Vincenzo Crapisi (1889 - 1940)

Born 10 Mar 1889 in Castelvetrano, Trapani, Sicily, Italy

Died 31 Dec 1940 at age 51 in Bowie, Texas, United States

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Biography

Charles Crapisi is born Vincenzo Crapisi in Castelvetrano, Sicily, Italy, on 10 March 1889^[1] , the son of Giacomo "Jack" Crapisi and Catherine Palermo Crapisi, a married couple. His date of birth appears on his WWI draft card, his 1923 naturalization, and in the record of his death. His parents are named in the record of his death, and appear with him on ship manifests and in the 1920 census.

Note: According to Bill feather, Charles Crapisi, the Kansas City narcotics dealer and bootlegger, is born Salvatore Crapisi in Corleone around 1886. The nearest match in the baptismal records for Corleone is Salvatore Crapisi, born in 1882, who emigrates to Kansas City, Missouri, in 1914, joining his father-in-law there. Salvatore is the son of Vito Crapisi and Vincenza Salemi.

On the SS Liguria, sailing from Palermo on 22 February 1908 and arriving in the port of New Orleans, these passengers from Castelvetrano (born and last resided) are listed in series:

16. has a line through, indicating she didn’t sail - Caterina Palermo, 41 (b. 1867), married, leaves Giacomo Disimone at via Beatimorti, Castelvetrano. They are all going to Russelville, AL to join her husband Giacomo Crapisi. On the second page, the family is connected with brackets.

17. has a line through, indicating he didn’t sail - Giuseppe Crapisi, 16 (b. 1892)

18. Francesco Crapisi, 14 (b. 1894)

19. has a line through, indicating she didn’t sail - Leonarda Crapisi, 11 (b. 1897)

20. has a line through, indicating she didn’t sail - Laura Crapisi, 7 (b. 1901)

21. Felicia Crapisi, 23 (b. 1884), single

22. has a line through, indicating he didn’t sail - Vincenzo Crapisi, 19 (b. 1889) - a match for Charlie’s age^[2]

Charles Crapisi, age 28, living in Moline, Kansas, registers for the draft for WWI on 5 June 1917 in Elk Falls, KS. He was born 10 May 1889 in Castelvetrano, Italy. He is a quarryman working for Solvay Process Co. in Moline, KS. He supports his parents, he is unmarried. He has served two years in the Italian calvary as a private. Charles is of medium height and build with brown eyes and black hair.^[3]

In the 1920 federal census of Kansas City, MO, taken 17 June:

Jack Crapisi, 52 (b. 1868), heads a household at 1046 E. 5th St. His wife Katherine is 50 (b. 1870). Their children at home are Charlie, 29 (b. 1891), Joseph, 27 (b. 1893) and Clara, 16 (b. 1904). All the members of his family were born in Italy. Jack immigrated in 1908 and his wife and children in 1916. Charlie and Joseph are laborers for the railroad.^[4]

In the 1921 Kansas City, MO City Directory, there is only one Crapisi listing, Charles at home at 1047 E. 5th.^[5]

Charles has married Lillie by 1921, when their oldest child is born.

Lillie was born Calogera Favoroso.^[6][7]

Charles and Lillie have six known children: Catherine/Katherine (1921), Genevieve (c. 1923), Florence (c. 1925), Anna (c. 1927), Jack (1928), and Joseph Lee (c. 1935).

Catherine is born 18 August 1921 in Kansas City.^[7]

Vincenzo Crapisi, known as Charles Crapisi, petitions for naturalization. He lives at 5303 Tares Av, Kansas City, MO. He is a laborer, born 10 March 1889 in Castelvetrano, Italy. He emigrated from Palermo on 4 April 1913 and arrived in New York City on 24 April on the Indiana. He is married to Lela Crapisi who was born 4 July 1904 in Castelvetrano. She lives with him. They have a daughter, Catherine Crapisi, born 18 September 1922 in Kansas City. His petition is granted on 16 March 1923.^[8]

Charles is active as a soldier in the Mafia in Kansas City in the 1920s.^[9]

Charles' son, Jack J., is born 11 November 1928.^[10]

In the 1934 Kansas City, MO City Directory, Charles Crapisi and wife Lillie, have a restaurant at 525 Harrison, and live at 1005 E. Missouri, just around the corner. His brother Joseph, married to Clara, is listed as a restaurant worker, living a few doors down from Charles' restaurant.^[11]

In April 1939, Charles is among thirteen men arrested nationwide in connection with a narcotics distribution ring serving the midwest from Kansas City. The arrests in Kansas City come on the heels of indictments of city and county officials for corruption.^[12] Charles is charged with possession of morphine and illicit alcohol.^[13] H. J. Anslinger, U.S. commissioner of narcotics, who heads the roundup, calls Crapisi, 43 (b. 1896), a “very important dealer.”^[14]

In the 1940 federal census of Kaw Township, Kansas City, Jackson, Missouri, taken 17 April, Charlie Crapisi is entered in the census as the head of his household, and then a line struck through just his line (leaving the rest of the family) and the note, entered by error. As originally entered, Charles Crapisi owns his home, worth $2500, at 1003 Missouri Ave. He lives with his wife, Lillie, 38 (b. 1902), who answers the census, and their children Catherine, 18 (b. 1922), Genevieve, 17 (b. 1923), Florence, 15 (b. 1925), Anna, 12 (b. 1928), Jack, 11 (b. 1929), and Joseph Lee, 5 (b. 1935). Charles is 50 (b. 1890); he and his wife were born in Italy and the children in Missouri. The census does not record Charles’ occupation. Catherine is a beautician in a beauty shop, and Genevieve operates a machine in a dress factory.^[15]

