Francesco Inserra Jr. (1882 - 1962)

Born 22 Sep 1882 in Termini Imerese, Palermo, Sicilia, Italia

Ancestors

Husband of Vincenza (Aiello) Inserra — married 17 Aug 1908 (to 1 Jan 1951) in Utica, Oneida, New York, United States

Died 9 Mar 1962 at age 79 in Utica, Oneida, New York, United States

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Biography

Francesco Inserra, called Frank in America, is born 22 September 1882 in Termini Imerese^[1], in the province of Palermo, Sicily, though his birth is later reported as the 23rd of September.^[2][3]

On 22 September 1882, Francesco Inserra, age 28 (b. 1854), a gardener, reports the birth of a boy that day to his wife, Rosa Cusimano, age 40 (b. 1842), in their home at vico Pizzarana, #3, in Termini. He is also named Francesco Inserra. Ignazio Inserra, age 30 (b. 1852), and Francesco Inserra, age 28 (b. 1854), both porters (facchino), are witnesses.^[4]

According to his 1920 passport application, Frank immigrates on 26 May 1899 and lives in Pittsburgh, PA; Utica, NY; and Cleveland, OH from 1899-1920.^[3]

Frank becomes a naturalized citizen in Cleveland, OH, on 30 October 1905.^[3]

On 17 August 1908, Frank marries Vincenza Aiello in Utica.^[5]

Vincenza and Frank have seven children: Frank III (c. 1906), Salvatore/Sam/Tato (c. 1908-9), George/Joseph (c. 1911), Rose (c. 1912), Ann (1917), Rosario/Raz (c. 1922), and Anthony/Sonny (c. 1928).

Vincenza's older sister, Providenza, also called Prudence is married to Pietro Lima^[6], who is a bootlegger in Utica. One of his partners is Vincenza's brother, Dominick.

In the 1910 federal census of Utica, NY, Ciro Gargano and Francesco Inserra are neighbors at 625 Catherine St. (Ciro is discovered to be distilling liquor in his garage in 1927.^[7])

Francesco Inserra is 34 (b. 1875) and his wife, Vincenza, is 23. They have been married for three years and have two children. At home are Francesco Jr. (this is Frank Inserra III), 1 (b. 1909), and Salvatore, five months (b. 1910). Francesco and his wife were born in Italy. He immigrated in 1897 and his wife in 1906. The children were born in New York. Francesco is a bananas vendor working on his own account.^[8]

George (called "Joseph" in one census) is born around 1910-11.

One of Frank's properties in Utica, as early as 1915, is 518 Albany St (the address sometimes appears as 516 Albany St), where a barn catches fire on 1 May of that year.^[9]

Ann is born 24 September 1917, according to the US Social Security Death Index.^[10] Her obituary calls her the last of the seven Inserra children^[11]; she has two younger brothers, according to census records.

In 1917, Frank employs his brother-in-law, Dominick, as a macaroni maker at 629 Bleecker St, according to Dominick's WWI draft card.^[12]

Frank Inserra, Jr. of 518 Albany St is alleged to have sold one bottle of California wine on 22 March 1919 for 40 cents and one jug of wine at 80 cents on 28 March.^[13] That June, it's reported that Frank is building a five-family apartment building.^[14]

In September, Frank registers for the draft for World War I. He is a macaroni manufacturer, living at 518 Albany St. He is a naturalized citizen. His contact person is his wife, Mrs. Frank Inserra, at the same home address. The registrar describes Francesco: he is of medium height and build with brown eyes, black hair.^[2]

In the 1920 federal census of Utica, NY, taken 16 January, Frank Inserra Jr heads a household at 518 Mary St. He is 38 (b. 1881) and his wife, Vincenza, is 28 (b. 1891). Both were born in Italy. He immigrated in 1899 and she in 1900. Their children at home are Frank, 13 (b. 1906: this is Frank Inserra III), Sam, 11 (b. 1908), Joseph, 9 (b. 1910), Rose, 8 (b. 1911), and Anna, 3 yr and 2 mos. (b. Nov 1916), all born in New York. Frank is a grocery merchant working on his own account.^[15]

In August 1920, Frank applies for a US passport to travel back to Italy, where he intends to retrieve his family members.^[3] He has the passport sent to him at home at 516 Albany St. in Utica. He plans to leave in September.^[16] A manifest shows him returning on 2 December.^[17]

