Calogero T Piranio (1875 - 1930)

Born 21 May 1875 in Corleone, Palermo, Sicilia, Italia

Ancestors

Husband of Clemenza (Grimaldi) Piranio — married about 1900 (to 20 Feb 1930) in Shreveport, Louisiana, United States

Died 20 Feb 1930 at age 54 in Dallas, Texas, United States

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Biography

Calogero Piranio is born and baptized 21 May 1875 in Corleone, the son of Arcangelo Piranio and Orsola Trumbatore (“Trombatore”). His godmother is Rosa Badami, wife of Leoluca Bonanno.^[1]

In records of Calogero after immigration, he is called Carlo. He is often named with the middle initial "T," which likely stands for Trumbatore. Sometimes he is listed with the middle initial "V."

Carlo immigrates by the time he is thirteen years old (c. 1888). He first settles in Shreveport, Louisiana, near the Texas border.^[2]

Around 1899, Carlo develops a paralysis of his right arm. His younger brother Joseph joins him in Louisiana a few years later.

Carlo marries an 18 year old recent arrival from Italy, Clemenza Grimaldi^[3], around the same time Joseph arrives.^[2]

In January 1902, relatives Simone Majuri and Salvatore Castro join him in Galveston, Texas.

Carlo and Clemenza have three known children: Angelo (1904), a second child whose name is not yet known, and Joe Carlo (1917). Joe Carlo's birth record says he is their third child.

Angelo is born 11 March 1904 in Shreveport, LA.^[4]

Carlo and Joseph and their families relocate to Dallas between Angelo’s birth and 1909, when they appear in the Dallas city directory. There are two listings for Piranio: Carlo T., grocer, at 772 Main, who resides at the same address, and Joseph T. clk (clerk) C. T. Piranio. no address given.^[5]

In the 1910 federal census of the city of Dallas, taken 15 April, in ED 44, Carlo Piranio, 34 (b. 1876), heads a household at 774 Main St. Living with him is his wife, Clementia, 26 (b. 1884). They have been married 8 years (m. 1902) and have one child, who is living. Both are of Italian birth. Carlo is a grocery storekeeper.

On the next sheet of the census are the rest of the household: Angelo, age 6 (b. 1904), who is Carlo and Clementia’s son, Joe, 35 (b. 1875), Carlo’s brother, and Lena, 19 (b. 1891), Carlo’s sister in law. Joe and Lena have been married for a year. This is their first marriage. Joe is a grocery salesman. He was born in Italy. Lena was born in Louisiana.^[6]

Joseph returns to Louisiana for a few years, then moves back to Dallas with his wife and two daughters by 1914. They move into a home on Exposition Ave shared with an in-law, Frank Aloi, born in LA. Carlo lives a mile away at 2531 Dawson St.^[2]

Joe Carlo is born 24 April 1917 at his parents' home, 2537 Dawson, in Dallas, Texas. Carlo is in real estate. He is 40, born in Sicily. Joe is their third child. Clemenza is 34 years old (b. 1883), also born in Sicily.^[7]

In the 1919 Dallas city directory there are two Piranio listings, Charles T. at 2537 Dawson and Joseph T. at 601 Exposition Ave.^[8]

Carlo is charged with receiving stolen war bonds in 1919.^[2]

In the 1920 federal census of Dallas, TX, Justice Precinct #1., ED 23, voting precinct 12, taken 22 January, Carlo Piranio, age 43 (b. 1877), heads a household on Dawson St. He immigrated in 1888 and became a naturalized citizen in 1900. His wife, Clement, 37 (b. 1883), immigrated at an unknown date. Their children at home are Angelo, 16 (b. 1904), and Cal (Joe Carlo), 2 years and eight months (b. May 1917). Carlo and his wife are Italian born. Angelo was born in Louisiana, and Cal in Texas. Carlo is a real estate agent.^[9]

