Filippo D Demma (1875 - 1942)

Born 28 Feb 1875 in Corleone, Palermo, Sicilia, Italia

Died 23 Dec 1942 at age 67 in Houston, Harris, Texas, United States

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Biography

Filippo Demma is born 28 February 1875 in Corleone and baptized the next day. He is the son of Angelo Demma and Filippa Modica. His godparents are Maestro Filippo Berlingeri and Rosa, his sister, both unmarried.^[1]

A Find A Grave memorial page for Phillip Demma matches his dates of birth and death, gives an approximate match for his parents' names, and names his second wife, but not his first.^[2]

In 1891, Filippo, his married sister, Rosa, and her infant daughter, Anna, all emigrate to the United States.

The Olympia sailing from Palermo to New Orleans in 1891 has these passengers, whose hometowns and destinations are not recorded. A number of them have been positively identified as being from Corleone, including Filippo. A partial list follows:

17. Rosa Demma, 20 (b. 1871)

18. Anna Collura, 9 mos (b. 1890)

19. Gaetano Gagliano, 22 (b. 1869)

20. Biagia Ciravolo, 48 (b. 1843)

21. Antonina Lorino, 11 (b. 1874)

22. Giuseppe Manicchia, 42 (b. 1849)

23. Liboria Paternostro, 53 (b. 1838)

24. Nicolo’ Petromilla, 47 (b. 1844)

25. Vincenza Paternostro, 47 (b. 1844)

26. Maria Santa Gennusa, 19 (b. 1872)

27. Arcangela Gennusa, 19 (b. 1872)

28. Giovanni Gennusa, 9 (b. 1882)

29. Leoluca Gennusa, 7 (b. 1884)

30. Salvatore Ajosa, 43 (b. 1848)

31. Filippo Demma, 16 (b. 1875)

32. Giovanni Catania, 57 (b. 1834)

33. Vito Projetto, 24 (b. 1867)

34. Antonino Gennaro, 30 (b. 1861)

35. Pietra Marino, 18 (b. 1871)^[3]

It appear that Filippo marries twice, first to Rosa Mondello ("Mundella") in 1901, and then to Giacinta "Jennie" Carrabba around 1905-6.

Filippo Demma marries Rosa Mundella on 26 November 1901 in Lafourche, Louisiana.^[4]

The couple move to New York, where their daughter is born.

Filippo’s age is overstated in Filippa’s birth record. If Rosina’s is not, she was only 13 at marriage. Filippa dies as Fannie Margaret Demma.

Filippa is born 19 January 1904 in Manhattan. She is the daughter of Filippo Demma, 30 (b. 1874), and Rosina Mondello, 16 (b. 1887), both of Italy.^[5]

Filippo and his second wife, Jennie, have at least two children, Mary (c. 1912) and Rose (c. 1915), both born in Texas.

In the 1930 federal census of Houston, Harris, Texas, taken 21 April, Philip Demma, 55 (b. 1875), heads a household at 1523 Nelson Street. He lives with his wife, Jennie, 42 (b. 1888). They married when he was 30 (m. 1905) and she was 18 (m. 1906). They were both born in Italy and emigrated in 1889. Also at home are daughters Fannie, 26 (b. 1904), born in New York, Mary, 18 (b. 1912), born in Texas, and Rose, 15 (b. 1815), born in Texas. Philip is the proprietor of a retail grocery. Mary is a stenographer for an oil dealer.^[6]

In the 1940 federal census of Houston, Harris, Texas, taken 6 April, Phillip D. Demma heads a household at 741 East 19th St. He is 65 (b. 1875), married. He and his wife, Jennie, 52 (b. 1888), were both born in Italy. Their children at home are Fannie M., 36 (b. 1904), born in New York, and Mary M. 28 (b. 1912) and Rose M., 25 (b. 1815), both born in Texas. Fannie is a saleswoman in retail clothing. Mary is a stenographer for an oil production company. Rose is a stenographer for a personal loan agency.^[7]

