Giuseppe T Piranio (1878 - 1956)

Born 11 Aug 1878 in Corleone, Palermo, Sicilia, Italia

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 27 Oct 1956 at age 78 in University Park, Dallas County, Texas, United States

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Biography

Giuseppe Piranio is born and baptized 11 August 1878 in Corleone, the son of Arcangelo Piranio and Orsola Trumbatore (“Trombatore”). His godmother is Antonina Piranio, who is unmarried.^[1]

Giuseppe, henceforth called Joseph, emigrates sometime after 1899, joining his brother, Calogero (who is known as Carlo), in Shreveport, Louisiana, near the Texas border.^[2]

According to his declaration of intention to naturalize, Joseph arrived in the US on the SS La Luce from Palermo, arriving via the port of New York on 21 December 1902.^[3] I have not found a matching vessel on the SteveMorse website.

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.^[4]

Joseph marries Lena la Rocca around 1909. They have six known children: Ursula (c. 1911), Lena (c. 1912), Angela (1914), Angelo (c. 1915), Anthony (1918), and Jo (1927).

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.^[5]

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.

Ursula was born in Louisiana, according to the first census in which she appears, 1920. Her siblings were born in Texas. (They were all born in Texas, according to the 1930 census.)

Ursula is born 1 June 1910 in Dallas, TX. On her original birth certificate, Ursula is unnamed, and her parents are called J. T. Piranio and Leann La Rossa. This is corrected by affidavit of Mrs. Lulu La Rocca Aloi, Ursula’s aunt, entered on 10 April 1967. Lulu lives at 1703 Manos Dr, Dallas.^[6] The original birth certificate for Ursula gives her parents' address, 774 Main St., Dallas.^[7]

Joseph returns to Louisiana for a few years, then moves back to Dallas with his wife and two daughters by 1914, when they move into their home on Exposition Ave.^[2]

C.T. Peranio and Lena La Rocca of 2900 Main St. are listed as the parents of a daughter born 6 April 1914 in Dallas. Her age makes her a match for Angela, who appears in future censuses. Both parents are recorded as being of Italian birth. The father is a grocer.^[8]

On 15 December 1918, Anthony Francis is born in Dallas.^[9]

In the 1919 Dallas city directory there are two Piranio listings, Charles T. at 2537 Dawson and Joseph T. at 601 Exposition Ave.^[10]

In the 1920 federal census of Dallas, taken 2 January, Joseph T. Piranio heads a household at 601 Exposition Ave. He is 41 (b. 1879) and owns his home. His wife, Lena, is 29. Their children at home are Ursula, 9 (b. 1911), Lena, 8 (b. 1912), Angela, 5 (b. 1915), Angelo, 3 (b. 1917), and Anthony, 1 (b. 1918). They share their home with renters: Frank Aloi, 22 (b. 1897), and his wife Lula, 21 (b. 1898). Joseph’s place of birth is recorded as Corleone Italy. He immigrated in 1904 and became naturalized in 1907. Lena and Ursula were born in Louisiana, and the younger children in Texas. Joseph is a merchant who owns a tobacco store. Frank Aloi is a merchant who owns a grocery store. He was born in Louisiana and his wife was born in Texas. Frank’s parents were born in Italy, as was Lula’s father; her mother was born in Louisiana.^[11] Thomas Hunt has identified Frank Aloi is an in-law.^[2] Lula is Lena's sister.

In 1920, Carlo lives a mile away at 2531 Dawson St.^[2] Carlo is one of the first Mafia bosses operating in Dallas. He leads the local Mafia by 1921.

Joseph swears 13 January 1922 his declaration of intention to naturalize.He is married by this time to Lina; they live at 601 Exposition Ave, Dallas. ^[3]

Joseph, age 45 (b. 1876), declares his intention to naturalize, on 13 January 1922. The order is signed on 13 May 1924. His children are Ursula, 15 (b. 1906), Lucia, 12 (b. 1909), Angela, 9 (b. 1912), Angelo, 8 (b. 1913), and Anthony, 5 (b. 1916).^[12]

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^[13]

Joseph and Lena live at 1247 South Ewing when they have a daughter on 26 April 1927 in Dallas. Her age makes her a match for Jo, who appears in the 1930 census. Joseph is 48, born in Italy. His occupation looks like “controcen,” may be contractor or controller. Lena is 36, born in New Orleans. This is their sixth child, all living.^[14]

Carlo dies on 20 February 1930 from a tumor of the spinal cord.^[15] Joseph takes over leadership of the Dallas Mafia.^[2]

The 1930 federal census is taken on 3 April. Lena's parents live two doors away with her sister. Joseph, who is recorded as "G.J. Piranio," owns his home, worth $15,000. He is 51 (b. 1879) and first married at age 30 (m. 1909). Lena is 39 (b. 1891) and married at 18. He was born in Italy and she was born in Louisiana. Their children at home are Ursula, 19 (b. 1911), Lena, 18 (b. 1912), Angela, 16 (b. 1914), Angelo, 13 (b. 1917), Anthony, 11 (b. 1919), and Jo, 2 (b. 1928). The children were all born in Texas. G.J., a builder for a contractor, immigrated in 1902 and is a naturalized citizen.^[16]

