calogero, are bakers. Teresa is a skirtmaker.^[5]

In the 1920 federal census of the Bronx, Antonio Catania, 46 (b. 1874), heads a household at 2251 Hughes Av, with his wife, Francis, 39. Their sons James (Calogero), 19 (b. 1901), and Joseph, 18, were born in Italy, and their younger children were born in NY: Andrew, 15 (b. 1905), Isidore, 12 (b. 1908), Ciro, 9 (b. 1911), Anna, 6 (b. 1914), Rose, 3 (b. 1917), and Antonette, 1 (b. 1919). Also in their household is Antonio’s mother, Anna, 64 (b. 1856), and Francis’ mother, Rose Lascal(a), 72 (b. 1848), both born in Italy. Antonio cames to the US in 1900, his wife and older son in 1902, and his younger son in 1903. His mother and mother in law came in 1904. Next door is probably his brother in law, Rosario Lascala, who also immigrated in 1904. Rosario lives with his wife and children.

Antonio is the proprietor of a bakery where his two older sons also work. Andrew is a printer in a print shop.^[6]

Joseph and his brother, James, become followers of their uncle Ciro Terranova, who leads one of the earliest Mafia families of New York with his brothers. The Catania brothers run a bakery, hence their nicknames "Joe and Jimmy Baker." The brothers also run a bail-bond office in the Bronx, with Daniel Iamascia.^[7]

Joseph marries Louisa Luongo (called "Laura Longo" in this indexed entry) on 3 June 1926 in the Bronx.^[8]

Joseph and Louise have two known children: Frances (c. 1928) and Delores (c. 1929).

In the 1930 federal census of the Bronx, Joseph Catania, 28 (b. 1902), heads a household with his wife Louisa, 26 (b. 1904), and their children Frances, 2 (b. 1928), and Delores, 1 (b. 1929).^[9]

Joe Baker is a lieutenant of Joe Masseria when he is killed.^[10] Read more about Joe Baker's prominence in the early New York Mafia scene on Thomas Hunt's website: The American Mafia - Who Was Who: Catania, Joseph "Baker" (1901-1931)

At the time of his death, Joe is married, a baker by profession, living at2319 Belmont Av. in the Bronx.^[2] The civil record of his death, and photos of his mausoleum, both give his wife's name as Louise.^[1]

Joseph is shot on the third of February and dies two days later, according to his profile on Find A Grave.^[1]

Joseph Catania dies on 4 February 1931 in the Bronx. He was 28 (b. 1902).^[2] His uncle, Ciro Terranova, spends lavishly on Joe's funeral.^[10]

Joe's wife remarries to his younger brother, Ciro.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Heneage, Bill. Biography of Joseph Catania. https://old.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=6205334 Accessed 21 January 2018.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} "New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2W5M-L2W : 20 March 2015), Joseph Catania, 04 Feb 1931; citing Death, Bronx, New York, New York, United States, New York Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 2,184,893.
3. ↑ EllisIsland.org via Stevemorse.org Accessed 20 January 2018.
4. ↑ New York State Archives; Albany, New York; State Population Census Schedules, 1905; Election District: A.D. 32 E.D. 03; City: Manhattan; County: New York; Page: 2 Ancestry.com. New York, U.S., State Census, 1905 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M5ZC-7J2 : accessed 21 January 2018), Calogero Catania in household of Anthony Catania, Manhattan Ward 12, New York, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 341, sheet 10A, family 203, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1015; FHL microfilm 1,375,028.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJPD-1F3 : accessed 21 January 2018), Joseph Catania in household of Antonio Catania, Bronx Assembly District 7, Bronx, New York, United States; citing ED 393, sheet 4B, line 71, family 68, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 1141; FHL microfilm 1,821,141.
7. ↑ Feather, Bill. Genovese Family bios. of early members. http://mafiamembershipcharts.blogspot.com/2016/01/genovese-family-bios-of-early-members.html Accessed 10 February 2018.
8. ↑ Certificate number 3214. http://www.italiangen.org/records-search/grooms.php Accessed 20 January 2018.
9. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X76D-DHL : accessed 21 January 2018), Joseph Cataina, Bronx (Districts 501-750), Bronx, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 552, sheet 19A, line 19, family 323, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1484; FHL microfilm 2,341,219.
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} Maas, Peter. The Valachi Papers. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1968. Print.