Luciano Gennaro (1886 - 1960)

Born 3 Jul 1886 in Corleone, Palermo, Sicily, Italy

Ancestors

Died 16 Sep 1960 at age 74 in Orleans, Louisiana, United States

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Biography

Luciano Gennaro, son of Vincenzo Gennaro and Rosalia Marinello, is born and baptized 3 July 1886 in Corleone. His godparents are Andrea Ciravolo and Mattea Sabella, a married couple.^[1]

Sources indicate that Luciano Gennaro is known in the United States as Louis Menard, a mafioso active in New Orleans in the 1920-50s.^[2]

The manifest of the SS Letimbro which sailed from Palermo and arrived in the Port of New York in 1886, “burthen” in New Orleans, lists the family together:

9. Vincenzo Gennaro, 35 (b. 1851), from Corleone

10. Rosolia Marinello, 32 (b. 1854)

11. Luciano Gennaro, four months (b. 3 Jul 1886)

Based on Luciano’s age, it is September or October 1886.^[3] This record confirms Luciano's disembarking in New Orleans.^[4]

In the 1900 federal census of Saint James Parish, Louisiana, Rosalie Genard, born August 1850, age 49, heads a household with her children Louie, 14, born July 1885, and Mary, born January 1890, age 10. Rosalie is listed as single, not as a widow or married. She and Louis were born in Italy and emigrated in 1891; Mary was born in Louisiana. Rosalie is a naturalized citizen.^[5]

Louis marries Nora Amato. They have four known children: Charles V. (c. 1911), Dominick (c. 1913), Rosalie (c. 1922), and Eleonora M. (c. 1924).

In the 1910 federal census of New Orleans, Louis Genard, 22 (b. 1888), heads a household with his wife of one year (m. 1909), Nora, 21 (b. 1889). They do not have any children. They live at 733 Ursulines Street. He was born in Italy and she in Louisiana, both of Italian parents. Louis emigrated in 1890. He works as a pipe fitter in the construction trade.^[6]

Louis Gennaro, aka Louis Genard, petitions for naturalization. He lives at 1803 Ranselin St., NOLA and works as a traveling fruit and produce buyer. He was born 1 July 1887 in Corleone. He emigrated from Palermo in October 1887, arriving in New Orleans. He declared his intention to become a citizen, intention number 3769, on 5 July 1917 in New Orleans.

Louis Genard is married to Nora Amato, who was born in New Orleans. They have two children, Charles, born 16 September 1910, and Dominick, born 19 November 1912, both born in New Orleans.^[7]

Louis Genard, age 30, registers for the draft for WWI on 4 June 1917 in New Orleans. He lives at 1803 Rosaline, New Orleans, LA. He was born 1 July 1887 in Corleone, Italy. He is an alien resident, a produce buyer employed by John Bonnura Co. of NOLA. He supports a wife and two children. Louis is of medium height and build with black eyes and hair.^[8]

In the 1920 federal census of New Orleans, Louis Genard, 32 (b. 1888), heads a household at 1801-1803 Ronsselin Alley with his wife Nora, 32 (b. 1888), and sons Charles, 9 (b. 1911), and Dominick, 7 (b. 1913). All were reportedly born in Louisiana. Louis will not say where his parents were born. Nora’s father was born in Italy and her mother in Louisiana. Louis is employed as a salesman.^[9]

On the SS Excelsior, sailing from Havana, Cuba, on 27 January 1923 and arriving in New Orleans on 29 January:

29. Lewis Genard, 35, married, born in New Orleans on 10 July 1886, lives at 2725 Bruxxelles St., NOLA.^[10]

On the SS Abangarez sailing from Puerto Barrios, Guatemala on 30 January 1930, and arriving in the Port of New Orleans on 3 February:

4. Louis Genard, 43, married, born July 1887 New Orleans, lives at 2725 Bruxelles, NOLA.^[11]

In the 1930 federal census of New Orleans, Louis Genard, 43 (b. 1887), owns his home, worth $8,000 at 2725 Bruxelles St. He married when he was 21 and his wife, Nora, was 22 (m. 1908). She is 44 (b. 1886); Nora and the children were born in Louisiana, and Louis in Italy. The children are Charles V., 19 (b. 1911), Dominick, 17 (b. 1913), Rosalie, 8 (b. 1922), and Elonora M., 6 (b. 1924). Louis emigrated in 1887. He is a commercial salesman of fruit and produce.^[12]

Louis Menard, along with Arthur Masson, Louis Jeanfreau, and Fred Jeanfreau, are called the ringleaders of a bootlegging operation. They are among a large group convicted on liquor conspiracy charges in central Louisiana.^[13]

In the 1940 federal census of New Orleans, Louis Genard, 52 (b. 1888), heads a household at 2706 Aubry St. with his wife, Nora, 53 (b. 1887), and children Dominick, 26 (b. 1914), who is married; Rosalie, 18 (b. 1922), and Elenora, 16 (b. 1924). All were reportedly born in Louisiana. Louis is a merchant for a machining mill, working on his own account. Dominick is a service man at a machining mill, and Rosalie is a beautician in a beauty salon.^[14]

