Vincenzo (Rizzo) Reitz (abt. 1865 - 1935)

Born about 1865 in Termini Imerese, Palermo, Sicily, Italy

Descendants

Died 29 May 1935 at about age 70 in Oswego, Oswego, New York, United States

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Biography

Vincenzo Rizzo, who became known as "James Reitz" after immigrating to the United States, was born about 1865 in Termini Imerese, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.^[1] He was the son of Vincenzo Rizzo and Rosa, who immigrated to the United States from Termini Imerese, Italy about 1896; residing first in Syracuse, New York and then in Oswego, New York.

James Reitz immigrated to the United States several years before his elderly parents. James married Anna Russo about 1886. She was also born in Termini Imerese, Palermo, Sicily Italy.^[1] James and Anna had 11 children together; all born in the United States, and all given the Reitz surname. Only 9 of their children survived infancy:

1. James Russell, born 24 Jul 1887
2. Joseph, born 12 Oct 1889
3. Frank, born 1892
4. Rose, born 1895
5. Mary, born c.1897
6. Phillip F., born c. 1900
7. Samuel, born 3 Nov 1902
8. August, born 1904
9. Anna, born 26 Jul 1906

James and Rosa lived in Syracuse, Onondaga, New York during the early years of their marriage. They moved to Oswego, Oswego, New York around the turn of the century.

James worked as a laborer his entire life.

In the early 1900s, James initiated a 20K lawsuit against the Diamond Match Co. of Oswego, New York; alleging that the company's carelessness led to his developing necrosis of the jaw to the extent that the bones on the left side of his jaw were crumbling away.^[2] See research notes below. James also suffered from epileptic fits that were likely related to this poisoning.

The Diamond Match Company was a very large employer in the City of Oswego. This company produced toothpicks and white phosphorous matches. At the time of James' pending lawsuit, there were dozens of lawsuits pending against the Diamond Match Company because the phosphorous in their matches was causing necrosis in the jaws of their employees who worked in the dipping rooms of this company. The damage that the phosphorous poisoning caused to various employees in these dipping rooms all too frequently necessitated them having to have portions of their jaws removed after their teeth dropped out and their jaws began to rot. This damage was referred to as "phossy jaw"; and it would appear that James Reitz was a victim of it.^[3]

James' lawsuit against Diamond Match Company was discontinued in April 1908 after James accepted a private settlement offer from the company.^[4]

On 14 Jul 1907, Anna Reitz, became embroiled in a heated argument with her neighbors, Francesco and Onofrio Lococo, AKA " Frank and Murphy Cook", and two of their associates (with the surname Corso), after they threw stones at her chickens, and killed one, for getting into their garden. When Anna confronted them, the men called her names, and then began to throw stones at her and her home. Anna and her twelve-year-old daughter, Rosa, were hit with stones, causing Anna's face to bleed. James, who had just returned from work, felt that Anna was in mortal danger when Frank and Murphy drew their guns. So, he shot at them to scare them away and mortally wounded Murphy Cook, who took bulk of the shotgun blast in his arm, with the shells that hit his chest causing severe damage and internal bleeding.^[5]

They were both arrested immediately and tried for Murder in the Second Degree the following year; James for shooting Murphy Cook and Anna for allegedly telling him to do so. They were ultimately convicted on this charge and sentenced to 20 years to life at Auburn State Prison in Auburn, New York. This was a situation that had a devastating impact upon their family. Though their two eldest sons were old enough to fend for themselves, their seven youngest children were placed in orphanages until they aged out of the system. Their fourteen-year-old son, Frank, was sent to the Rome Correctional School in order to best meet his special needs; and the six younger children were placed in care at St. Francis Home, a Catholic orphanage in Oswego, New York.

James and Anna were paroled from prison on 28 May 1923.^[6] They returned to Oswego, New York, where they remained until they passed away. During the time that they were away, two of their sons (Frank and Phillip) had passed away and their youngest child, Anna, was adopted out.

