Giovanni Di Giglia (1864)

Born 23 Oct 1864 in Corleone, Palermo, Sicilia, Italia

Ancestors

Husband of Maria Santa (Riina) Degeglia — married 26 Jun 1887 in Corleone, Palermo, Sicily, Italy

Descendants

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Biography

John Degelia of Bryan, Texas, is born Giovanni di Giglia on 23 October 1864 in Corleone, the son of Salvatore di Giglia and Paola Palumbo. He is baptized the same day. His godparents are Leoluca Vernagallo and Maria Antonia Marsala, a married couple.^[1] At his death, his date of birth is said to have been 13 October 1863.^[2]

Giovanni's brother, Liborio, a rural guard, marries Lucia Riina in 1882.

Giovanni marries Maria Santa Riina, Lucia's sister, daughter of Vincenzo Riina and Lucia Orlando, on 26 June 1887 in Corleone.^[3]

Giovanni and Maria Santa have ten known children: Sam (1888), Frances Paula (1890), Laura (c. 1892), Ben (1896), Annie (1898), Tony (1901), Luke (c. 1903), Bessie (1905), Charlie (1906), and Mary (1910).^[4]

Giovanni's brother, Bernardo, dies at age 29 in September 1887, probably while imprisoned.

Sam and Laura are born in Italy.

In 1894, Giovanni immigrates with about 65 other people from Corleone.

The following names appear in series on the manifest of the Kronprinz Friedrich Wilhelm, sailing from Palermo via Naples and arriving on 17 October 1894 in Ellis Island. All passengers are going to the port of New Orleans.

311 Michele Parrino, 42 (b. 1852)

312 Lucia Parrino, 15 (b. 1879)

313 Giovanni di Giglia, 29 (b. 1865)

314 Ignazio Aiello, 30 (b. 1864)

315 Antonino Aiello, 3 (b. 1891)^[5]

In February 1895, Liborio is killed in his home in Corleone.

Ben is born in Louisiana around 1897. Annie is born the following year in Texas.

Tony is born 3 March 1901 in Brazos County.^[6]

In the 1910 federal census of Justice Precinct 4, Brazos County, Texas, taken 2 May, John Gee, 44 (b. 1866), heads a household with his wife of 23 years, Mary, 40 (b. 1870). They were both born in Italy. John emigrated in 1894 and is a naturalized citizen. He works as a farmer. Mary has had 8 children, all living. At home are Sam, 19 (b. 1891), born in Italy, Ben, 12 (b. 1897), born in Louisiana, Tony, 8 (b. 1902), Luke, 7 (b. 1903), and Charley, 3 (b. 1907), born in Texas, Laura, 17 (b. 1892), born in Italy, Annie, 11 (b. 1898), and Bessie, 4 (b. 1906), born in Texas.

Their neighbors listed just above them in the census are the Joe Cannaliato family.^[7]

In the 1930 federal census of Justice Precinct 4, Brazos, TX, taken 22/23 April, these families appear together on Bryan Route 1. Sam, Ben, and Tony Deglia are sons of John and Mary:

Sam Deglia, 43 (b. 1887), born in LA of Italian parents, married for the first time at age 27, heads a household with his wife Lena, 33 (b. 1897), born in TX of Italian parents, who married when she was 17 (m. 16 ya, in 1914), and children John, 14 (b. 1916), Mary L., 13 (b. 1917), Luke, 11 (b. 1919), Jake, 9 (b. 1921), and Tony, 1 yr 5 mos. (b. Dec 1928), all born in TX. Sam is a general farmer.

Ben Lampo, 40 (b. 1890), born in LA of Italian parents , married at 30, with wife Maggie, 36 (b. 1894), born in LA of Italian parents, married at 26 (m. 1920). Their children John, 9 (b. 1921), Matte, 7 (b. 1923), and Joseph, 3 yr 6 mos. (b. Nov 1926), all born in TX. Ben is a general farmer.

Ben Deglia, 32 (b. 1898), born in LA of Italian parents, married for the first time at 22, with wife Rena, 29 (b. 1901), married at 19 (m. in 1920), born in TX of Italian parents. Ben is a general farmer.

Tony Deglia, 32 (b. 1898), born in TX of Italian parents, married at 27, with wife Lucy, 25 (b. 1905), born in TX of Italian parents, married at 20 (m. 1925). Tony is a general farmer.

Louis Williams family.

Tony Genaro, 61 (b. 1869), widower, married at 27 (m. 1896). Born in Italy, emigrated in 1890. General farmer.

Ernest Crawford family. General farmer.

John Degelia, 65 (b. 1865), born in Italy, married at 21, wife Mary, 61 (b. 1869), born in Italy, married at 17. Daughter Anna, 30 (b. 1900), single. John is a general farmer who emigrated in 1896. No year of immigration for Mary.^[8]

On the next page are more children of John and Mary Degelia: Luke, 26 (b. 1904), Bessie, 23 (b. 1907), Charlie, 21 (b. 1909), and Mary, 18 (b. 1922). All born in Texas of Italian parents. All general farm laborers.

Stancie Mooney family. Stancie is a house carpenter and his son Thurston is an auto mechanic.

