Introduzione: Un racconto de due Felici

Introduction: A tale of two Felices

After I married my wife, Junel, I figured at some point I might be researching her ancestry. This began to happen a little more in earnest in the fall of 2009 after I volunteered to carry on the post of family historian for my side of the family following in my mother's daunting footsteps.

When I asked Junel's father, Paul, about his parents and grandparents, he told me his father's name was Joseph C. Bacigalupo and his mother's name was Frieda Strenger. He didn’t remember a lot about his grandfather. He knew that his name was Felice (It. happy) and that he was from Genoa, Italy. He lived on Rice St. in St. Paul, MN across the street. Paul’s older brother, Harold, had told him Felice’s wife’s name was Maria and that he thought Felice had come over unmarried with a woman named Catrina Bacigalupo. Well, this was a start.

Joseph’s death record in the Minnesota Death Index 1908-2002 indicated his mother’s maiden name was Corsiglia. So Maria Corsiglia should be the maiden name for Felice’s wife. The record also gave Joseph's middle name as Carmelo.

Polk’s Directory for St. Paul from 1944 listed a Felice Bacigalupo on 166 Central Av W. in Apartment 1. Across the street at 163 Central Av W was Ernest Strenger and Joseph C. Bacigalupo. Ernest Strenger was Joseph’s father-in-law. According to the directory, in 1944 Rice Street intersected Central Av W between numbers 139 and 143. Ravoux intersected it between numbers 174 and 177.

New York Passenger Lists 1820-1957 showed a Felice (27-farmer) and his wife, Maria (20) Bacigalupo arriving together from Tribogna, Genoa 17 Apr 1908 on the Konigin Luise with their final destination St. Paul. That would make Felice’s birthdate abt 1881. His closest relative in Italy is listed as his uncle Luigi.

Another family of Bacigalupos (Antonio, Luigia, and daughters, Matilde and Luigia) from Neirone, Genoa was also on board but their final destination was New York.

An Ancestry.com search for Felice Bacigalupo actually brings up quite a few records. There is another record from the New York Passenger Lists 1820-1957 for a Felice Bacigalupo (26-merchant) and his wife Luigia (20) arriving from Genoa 19 Apr 1907. His birthdate would also be abt 1881. This would appear to be a different Felice Bacigalupo than Paul's grandfather, Felice. To distinguish them let’s call him Paul's grandfather, Felice 1, and this other Felice, Felice 2.

They are listed alongside Pietro Bacigalupo (24-shoemaker), wife, another Luigia (21), probable daughter Vittoria (11), and Carlo Bacigalupo (19-merchant). Carlo already appeared to be an American citizen. All were traveling to St. Paul. Listed beneath Felice’s Luigia was a Carmelo Terrile (23-farmer).

Soon after I began uploading and saving information to my tree at Ancestry.com, I received an email from a Brian Mulhern indicating that I had the date incorrect for his grandfather. As it turned out his grandfather was Felice 2 and he confirmed that his grandmother’s maiden name was Terrile. I thought it was interesting that his grandmother's brother's name was Carmelo as that was Joseph's middle name. But more on that later.

I decided to begin looking at the Census Records. The 1930 US Federal Census showed a Felice (49) as the head of the household at 1474 Edmund in St Paul. Living with him are wife Louisa (42), Louis (22), Evelyn (20), John (19), Alice (16), Louisa (15), Jean E. (5), and Phyllis N. (14 mos.). This had to be Felice 2 as the wife’s name was similar but Americanized. Further there was no child named Joseph C. who if born in 1911 would be about 19. Brian Mulhern was able to confirm that his grandfather did live at 1474 Edmund and also that he had an older brother, David Bacigalupo (1876-1951).

There was another 1930 Census record for Felice Bacigalupo. However, he was not listed with Maria or Joseph C. He was an inmate at Faribault, Rice Co., MN. The age was right as was the estimated birth year of 1881. He was probably Felice 1, but we can’t know for sure unless corroborated by other evidence.

There was also a record for a Joseph C. Bacigalupi (18) in the 1930 Census. He was listed at 166 West Central Ave. which as we saw was the address for Felice 1 in 1944. The age was about right. He was listed with two brothers Louis F. (14) and James A. (12). The only problem was that the head of the household was Tresa Bacigalupi (42). It appeared that the last name was probably transcribed incorrectly. But who was Tresa? Was she Maria using her middle name? The age was about right. The boys were definitely listed as sons of Tresa. Paul Bacigalupo also confirmed that he had an uncle Louis and an uncle Jim. For now Tresa must remain a mystery.

Phillip Bacigalupo (38) showed up again in the 1920 US Federal Census. Judging from the family names, he must be Felice 2. Living with him are Louise R. (32), Louise C. (Actually Louis, 11), Evelyn R. (10), John D. (9), Alice T. (6), and Louise D. (4 and 11 mos.). These names tracked nicely with those of the 1930 Census listed above.