In the 1940 federal census of Ft. Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary in Kickapoo Township, Leavenworth County, Kansas, taken 29 April, Charles Crappisi, age 51 (b. 1889), married, is identified by number 12618. He was born in Italy and resided in Missouri in 1935.^[16]

Death of Charles

Charles Crapisi, born 10 May 1889 in Italy, son of Jack Crapisi and Katherine Palmero, dies on 31 December 1940 in Bowie County, Texas. He is married. Charles dies in the Federal Correctional Institution of which he was a resident for one month and five days. His address is 1103 E. 5th St., Kansas City, MO. He dies from a cerebral hemorrhage, of which contributory causes were hypertension and generalized arteriosclerosis. He was a restaurant owner, age 51, born 10 May 1889 in Italy.^[17]

Charles is buried in Mount Saint Marys Cemetery in Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri.^[18]

Katherine marries Charles V. Russo on 22 November 1941 in Jackson, MO.^[19] He dies in 1965.^[20]

Lillie dies 3 March 1984 at age 82. She is buried with Charles.^[18][21]

Katherine dies on 8 November 1999 in Kansas City. She is 78 (b. 1921).^[20][7]

Jack dies at age 81 on 7 February 2009. He last lived in Jackson, MO.^[10]

Sources

1. ↑ Date of birth / data di nascita: Registro dello stato civile di Castelvetrano (Archivio di Stato di Trapini, Stato civile italiano, Castelvetrano, Nati, volume 1889, numero 280)
2. ↑ The National Archives at Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New Orleans, Louisiana, 1903-1945; NAI Number: 4492741; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service; Record Group Number: 85. Ancestry.com. New Orleans, Passenger Lists, 1813-1963 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2006.
3. ↑ Registration State: Kansas; Registration County: Elk; Roll: 1643514 Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Original data: United States, Selective Service System. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. M1509, 4,582 rolls. Imaged from Family History Library microfilm.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GRXQ-K9S?cc=1488411&wc=QZJ5-6FB%3A1036473201%2C1037070401%2C1038174101%2C1589332431 : 14 December 2015), Missouri > Jackson > Kansas City Ward 5 > ED 79 > image 16 of 28; citing NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
5. ↑ Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
6. ↑ The National Archives at Kansas City; Kansas City, Missouri; Naturalization Index for the Western District of Missouri, compiled 1930 - 1950, documenting the period ca. 1848 - ca. 1950; Record Group Title: Records of the District Courts of the United States; Record Group Number: RG 21
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2} Ancestry.com. U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007.
8. ↑ National Archives at Kansas City; Kansas City, Missouri; ARC Title: Petitions for Naturalization, 8/23/1911 - 5/27/1983; NAI Number: 6782958; Record Group Title: Records of District Courts of the United States, 1685-2009; Record Group Number: RG 21 Ancestry.com. Missouri, Federal Naturalization Records, 1856-1942 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016.
9. ↑ Feather, W. (2017, November 15). Kansas City Family membership chart 1920-50's. Mafia Membership Charts Website. Retrieved 26 February 2019 from https://mafiamembershipcharts.blogspot.com/2017/11/kansas-city-family-membership-chart.html
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J5PF-VM3 : 19 May 2014), Jack J Crapisi, 07 Feb 2009; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
11. ↑ Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: Original sources vary according to directory. The title of the specific directory being viewed is listed at the top of the image viewer page. Check the directory title page image for full title and publication information.
12. ↑ M’Elroy Quits As Kansas City Drive Goes On. (1939, April 14). Buffalo Courier Express, p. 4. Retrieved 3 March 2019 from Fultonhistory.com.
13. ↑ Cleaning Up in Kansas City. (1939, April 17). The Saratogian (Saratoga Springs, NY), p. 9. Retrieved 3 March 2019 from Fultonhistory.com
14. ↑ U.S. Smashes Gigantic Dope Ring In Kansas C. (1939, April 12). Greenfield Recorder-Gazette (Greenfield, MA), p. 1. Retrieved 3 March 2019 from Fultonhistory.com.
15. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89MB-YHHH?cc=2000219&wc=QZXT-PSG%3A790105201%2C790102702%2C794720701%2C951886101 : accessed 3 March 2019), Missouri > Jackson > Kaw Township, Kansas City, Ward 1 > 116-2 Kaw Township, Kansas City Ward 1, Sisters of St. Joseph (St. John's School), Holy Rosary (Italian) School Sisters of St. Joseph > image 28 of 42; citing Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012.
16. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9MR-4XYY?cc=2000219&wc=QZXG-65S%3A790104301%2C794152701%2C794222201%2C794236401 : accessed 3 March 2019), Kansas > Leavenworth > Kickapoo Township > 52-16B [from 52-16]: Kickapoo Township, Fort Leavenworth Military Reservation - U.S. Penitentiary > image 4 of 24; citing Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012.
17. ↑ "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K399-ZFC : 13 March 2018), Charles Crapisi, 31 Dec 1940; citing certificate number 53788, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,138,201.
18. ↑ ^{18.0 18.1} Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 03 March 2019), memorial page for Charles Crapisi (unknown–31 Dec 1940), Find A Grave Memorial no. 184626828, citing Mount Saint Marys Cemetery, Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri, USA ; Maintained by Fred Grunwald (contributor 48680136) .
19. ↑ Ancestry.com. Missouri, Jackson County Marriage Records, 1840-1985 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: Marriage Records. Jackson County Clerk, Kansas City, Missouri. Certificate Number:1941A0086310.
20. ↑ ^{20.0 20.1} Obits. (1999, November 9). The Kansas City Star, p. B4. Available from NewsBank: https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AWNB&docref=news/0EAF47C095684818.
21. ↑ "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J15C-WPN : 20 May 2014), Lillie Crapisi, Mar 1984; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).