Jack Scamardo, 75 (b. 1855), born in Italy, married at 28, immigrated in 1890. Wife Rena, 64 (b. 1866), born in Italy, married at 18, immigrated in 1897 (m. 1883-4). Both naturalized. Son Blage (Biagio), 20 (b. 1910), single, born in Texas. Jack is a general farmer and Biagio is a general farm laborer.^[9]

In the 1940 federal census of Justice Precinct 4, Bryan, Brazos, Texas, taken 27 April, John Degelia, 72 (b. 1868), and wife Mary, 68 (b. 1872), both born in Italy, own their home at 609 North Parker, worth $2,000. With them are daughters Bessie, 27 (b. 1913), and Mary, 25 (b. 1915), both born in Texas. None of them have an occupation.^[10]

Death of John

John Degelia, of 609 No. Parker, Bryan, Brazos, Texas, dies 25 October 1947, reportedly at age 84 (he is 83), from coronary occlusion with contributory cause of diabetes mellitus. John lived in Bryan for 51 years. He was married, of the Italian race, born 13 October 1863. Son of Sam Degelia and Francis ? both of Italy. Informant Luke Degelia of Bryan. John is buried in the Catholic Cemetery in Bryan.^[2] He is buried in Mount Calvary Cemetery in Bryan. On his grave stone are his name and years of life, a photo, and this inscription: “Came as a penniless young man to Bryan, in 1894, via New Orleans from Italy. His success was here - Pioneer citizen - farmer - stockman - faithful to his church - a devoted husband and father.” His FindAGrave profile links him to his wife, Maria Santa Reina Degelia (1868-1951) and eight of their children: Sam Degelia (1888-1965), Frances Paula Degelia Collida (1890-1949), Ben Degelia (1896-1969), Annie Degelia Palermo (1898-1974), Tony Degelia (1901-1977), Bessie Degelia Catina (1905-1968), Charlie Degelia (1906-1983) and Mary Degelia Gullo (1910-1995).^[4]

Tony dies on 5 December 1977 at age 76 from pancreatic cancer.^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ Baptism of Joannem di Giglia, 23 October 1864, "Italia, Palermo, Diocesi di Monreale, Registri Parrocchiali, 1531-1998," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DYM7-SBW?cc=2046915&wc=MG37-K66%3A351041801%2C351041802%2C351131001 : 20 May 2014), Corleone > San Martino > Battesimi 1864-1871 > image 96 of 576; Archivio di Arcidiocesi di Palermo (Palermo ArchDiocese Archives, Palermo).
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYBB-9GMC?cc=1983324&wc=9TWP-GPD%3A263835801%2C268433301%2C268447601 : 22 July 2014), Death certificates > 1947 > Vol 120-127, certificates 085300-088500, all counties, includes delay > image 1132 of 3413; State Registrar Office, Austin.
3. ↑ Marriage of Joannes Di Giglia and M. Sancta Riina. (1887, June 26). Record no. 68. "Italia, Palermo, Diocesi di Monreale, Registri Parrocchiali, 1531-1998," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DTMW-HKT?cc=2046915&wc=MG37-4WL : 20 May 2014), Corleone > San Martino > Indice (Matrimoni) 1529-1951 > image 443 of 584; Archivio di Arcidiocesi di Palermo (Palermo ArchDiocese Archives, Palermo).
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/21077124/john-degelia : accessed 18 December 2021), memorial page for John Degelia (13 Oct 1863–25 Oct 1947), Find a Grave Memorial ID 21077124, citing Mount Calvary Cemetery, Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, USA ; Maintained by Anne Scamardo (contributor 47163013) .
5. ↑ Accessed manifest (page with 296-328) on 24 Oct 2018 on EllisIsland via Steve Morse
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} Texas Department of State Health Services; Austin Texas, USA Month Range: Oct-Dec Ancestry.com. Texas, U.S., Death Certificates, 1903-1982 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YBS-NLS?cc=1727033&wc=QZZC-M3P%3A133641501%2C136549301%2C133715301%2C1589088909 : 24 June 2017), Texas > Brazos > Justice Precinct 4 > ED 8 > image 24 of 42; citing NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
8. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GRZD-X6P?cc=1810731&wc=QZFW-7YY%3A648808001%2C651829401%2C648846801%2C1589282323 : 8 December 2015), Texas > Brazos > Precinct 4 > ED 10 > image 22 of 32; citing NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002).
9. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RZD-6P5?cc=1810731&wc=QZFW-7YY%3A648808001%2C651829401%2C648846801%2C1589282323 : 8 December 2015), Texas > Brazos > Precinct 4 > ED 10 > image 23 of 32; citing NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002).
10. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9MY-C9YZ?cc=2000219&wc=QZX5-PH7%3A792575201%2C795285801%2C795318301%2C952091801 : accessed 18 December 2021), Texas > Brazos > Justice Precinct 4, Bryan > 21-8 Justice Precinct 4, Bryan City bounded by (N) city limits; (E) Texas & New Orleans Railroad; (S) 24th, Brazos Av, 26th, Tatum; (W) city limits > image 46 of 86; 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.