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Our Story
When I put together the booklet about the “Stipati Family” I was given a copy of a “STIPATI FAMILY TREE”. The copy that I received showed Joseph and Virginia with two different spellings, (Castronova and Casalanovo) as the name of the family that raised Grandpa Frank.
I was put in contact with Terry (Fazio) Tyndall by cousin Antionette Guadagno’s daughter Pat Drouillard, (Thanks Antionette). Terry’s Grandmother was Vincenzina (Casalanovo) Fazio and was the first child born to Tommasa and Anna (Carcino) Casalanovo after they were given Grandpa Frank to raise.
Terry was told that when Francesco was born in 1879 his parents decided to give him to Tommaso and Anna Casalanovo to raise. It was believed that because of Anna’s many miscarriages they couldn’t have children of their own. Terry remembered Grandpa Frank, and she also has pictures of her Grandmother and Grandpa Frank together.
1892 (13 years later) Anna gave birth to a daughter that they named Vincenzina. In January 1897 she gave birth to a son named Charles and in December of that same year she gave birth to another son they named Vincenzo. In 1899 she gave birth to a daughter they named Anneta. Tommasa must have died in Sicily and in 1913 his wife and children started to migrate to America.
Terry said Tommasa and Anna may have had five children besides Grandpa Frank, she listed Vincenzina, Mary, Sam (who supposedly remained in Sicily), Charlie, and Anneta. so far I have found documentation for all of them except Sam and Mary.
Anna {Carcino) Casalanovo, Tommasa’s wife (age 56), and her daughter Anneta (age 14) came to the United States through Boston on a Ship called the S.S. Cretic on Dec. 7, 1913. The passenger manifest showed that she was born in Altavilla Milicia in 1857 and showed her maiden name as Carcino. A World War 1 Draft Registration card from 1918 completed by Charles showed their address as 1226 Larrabee Street in Chicago and that Anna was his nearest relative. A 1930 Census showed her now living with her daughter Anna, her husband Ignatius Castranova and family who lived at 2033 Lewis Street.
Vincenzina was born in 1892. She married Peter Fazio in Altavilla Milicia, and gave birth to two of her children (Jack and Angelina) in Sicily; the rest of her children (Anna, Thomas and Rafaella) were born in the United States.
Charles, was born on January 8, 1897. A 1917 draft registration listed his address as 1226 Larrabee Street and that he was born in Altavilla Milicia. It showed his occupation as a Fruit Peddler and his nearest relative was his mother Anna Carcino Casalanovo. A 1930 Census record showed that he was married to Lena, they had 4 boys, (Thomas, Tony, Frank and Vincent), and they lived at 3504 Southport Avenue.
Vincenzo, arrived in the United States in Boston, ironically he also arrived on the S.S. Cretic on June 24, 1913. A U.S. Naturalization record dated September 25, 1930 showed his date of birth as December 24, 1897 and that his his address was 3504 Southport Avenue; the same address as the one that Charles listed. One of the sponsors listed was my father Thomas Stipati. I have not been able to find out any other information about Vincenzo.
Anneta came to the United States with her mother in 1913. A 1930 Census Form showed that she was married to a Ignatius Castronova and they had the following children; (Rose age 13, Jack age 12, Anna age 9, Thomas age 7, Rosario age 6, Catherine age 4 and Frank age 1 1/2). Anna’s husband was also a Fruit Peddler. The spelling of his last name helped us understand why the mixup of the spelling in the last names of Castronova and Casalanovo.