James passed away on 29 May 1935 in Oswego, Oswego, New York.^[7] He was buried at Saint Peter's Cemetery in Oswego, Oswego, New York.^[8]

Obituary

James Reitz to Be Buried Saturday - Oswego - The funeral services for James Reitz, 149 Liberty st., will be held from his home at 8:45 o'clock Saturday and at 9:30 o'clock in the St. Joseph's Church.

Besides his wife, Mrs. Anna Reitz, he is survived by four sons, James and Samuel of Cleveland, O.; Joseph and August Reitz of Oswego; three daughters, Mrs. Rose Dutria, Syracuse; Mrs. Mary George, San Francisco, and Mrs. Hannah Pasquin, Utica. Burial will be in St. Peter's cemetery.^[8]

Transcribed verbatim by Ave Maria Norway on 14 Mar 2024.

Census Enumerations

1905 Oswego, Oswego, New York James (age 43) and Anna, enumerated as "Hana" (age 34) lived at 219 Liberty Street with their children, James (age 17), Joseph (age 15), Frank (age 13), Rose (age 10), Mary (age 8), Phillip (age 5), Samuel (age 3) and August (age 1). James was working as a laborer for the New York Central Railroad at this time.^[9]

1910 Auburn, Cayuga, New York James, age 45, was enumerated at Auburn Prison with his given name, "Vincenzo Rizzo". It was recorded that he had been married for 26 years and had immigrated to the United States c. 1887. He was not a US citizen. He was unable to read and write in English, but was attending some sort of educational/training program in prison and working as a molder.^[10]

1920 Auburn, Cayuga, New York James, age 55, was enumerated at Auburn Prison with his given name, "Vincenzo Rizzo". It was recorded that he immigrated to the United States in 1885 and was not yet naturalized. James worked in the weave shop at the prison.^[11]

1925 Oswego, Oswego, New York James (age 72), whose age was completely off in this census, and Anna (age 54), were renting an apartment at 18½ West Tenth Street. James worked as a laborer in the railyard for the New York Central Railroad. Their son, August (age 19), was staying with them. They were all identified as US citizens, but this is not accurate as James and Anna were never naturalized. August was born in the United States.^[12]

1930 Oswego, Oswego, New York James, enumerated as "Vincent" (age 64), and Anna (age 60) were renting an apartment at 18½ West Tenth Street. Though their ages are off slightly, there is no doubt that this enumeration pertains to them. Their son, Samuel, was staying with them at this time as well as their grandson, Leo Spangonlini, who was incorrectly identified as a nephew named, Leo Spangle. Perhaps Samuel Reitz provided the information. Leo's mother, was living in San Francisco, California by this point in time with her second husband, Spiros George, and her daughter, Lena Spangolini. Leo would soon hereafter move to San Francisco. James worked as a laborer for the railroad at this point in time. Neither he nor Anna had ever learned to read, write or speak fluently in English. Their dates of immigration are completely off in this census and contradict the fact that their son, Samuel, was born in New York.^[13]

Research Notes

• A newspaper article from 1908, provides the information that is needed to determine that Albert and John Reitz of Oswego, New York were two of James Reitz's brothers.^[14]