On September 12, 1918, Felice Bacigalupo registered for the draft. On his World War I Draft Registration Card his address is listed as 1474 Edmund, St Paul, and his wife Louisa was listed as nearest relative. So this must also be Felice 2. Another important piece of information to distinguish them was that the birth date was given as October 5, 1880.

Now I could make some sense of the Minnesota Death Index records. One listed Felice’s birth as 25 Feb 1881 and death as 3 Nov 1955. This must be Felice 1 as Felice 2’s birth date on his draft card was October 5, 1880. Another listed no birth date, but a death date of 25 Jul 1954. Since this is a different date, this record must belong to Felice 2.

I was off and running on the Bacigalupo family, but more discoveries would have to wait.

Bacigalupo Name Meaning and History

Southern Italian: of uncertain origin; perhaps from bacigare (an unattested verb related to baciare ‘to kiss’) + lupo ‘wolf’.

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SOURCE: Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-508137-4. Cited at Ancestry.com.

Ancestors of Joseph Carmelo BACIGALUPO

Ancestors of Joseph Carmelo Bacigalupo (1911-1996). Image courtesy of Williams Family Pages.

Family Group Sheet for Felice BACIGALUPO (1881-1955)

Husband: Felice BACIGALUPO

Born: 25 Feb 1881
Place: Neirone, Liguria, Italy
Married: c. 1908
Place: prob. Neirone or Tribogna, Genova, Liguria
Died: 03 Nov 1955
Place: Dakota Co., MN
Husband's Father: Giacomo BACIGALUPO
Husband's Mother: Celestine LAGOMARCINO

Wife: Maria Teresa CORSIGLIA

Born: 14 Jul 1886
Place: Neirone, Liguria, Italy
Died: 28 May 1963
Place: Ramsey Co., MN
Wife's Father: Batisto Corsiglia
Wife's Mother: Unknown

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Children

1. Joseph Carmelo BACIGALUPO

Born: 23 Jul 1911
Place: St. Paul, Ramsey, MN
Spouse: Frieda Elizabeth STRENGER
Married: Unknown
Died: 24 Mar 1996
Place: St. Paul, Ramsey, MN

2. Louis Felice BACIGALUPO

Born: 11 Jan 1916
Place: St. Paul, Ramsey, MN
Spouse: Pearl Margaret McSherry
Married: Unknown
Died: 17 May 1983
Place: St. Paul, Ramsey, MN

3. James Arthur BACIGALUPO

Born: 7 Sep 1917
Place: St. Paul, Ramsey, MN
Spouse:
Married: Unknown
Died: 24 May 2007
Place: Troy, Oakland, MI

List or Manifest of Alien Passengers for the US... (1903)

List or Manifest of Alien Passengers for the United States Immigration Officer at Port of Arrival. Prinzess Irene (27 Nov 1903). Image courtesy of Ancestry.com.

Name: Felice Bacigalupo
Age: 22 23
Sex: Male
Married or Single: Single
Occupation: fray tank[?] laborer
Able to Read/Write: Yes/Yes
Nationality: Italy
Race or People: Italian - North
Last Residence: Tribogna
Name and Address of nearest relative or friend: His uncle Luigi Bacigalupo, Tribogna, Genova
Final Destination: S. Paul, Min.
Whether having a ticket to final destination: no
By whom was passage paid: himself
Whether in possession of $50, and if less how much: $40
Whether ever before in the United States: and if so, when and where: never
Whether going to join a relative or friend: and if so,... name and address: his father Giacomo #166 West Central Ave. S. Paul, Min.
Ever in prison: No
Whether a Polygamist: No
Whether an Anarchist: No
Whether coming by reason of any offer...to labor in the United States: No
Condition of Health, Mental and Physical: Good
Deformed or Crippled: No

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Source Citation: Year: 1903; Microfilm serial: 15; Microfilm roll: T715_416; Line: 3; Page Number: 63.
Source Information: Ancestry.com. New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2006. Original data: Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1897-1957; (National Archives Microfilm Publication T715, 8892 rolls); Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Of interest is that Felice appears to be traveling with his cousin, Caterina Bacigalupo, a widow whose final destination is Cook County, IL (presumably Chicago).

The Prinzess Irene

The Prinzess Irene. Image courtesy of Old Ship Picture Galleries.

Ship Name: Prinzess Irene
Years in service: 1900-1917
Funnels: 2
Masts: 2
Aliases: Pocahontas (1917), Bremen (1922), Karlsruhe (1928)
Shipping Line: North German Lloyd
Ship Description: Built by "Vulkan", Stettin, Germany. Tonnage: 10,881. Dimensions: 523' x 60'. Twin-screw, 15 1/2 knots. Quadruple expansion engines. Two masts and two funnels.
History: Maiden voyage: Bremen-Southampton-China-Japan. Mainly in the Far Eastern trade, but she did make a number of voyages to New York from Mediterranean ports, and the Hamburg-New York route. Renamed: (a) Pocahontas (1917), (b) Bremen (1922), (c) Karlsruhe (1928). Scrapped in 1932. Sister ship: Prinzess Alice.