Death of Phillip

Phillip dies in Houston, Harris County, Texas on 23 December 1942. He has been a Houston resident for 35 years (since 1907). His residence was 741 E. 19th St. He was married, born 28 February 1875, age 67, retired. Cause of death is hypertensive heart disease with failure, contributory causes arteriosclerosis, and chronic nephritis. He was born in Palermo, son of Angelo Demma and Phillip[a] Marcia, both of Italy. Mrs. A. J. Proctor is the informant. He is buried in Gethsemani, in Houston.^[8][2]

Fannie Margaret Demma dies on 8 September 1959 at age 55 in Houston, Harris, Texas, where she has resided for 50 years. Her address is 153 Cayton St. She was born in New York on 11 January 1904. Her father is Phillip Demma. Her mother’s name is not recorded. Fannie was a sales lady of “merchandise,” never married. She died from massive cerebral thrombosis due to arteriosclerosis and hypertension. Mrs. A. J. Proctor is the informant. She is buried in the Garden of Gethsemani in Houston.^[9]

Jennie dies 4 April 1976 at age 88 in Houston, Texas. She is buried in Forest Park Cemetery in Houston.^[10]

Sources

1. ↑ Baptism of Philippum Demma, 1 March 1875, "Italia, Palermo, Diocesi di Monreale, Registri Parrocchiali, 1531-1998," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DYMQ-1KG?cc=2046915&wc=MG37-K6D%3A351041801%2C351041802%2C351142201 : 20 May 2014), Corleone > San Martino > Battesimi 1872-1877 > image 35 of 419; Archivio di Arcidiocesi di Palermo (Palermo ArchDiocese Archives, Palermo).
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 07 March 2019), memorial page for Phillip Demma (28 Feb 1875–23 Dec 1942), Find A Grave Memorial no. 75465443, citing Forest Park Cemetery, Houston, Harris County, Texas, USA ; Maintained by Anne Scamardo (contributor 47163013) .
3. ↑ "Louisiana, New Orleans Passenger Lists, 1820-1945," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-G5VZ-SMR3?cc=1916009&wc=MFVK-K68%3A1029673801%2C1029689801 : 8 October 2015), 1820-1902 (NARA M259) > 075 - 2 Mar 1891 - 14 Nov 1891 > image 128 of 421; citing NARA microfilm publications M259 and T905 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
4. ↑ "Louisiana, Parish Marriages, 1837-1957," database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG1Y-FH26 : 15 May 2018), Filippo Demma and Rosa Mundella, 26 Nov 1901; citing Lafourche, Louisiana, United States, various parish courthouses, Louisiana; FHL microfilm 912,448.
5. ↑ "New York, New York City Births, 1846-1909," database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2W4Q-FPJ : 11 February 2018), Filippo Demma in entry for Filippa Demma, 19 Jan 1904; citing Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, reference cn 3954 New York Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 1,984,161.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RCX-XQW?cc=1810731&wc=QZF7-HZK%3A648808001%2C650655501%2C648897401%2C1589282347 : 5 May 2016), Texas > Harris > Houston > ED 45 > image 61 of 72; citing NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002).
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9MY-DZVX?cc=2000219&wc=QZXR-9W1%3A792575201%2C797898201%2C801674101%2C801680901 : accessed 7 March 2019), Texas > Harris > Justice Precinct 1, Houston, Tract 4 > 258-20 Justice Precinct 1, Houston City (Tract 4 - part) > image 2 of 34; 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.
8. ↑ "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GB9J-51Q?cc=1983324&wc=9TCS-MNP%3A263835801%2C268305901%2C268337201 : 22 July 2014), Death certificates > 1942 > Vol 109, certificates 054001-054500, Dec, Gonzales-Harris counties > image 363 of 520; State Registrar Office, Austin.
9. ↑ "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GY1W-WL3?cc=1983324&wc=9T4V-W3D%3A263835801%2C284473601%2C284522601 : 22 July 2014), Death certificates > 1959 > Vol 101, certificates 050001-050500, Sep, Gregg-Harris counties > image 254 of 511; State Registrar Office, Austin.
10. ↑ Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 07 March 2019), memorial page for Jennie Carrabba Demma (15 Aug 1887–4 Apr 1976), Find A Grave Memorial no. 75465384, citing Forest Park Cemetery, Houston, Harris County, Texas, USA ; Maintained by Anne Scamardo (contributor 47163013) .