In 1923, Frank announces his candidacy for the Republican nomination of Alderman of the Eighth Ward.^[18]

Banana Supply Company, Inc., is a 1925 consolidation of five Utica business houses dealing in the popular fruit. It includes Inserra Brothers, 143 Whitesboro St., Blase Mercurio, 509 Broad St; Frank Inserra, 516 Albany St; Al Lanasa, 509 3rd Av.; and Frank and James Longo, 633 Mary St. Capital of the new company is $49,000. Officers are President, Frank Longo; 1st VP James Longo, 2nd VP Anthony Lenaso; secretary Frank R. Inserra; treasurer, Blase Mercurio; assistant treasurer, Frank Inserra, Jr. The company purchases a new business location, that of Inserra Brothers, at Whitesboro and Hotel Streets, and begins supplying bananas to dealers in Central and Northern NY from that location.^[19]

Frank Inserra, Jr. of 518 Albany St., Utica, has his license suspended pending investigation of an accident.^[20]

Anthony, called Sonny, is born around 1928.^[21]

When Frank Moriale is arrested in October 1929, suspected of peddling dope, he is released on bond of $10,000 raised by seven Uticans including Frank Inserra Jr. of 518 Albany St.^[22]

In the 1930 federal census of Utica, NY, taken 4 April, Frank Inserra, 46 (b. 1884), born in Italy, heads a household at 516 Albany St. He owns his home, worth $12,000. At home are his wife, Virginia, 36 (b. 1894), also born in Italy. They married when he was 22 and she was 18. Also at home are the children: Salvatore, 21 (b. 1909), George, 20 (b. 1910), Rose, 17 (b. 1913), Anna, 12 (b. 1918), Rosario, 8 (b. 1922), and Anthony, 3 (b. 1927), all born in New York. Frank immigrated in 1900. He’s a wholesale fruit dealer. His wife immigrated in 1905. Salvatore is a laborer at odd jobs, and George is a wholesale fruit dealer.^[23]

Despite the banana merger, the families continue to call their joint business by their own, pre-consolidation names. Frank Longo's obituary calls him a member of the wholesale banana firm of Frank Longo & Co.^[24]

Frank's son, George, marries Mary Longo, Frank Longo's daughter, on 13 November 1930. According to her obituary, she works for her husband's family business, Inserra Banana Co., as a bookkeeper.^[25]

On the day before Thanksgiving in 1931, Frank, 55, of 516 Albany St., is injured in an auto accident. He is riding in a car driven by Sebastian Inserra, who lives at Frank's home address.^[26]

Dominick is killed with their brother-in-law, Pietro, in November 1934. The men are partners in a network of illicit alcohol stills.^[27]The men are buried in identical, gold plated caskets. Vincenza and Frank's oldest sons, George, Salvatore, and Frank, are pallbearers at both of their funerals.^[28]

A society news item reports that “Frank Inserra Jr. has returned from Baltimore and Washington” at the end of February, 1935.^[29]

In the 1940 federal census of Utica, NY, taken 3 April, Frank Inserra, 58 (b. 1882), heads a household on Albany St. He owns his home, worth $5,000. His wife, Virginia, is 49 (b. 1891). They were both born in Italy and are naturalized citizens. Their children at home are Anna, 20 (b. 1920), Rosario, 18 (b. 1922), and Anthony, 13 (b. 1927), all born in New York. Frank is a bananas dealer working on his own account. Anna is a typist in an office. Rosario is a laborer for a fruit dealer.^[30]

Anne Virginia Inserra, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Inserra, 516 Albany, and Frank F. Calabrese, son of Mrs. Anna Calabrese, 707 Elizabeth, marry on 1 December 1945.^[31]

From about 1947 until his death, Anthony works for the Inserra Banana Co.^[21]

Frank Inserra Jr of 516 Albany is the high bidder on three city lots at public auction. He pays $140 for a lot in Redfield Av, and $150 for two lots on Poe St.^[32]

Anthony marries Ninfa Aiello in Sicily in 1950.^[21]

Vincenza dies in the hospital at age 60 on 1 January 1951, after a brief illness. Her husband and children survive her.