Carlo begins the Dallas crime family by 1921.^[10]

In the 1924 Dallas city directory, listing for Piranio are:

Angelo home 2810 Nellie

Carl (Clemenci) real estate, living at 2810 Nellie

Grocery & Market (J. T. Piranio) 2521 S. Harwood

Joseph T (Lena: Piranio Grocery & Market) residing at 1903 Clarence^[11]

Death of Carlo

Carlo T. Piranio, of 2810 Metropolitan Ave, Dallas, TX, dies on 20 February 1930 from a tumor of the spinal cord. Carlo has lived in Dallas for 29 years. He is married. His date of birth is given as 8 May 1876, and his age at death, 53 years, 9 months, and 12 days (he is actually 54 years and 9 months old). He is a retired merchant, born in Italy, the son of Angelo Piranio and Ursula Trombatose, both born in Italy. The informant is Joe T. Piranio, of 1247 S. Ervay St.^[12]

After Carlo's death, his brother Joseph takes over leadership of the Dallas Mafia.^[2]

Angelo dies on 2 May 1957 in Dallas, TX. He is an attorney, married, age 53 at death. Angelo dies from heart failure (pulmonary edema, cardiac failure) following a stroke (cerebral embulae). His “pathalogic” obesity is considered a significant condition contributing to his death. The informant is Mrs. Ann Piranio.^[4]

Carlo's widow, Clemenza, dies on 31 March 1959^[2] at home in Dallas, TX, from cardiac decompensation. She is 76.^[13]

Sources

1. ↑ Baptism of Calogerum Piranio, 21 May 1875, "Italia, Palermo, Diocesi di Monreale, Registri Parrocchiali, 1531-1998," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DYMQ-TZ5?cc=2046915&wc=MG37-K6D%3A351041801%2C351041802%2C351142201 : 20 May 2014), Corleone > San Martino > Battesimi 1872-1877 > image 255 of 419; Archivio di Arcidiocesi di Palermo (Palermo ArchDiocese Archives, Palermo).
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5} Hunt, Thomas. “The Mafia of Dallas: 1910-1970.” Published July 2010 in Informer Journal. Pp. 16+.
3. ↑ "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X2KP-NMX : 4 December 2014), Carlo T Piranio in entry for Joe Carlo Piranio, 24 Apr 1917; citing Dallas, Dallas, Texas, United States, certificate 13821, Bureau of Vital Statistics. State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 4,490,919.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K33C-M66 : 5 December 2014), Carlo V Piranio in entry for Angelo Piranio, 02 May 1957; citing certificate number 24591, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,135,701.
5. ↑ Dallas, Texas, City Directory, 1909.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYB7-97D9?cc=1727033&wc=QZZC-3LX%3A133641501%2C136045101%2C139171001%2C1589088998 : 24 June 2017), Texas > Dallas > Dallas Ward 5 > ED 44 > image 2 of 34; citing NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
7. ↑ "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X2KP-NMX : 4 December 2014), Carlo T Piranio in entry for Joe Carlo Piranio, 24 Apr 1917; citing Dallas, Dallas, Texas, United States, certificate 13821, Bureau of Vital Statistics. State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 4,490,919.
8. ↑ Dallas, Texas, City Directory, 1919.
9. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RXF-CKF?cc=1488411&wc=QZJR-9ZH%3A1037034201%2C1037458201%2C1038953501%2C1589332470 : 14 September 2019), Texas > Dallas > Dallas Precinct 12 > ED 23 > image 43 of 74; citing NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
10. ↑ Dallas crime family. Accessed 2 September 2017.
11. ↑ Dallas, Texas, City Directory, 1924.
12. ↑ Texas State Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Standard Certificate of Death. Certificate No. 2810. Registrar’s No. 536.
13. ↑ "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K34Z-MD3 : 5 December 2014), Clemenza Piranio, 31 Mar 1959; citing certificate number 19896, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,115,909.