• In an article dated 2 Feb 1908, it was reported that James had a lawsuit pending against the "Diamond Malt company", a company that made watches. This is clearly a typo, given that no such company existed in Oswego, New York or in Central New York for that matter. On 10 Apr 1908 an article was published about the settlement of this case in which the company was properly referred to as "The Diamond Match Company".^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} The Oswego Daily Times; Oswego, New York; 4 Apr 1908, page 4, column 4, 0346.pdf. Digital Images: Old Fulton, NY Postcards; Tom Tryniski. Search "James Reitz" "Oswego". Accessed 13 Mar 2024. Testimony as to Place of Birth
2. ↑ The Syracuse Herald; Syracuse, New York; 2 Feb 1908, page 17, column 2, 0554.pdf. Digital Images: Old Fulton, NY Postcards; Tom Tryniski. Search "James Reitz" and "Oswego". Accessed 13 Mar 2024. Pending Lawsuit in 1908
3. ↑ White Phosphorus Matches: Hearings Before the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives. Sixty Second Congress, Second Session on H.R. 2896. Washington Government Printing Office, 1912. Digital Images: Google Books. Search for Oswego, phossy jaw, Diamond Match Company for further details. White Phosphorous Match Lawsuits
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Oswego Daily Times; Oswego, New York; 10 Apr 1908, page 10, column 6, 0396.pdf. Digital Images: Old Fulton, NY Postcards; Tom Tryniski. Search "James Reitz", "Oswego" and "Diamond Match". Accessed 13 Mar 2024. Diamond Match Settlement
5. ↑ Oswego Daily Times; Oswego, New York; 23 Mar 1908, front page, column 4, 0258.pdf. Digital Images: Old Fulton, NY Postcards; Tom Tryniski. Search "James Reitz" and "Oswego". Accessed 13 Mar 2024. Rosa's Testimony at Trial
6. ↑ New York, Auburn Prison Records, 1816-1942. Vincenzo Rizzo, paroled on 28 May 1923. Citing Auburn Prison Records. Digital Images: Ancestry.com. Image 312 of 319. Accessed 23 Mar 2024. Paroled from Prison
7. ↑ New York, State Death Index, 1880-1956. James Reitz, died 29 May 1935, Oswego, New York. Citing New York State Department of Health, images provided by Reclaim the Records. Digital Images: Family of Search. Image 956 of 1306. Accessed 13 Mar 2024. New York State Death Index
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} The Syracuse Journal; Syracuse, New York; 31 May 1935, page 22, column 3, 4411.pdf. Digital Images: Old Fulton, NY Postcards; Tom Tryniski. Search "James Reitz", "Oswego" and "1938". Accessed 14 Mar 2024. James Reitz Obituary
9. ↑ New York State Census, 1905. Oswego, Oswego, New York. James Ritz; page 14, line 42. Citing the Oswego County Clerks Office. Digital Images: Family Search. Image 15 of 34. Accessed 22 Mar 2024. 1905 New York Census
10. ↑ United States Census, 1910. Auburn, Cayuga, New York, United States. Vincenzo Rizzo in the Auburn Prison; enumeration district 13; sheet 3B, line 62, house visitation number 135, family visitation number n/a. Citing National Archives and Records Administration; NARA microfilm publication T624. Digital Images: Family Search. Image 303 of 1200. Accessed 13 Mar 2024. 1910 US Census
11. ↑ United States Census, 1920. Auburn, Cayuga, New York, United States. Vincenzo Rizzo in Auburn Prison; enumeration district 8, line 26, house visitation number 135, family visitation number n/a. Citing the National Archives and Records Administration, microfilm publication T-625. Digital Images: Family Search. Image 314 of 1091. Accessed 13 Mar 2024. 1920 US Census
12. ↑ New York State Census, 1925. Oswego, Oswego, New York, United States. James Reitz; page 21, line 50. Citing the Oneida County Clerks Office. Digital Images: Family Search. Image 11 of 17. Accessed 23 Mar 2024. 1925 New York Census
13. ↑ United States Census, 1930. Oswego, Oswego, New York, United States. Vincent Reitz; enumeration district 38-39, sheet 7A, line 18, house visitation number 131, family visitation number 133. Citing National Archives and Records Administration; NARA microfilm publication T626. Digital Images: Family Search. Image 949 of 1166. Accessed 23 Mar 2024. 1930 US Census
14. ↑ Oswego Daily Times; Oswego, New York; 9 Sep 1908, page 7, column 1, 0292.pdf. Digital Images: Old Fulton, NY Postcards; Tom Tryniski. Search "Albert Reitz", "John Reitz", "Oswego" and "1908". Accessed 13 Mar 2024. A Feud Between Brothers