Vincenza and Frank's daughters have both married by the time their mother dies in 1951, and are named in her obituary using their husbands' names: Mrs. James Gallicchio and Mrs. Frank Calabrese.^[5] Frank and Sonny's obituaries call them Mrs. James (Rose) Gallicchio and Ann Calabrese, both of Utica.^[1][21]

At her death, Vincenzina leaves $15,941.32 (worth nearly ten times that today---Source) to her husband.^[33]

Frank Inserra Jr. 516 Albany buys property in Utica from Jacob Gennis, 3411 Genesee, for $1,000.^[34]

Frank Inserra, 74 (b. 1884), of 516 Albany St. is struck by a car.^[35]

In 1961, Vincenza's younger brother, Isadore, is arrested on a charge of buying and receiving stolen property.^[36][37]

Death of Frank

Frank dies at age 79 (b. 1883) on 9 March 1962.^[38] He is buried in St Agnes cemetery in Utica, NY.^[39] Reporting of his death gives his last address as 516 Albany Street in Utica.^[1]

At the time of Frank's death, their children all live in Utica with the exception of Rosario, in Phoenix, Arizona.^[1]

George dies on 6 April 1989.^[25]

Ann dies at age 97 on 24 January 2014.^[10] She is survived by a daughter. Among her siblings and in-laws, she is survived by two sisters-in-law, Ninfa Inserra, and Rosetta Inserra. Ann was predeceased by her sister and brother-in-law Rose and James Gallicchio; and her brothers and sisters-in-law, Frank and Cora Inserra, George and Mary Inserra, Salvatore "Tato" and Nellie Inserra, Rosario "Raz" Inserra, and Anthony "Sonny" Inserra.^[11]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} “Francesco Inserra Jr. Dies; One of Oldest Italian Settlers.” 10 March 1962. Daily Press (Utica, NY) P. 22.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-81J7-8DY?cc=1968530&wc=9F8W-N36%3A928312401%2C929097001 : 14 May 2014), New York > Utica City no 1; Andes, Anthony-Perry, Jay > image 3597 of 5988; citing NARA microfilm publication M1509 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3} "United States Passport Applications, 1795-1925," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99XM-6KP?cc=2185145&wc=3XZ3-Y4Q%3A1056306501%2C1056545801 : 22 December 2014), (M1490) Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925 > Roll 1337, 1920 Aug, certificate no 82626-82999 > image 155 of 869; citing NARA microfilm publications M1490 and M1372 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.)
4. ↑ Atti di nascita, Francesco Inserra di Francesco. (1882, September 22). Record no. 623. "Italia, Palermo, Termini Imerese, Stato Civile (Tribunale), 1862-1910," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89MZ-58WJ?cc=1947613&wc=MDBD-XM9%3A245876501%2C246785902 : 20 May 2014), Villaurea > Nati 1877-1886 > image 1801 of 3204; Tribunale di Termini Imerese (Termini Imerese Court, Termini Imerese).
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Obituary: Mrs. Frank Inserra. Utica Observer-Dispatch. 2 January 1951. P. 5-A.
6. ↑ Obituary: Mrs. Grace Dieglio. Utica NY Daily Press. 1 February 1984. P. 22.
7. ↑ LaDuca, Rocco. “Day 2: The Mob Files.” Observer Dispatch (Utica, NY). Published 4 May 2009. http://www.uticaod.com/x845562226/The-Mob-Files-Day-2-Man-shot-twice-in-head-ruled-a-suicide Accessed 28 April 2018.
8. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GRVB-SZ?cc=1727033&wc=QZZ4-62Z%3A133641301%2C135767001%2C143851501%2C1589089706 : 24 June 2017), New York > Oneida > Utica Ward 8 > ED 125 > image 18 of 58; citing NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
9. ↑ “Four Alarms of Fire.” Utica Herald-Dispatch. 3 May 1915. P. 11.
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJ8L-T7GC : 20 May 2014), Ann Calabrese, 24 Jan 2014; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1} (2014, Jan 26). Ann (Inserra) Calabrese. Observer-Dispatch (Utica, NY), p. 7B.. Retrieved from http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/obit/14B99533024F9550-14B99533024F9550?p=OBIT
12. ↑ "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KXBJ-ZCM : 13 March 2018), Domenico Aiello, 1917-1918; citing Utica City no 1, New York, United States, NARA microfilm publication M1509 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,819,116.