More than 107 kg (236#) of marijuana is seized at Laredo, Texas from Louis Genard, Baudillo Villareal, and their associates. Genard is called “an American citizen and well-known gangster of New Orleans, Louisiana”. He is arrested when he drives by the immigration station where his associates have been spotted dumping about 98 lbs. in sacks on the grounds near the station. Genard is initially released for lack of evidence, but Villareal is arrested and gives information that causes the case to be reopened. Genard is sentenced to prison for two years.^[15]

Louis Genard of 2706 Aubry, New Orleans, registers for the draft for WWII. He is 56, born in “Coliano Italy” on 1 July 1886. His contact is Mrs. Nora Genard at the same address. Based on the back side of the card, Louis registers while away from home. For “Registrar for Local Board” it says One Texarkana, TX, but it is stamped at bottom with the local board for his parish in NOLA. He registers on 27 November 1942. Louis is 5’5” and 190# with brown eyes and gray hair, and a ruddy complexion.^[16]

Death of Louis

Louis Genard dies at age 75 (b. 1885) on 16 September 1960 in Orleans Parish, LA.^[17]

Sources

1. ↑ Baptism of Lucianus Gennaro. (1886, July 3). Record no. 98. "Italia, Palermo, Diocesi di Monreale, Registri Parrocchiali, 1531-1998," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6LSS-L71?cc=2046915&wc=MG34-SP6%3A351041801%2C351041802%2C351287601 : 20 May 2014), Corleone > San Martino > Battesimi 1884-1888 > image 212 of 398; Archivio di Arcidiocesi di Palermo (Palermo ArchDiocese Archives, Palermo).
2. ↑ Feather, B. (2017, November 18). New Orleans Family membership chart 1920-50's. Mafia Membership Charts [Website]. Retrieved 29 February 2020 from https://mafiamembershipcharts.blogspot.com/2017/11/new-orleans-family-membership-chart.html
3. ↑ "Louisiana, New Orleans Passenger Lists, 1820-1945," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-95J5-ST?cc=1916009&wc=MFVK-D6D%3A1029673801%2C1029688901 : 8 October 2015), 1820-1902 (NARA M259) > 069 - 1 Mar 1886 - 31 Dec 1886 > image 325 of 455; citing NARA microfilm publications M259 and T905 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
4. ↑ "Louisiana, New Orleans Index to Passenger Lists, 1853-1952", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:49L4-DZZM : 26 December 2019), Luciano Gennaro, 1886.
5. ↑ Year: 1900; Census Place: Police Jury Ward 2, Saint James, Louisiana; Page: 5;Enumeration District: 0053; FHL microfilm: 1240580
6. ↑ Year: 1910; Census Place: New Orleans Ward 6, Orleans, Louisiana; Roll: T624_521; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 0090; FHL microfilm: 1374534
7. ↑ National Archives and Records Administration - Southeast Region (Atlanta); Atlanta, GA; Questionnaires for Petitions for Naturalization, compiled ca. 1911 - ca. 1929; Series Number: 4499506;Record Group Title: Records of District Courts of the United States; Record Group Number: 21
8. ↑ "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYRY-93NW?cc=1968530&wc=9FWS-MNL%3A928313101%2C928607901 : 14 May 2014), Louisiana > New Orleans City no 6; A-O > image 2948 of 5540; citing NARA microfilm publication M1509 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
9. ↑ Year: 1920; Census Place: New Orleans Ward 7, Orleans, Louisiana; Roll: T625_621; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 125
10. ↑ 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
11. ↑ 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
12. ↑ Year: 1930; Census Place: New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana; Page: 54A;Enumeration District: 0102; FHL microfilm: 2340539
13. ↑ Four Given Sentences for Liquor Conspiracy. (1933, February 9). Alexandria Daily Town Talk. Retrieved 29 February 2020 from https://www.newspapers.com/clip/23729660/19330209-four-given-sentences-for/
14. ↑ Year: 1940; Census Place: New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana; Roll: m-t0627-01424;Page: 7A; Enumeration District: 36-190
15. ↑ League of Nations Advisory Committee on Traffic in Opium and Other Dangerous DRugs. Summary of Illicit Transactions and Seizures During 1942. Reported to the Secretariat of the League of Nations. Retrieved 29 February 2020 from https://biblio-archive.unog.ch/Dateien/CouncilMSD/C-19-M-19-1946-XI_EN.pdf pp. 22, 56-57.
16. ↑ The National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; World War II Draft Cards (4th Registration) for the State of Louisiana; Record Group Title: Records of the Selective Service System, 1926-1975;Record Group Number: 147
17. ↑ Ancestry.com. Louisiana, Statewide Death Index, 1819-1964 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2002.