Ursula marries Joseph Lisotta in 1932.^[17]

In 1938 there are these Piranio listings in the Dallas city directory:

Anthony residing at 1247 S. Ewing Av

Clemenza (wid Carl) h 2803 Casey

Joseph student r 2803 Casey

Joseph T (Lena) r 1247 S Ewing Av^[18]

Joseph T. Piranio registers for the draft for WWII. He lives at 1247 South Ewing Ave., Dallas, TX. His telephone number is W-9206. He is 63 years old. He was born 11 August 1878 in Corleone, Italy. His contact is Mrs. Ursola Lisotta, of Madison and Sunset, in Dallas. Joseph is not employed.^[19]

Anthony marries Katherine Angelo on 28 November 1946. He is a builder and real estate appraiser.^[9]

Joseph’s wife, Lena, dies at age 65 on 24 February 1956.^[20] Joseph dies eight months later.

Death of Joseph

Joseph dies on 27 October 1956 from a gun shot wound to the right temple. He lived at 4045 Glenwick Ln, University Park, Dallas County, Texas. He was 78. Joseph was a retired building contractor. The death is ruled a suicide. (Line 20.) An inquest was held 27 October and death was determined to have occurred at 8:30 AM on 27 October. The informant is A. J. Piranio.^[21]

Anthony dies on 26 May 2012 in Dallas, where he was a lifelong resident.^[9]

Sources

1. ↑ Baptism of Josephum Piranio, 11 August 1878, "Italia, Palermo, Diocesi di Monreale, Registri Parrocchiali, 1531-1998," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6LSS-6BH?cc=2046915&wc=MG34-SPX%3A351041801%2C351041802%2C351275901 : 20 May 2014), Corleone > San Martino > Battesimi 1877-1879 > image 98 of 182; Archivio di Arcidiocesi di Palermo (Palermo ArchDiocese Archives, Palermo).
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4} Hunt, Thomas. “The Mafia of Dallas: 1910-1970.” Published July 2010 in Informer Journal. Pp. 16+.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} "Texas Naturalization Records, 1906-1989," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9565-9GK6?cc=1389983&wc=31XF-GP8%3A13763001%2C14167501 : 21 August 2015), Dallas Declaration of Intention > Declaration of intention, v. 6, no. 1301-1600, 1920-1922 > image 260 of 325; National Archives and Records Administration, Southwest Region, Fort Worth, Texas.
4. ↑ Dallas, Texas, City Directory, 1909.
5. ↑ "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.).
6. ↑ "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXM9-ZGF : 4 December 2014), Ursula Piranio, 01 Jun 1910; citing Dallas, Dallas, Texas, United States, certificate 19925, Bureau of Vital Statistics. State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 4,112,418.
7. ↑ "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-X9K9-ZMZ?cc=1803956&wc=M6RQ-QPD%3A145315801 : 22 May 2014), 004112418 > image 145 of 1393; State Registrar Office, Austin.
8. ↑ "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XL3H-251 : 4 December 2014), Peranio, 06 Apr 1914; citing Dallas, Dallas, Texas, United States, certificate 12290, Bureau of Vital Statistics. State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 4,156,819.
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1 9.2} Anthony Piranio. (2012, June 3). Dallas Morning News, The (TX). Available from NewsBank: https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AWNB&docref=news/13F2C37E286FCA98.
10. ↑ Dallas, Texas, City Directory, 1919.
11. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GRXF-HB1?cc=1488411&wc=QZJR-3CY%3A1037034201%2C1037458201%2C1038957201%2C1589332508 : 14 December 2015), Texas > Dallas > Dallas Precinct 13 > ED 24 > image 1 of 34; citing NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
12. ↑ Certificate No. 1999405. Form 390. Declaration No. 1559, US District Court of Texas.
13. ↑ Dallas, Texas, City Directory, 1924.
14. ↑ "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VHZ1-9S4 : 4 December 2014), Piranio, 26 Apr 1927; citing Dallas, Dallas, Texas, United States, certificate 24128, Bureau of Vital Statistics. State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,240,314.
15. ↑ Texas State Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Standard Certificate of Death. Certificate No. 2810. Registrar’s No. 536.
16. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9R8H-9N6Z?cc=1810731&wc=QZF4-8HW%3A648808001%2C649505701%2C649127801%2C1589282939 : 5 May 2016), Texas > Dallas > Dallas > ED 80 > image 5 of 22; citing NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002).
17. ↑ Renfrow, David. “Joseph Lisotta Owned Oak Cliff Tavern.” Dallas Morning News. 19 January 2006. Metro:12B.
18. ↑ Dallas, Texas, City Directory, 1938.
19. ↑ Serial No. U716. D.S.S. Form 1. (Revised 4-1-42.)
20. ↑ "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K37Q-QGY : 5 December 2014), Lena Piranio, 24 Feb 1956; citing certificate number 6742, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,114,627.
21. ↑ Texas Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Certificate of Death, State File No. 63857.