13. ↑ “Liquor Cases Will Go To County Court.” Utica Herald-Dispatch. 26 April 1919.
14. ↑ “Building Still Brisk.” Utica Herald-Dispatch. 2 June 1919.
15. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GRND-F9T?cc=1488411&wc=QZJT-PLV%3A1036473601%2C1037950701%2C1040205801%2C1589332587 : 14 December 2015), New York > Oneida > Utica Ward 8 > ED 144 > image 32 of 38; citing NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
16. ↑ "United States Passport Applications, 1795-1925," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9XM-6JR?cc=2185145&wc=3XZ3-Y4Q%3A1056306501%2C1056545801 : 4 September 2015), (M1490) Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925 > Roll 1337, 1920 Aug, certificate no 82626-82999 > image 156 of 869; citing NARA microfilm publications M1490 and M1372 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.)
17. ↑ "New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9PT-2SDF-Q?cc=1368704&wc=4FS7-W7K%3A1600332353 : 26 January 2018), Roll 2885, vol 6637, 2 Dec 1920 > image 18 of 639; citing NARA microfilm publication T715 and M237 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
18. ↑ “Briefs.” Utica Observer-Dispatch. 12 July 1923. P. 8.
19. ↑ “Five Local Companies Are In Banana Merger.” Utica Daily Press. 29 October 1925. Link.
20. ↑ “1,600 Drivers Lost Cards Last Month.” Daily Sentinel (Rome, NY) 24 June 1926.
21. ↑ ^{21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3} Obituary: Anthony F. Inserra. The Observer-Dispatch (Utica, NY) 26 February 1977. P. 7.
22. ↑ ”Alleged Dope Peddlers Nabbed Here; Will Continue Probe Of Dope Peddlers Here.” The Utica Observer-Dispatch. 7 October 1929. P. 15.
23. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RC3-R1G?cc=1810731&wc=QZFQ-GSY%3A649437801%2C649628901%2C649555601%2C1589282567 : 8 December 2015), New York > Oneida > Utica > ED 101 > image 5 of 30; citing NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002).
24. ↑ “Death Takes Frank Longo.” Utica Observer Dispatch. 10 June 1943. P. 2A.
25. ↑ ^{25.0 25.1} (2013, Oct 31). Mary Inserra. Observer-Dispatch (Utica, NY), p. 4B.. Retrieved from http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/obit/149DFE8A543372A0-149DFE8A543372A0?p=OBIT
26. ↑ “Car Goes into Ditch On Welsh Bush Road Injuring Its Driver.” The Utica Observer-Dispatch. 25 November 1931.
27. ↑ “Police Strive to Learn How Many Men Slew Two Uticans.” The Utica Observer-Dispatch. 23 November 1934. P. 20.
28. ↑ “Rites for Lima Held As Police Press Inquiry.” The Utica Observer Dispatch. 27 November 1934.
29. ↑ “Social-Personal-Club News” Utica Daily Press. 27 February 1935.
30. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89MB-77ZV?cc=2000219&wc=QZXR-L16%3A790105101%2C793634401%2C805498501%2C805499301 : accessed 30 May 2018), New York > Oneida > Utica City, Utica, Ward 8 > 67-34 Utica City Ward 8 (Area A - part), Oneida County Jail > image 2 of 36; 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.
31. ↑ “Calabrese-Inserra.” Utica Daily Press. 24 January 1946. P. 5. FultonHistory.com.
32. ↑ “$290 Is High Bid For 3 City Lots.” Utica Daily Press. 26 October 1949.
33. ↑ “Infant Homes, Church Top List of Beneficiaries in $10,687 Estate Left by Charlotte Weaver.” Utica Observer-Dispatch. 12 September 1951.
34. ↑ “Real Estate Transfers.” Utica Daily Press. 14 May 1953.
35. ↑ “Two Men, 74, Are Injured.” 18 March 1958. Observer Dispatch.
36. ↑ The Post Standard (Syracuse, NY) 10 November 1961.
37. ↑ “Utican Is Held For Grand Jury.” Daily Press (Utica, NY) 29 December 1961.
38. ↑ "New York State Health Department, Genealogical Research Death Index, 1957-1963," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2CHB-D3H : 11 February 2018), Frank Inserra, 09 Mar 1962; citing Death, Utica, Oneida, New York, file #20557, New York State Department of Health—Vital Records Section, Albany.
39. ↑ "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVLZ-PY3Z : 13 December 2015), Francesco Inserra, ; Burial, Utica, Oneida, New York, United States of America, Saint Agnes Cemetery; citing record ID 91006712, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.