SOURCE: Ancestry.com.

List or Manifest of Alien Passengers for the US... (1908)

List or Manifest of Alien Passengers for the United States Immigration Officer at Port of Arrival. Königin Luise (17 Apr 1908). Images courtesy of Ancestry.com.

Name: Felice Bacigalupo
Age: 27
Sex: Male
Married or Single: M
Occupation: Farmer
Able to Read/Write: Yes/Yes
Nationality/Race or People: Italy/Northern
Last Permanent Residence: Tribogna, Genova
Name and Address of nearest relative or friend: His uncle Luigi Bacigalupo, Tribogna, Genova
Final Destination: St. Paul, Min.
Whether having a ticket to final destination: Yes
By whom was passage paid: Himself
Whether in possession of $50, and if less how much: $40 100
Whether ever before in the United States: and if so, when and where: 1903/1907
Whether going to join a relative or friend: and if so,... name and address: His father Bacigalupo, Giacomo, No. 161 Wester Centro Ave., S Paul 166 Western Central Ave.
Ever in prison: No
Whether a Polygamist: No
Whether an Anarchist: No
Whether coming by reason of any offer...to labor in the United States: No
Condition of Health, Mental and Physical: Good
Deformed or Crippled: No
Height: 5'10"
Complexion: Fair
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
Marks of Identification: Blank
Place of Birth: Genova, Neirone

The information for Felice's wife, Maria, is identical except for the following:

Name (wife): Maria Bacigalupo
Age: 20
Sex: Female
Whether ever before in the United States, and if so, where and when: Blank
Height: 5'5"

So, not only does this document provide us with information about Maria, it further provides his father's name and address in St. Paul.

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Source Citation: Year: 1908; Microfilm serial: T715; Microfilm roll: T715_1094; Lines: 5-6; Page Numbers: 29-30.
Source Information: Ancestry.com. New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2006. Original data: Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1897-1957; (National Archives Microfilm Publication T715, 8892 rolls); Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

See also:

Click image to see Felice "Bairgalupo's" record at Ellis Island.

The Königin Luise

The Königin Luise. Image courtesy of Ancestry.com.

Ship Name: Königin Luise
Years in service: 1896-1920
Funnels: 2
Masts: 2
Aliases: Omar (1920), Edison (1924)
Shipping Line: North German Lloyd
Ship Description: Built by "Vulkan", Stettin, Germany. Tonnage: 10,711. Dimensions: 523' x 60' (544' o.l.). Twin-screw, 15 1/2 knots. Quadruple expansion engines. Two masts and two funnels.
History: Service: Interchangeable between Bremen-New York and Australian routes. Later served in Mediterranean-New York trade. Renamed: (a) Omar (1920), (b) Edison (1924). Scrapped in Italy, 1935. Sister ship: Friedrich der Grosse.

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Source: Ancestry.com. Passenger Ships and Images [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.
Original data: Various maritime reference sources.

See also:

• Norddeutsche Lloyd: Oceanliner Postcards
• The Daily Postcard: S. S. Königin Luise
• "An Overcrowded Steamer: Complaints of Passengers on the Konigin Luise..." New York Times (8 Sep 1898).

Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty

Ellis Island with the Statue of Liberty in the background. Image courtesy of The National Park Service Statue of Liberty eTour. Photo by Jeff Marrazzo.

Before Felice Bacigalupo arrived at Ellis Island, he would have seen the Statue of Liberty in New York harbor.

1888-90 St. Paul Directories: Giacomo Bacigalupo

The earliest record of Felice's father, Giacomo, that I've found so far is in an 1888-1889 City Directory for St. Paul.


Detail of 1888-89 St. Paul Directory. Source Information: Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Original Data: St. Paul City Directory, 1888-9 (St. Paul, MN: R. L. Polk & Co., 1888), 229.

Notice "Giocomo" is a laborer and is rooming at 166 Martin. An entry further up shows an Agostino Bacigalupo also residing at 166 Martin. Is he possibly a relative? More confirmation is needed at this point. Also why does it state he is rooming on Martin? The manifest stated that his address in 1908 was 166 W Central Av. As it turns out an 1871 map of St. Paul shows that the street that is now called W Central Av was at that time called Martin.


1871 map of St. Paul, MN. Image courtesy of Minnesota Historical Society.

The 1889-90 directory also shows an entry for "Giocomo." It's interesting that Agostino has a different residence and that a John Bacigalupo is boarding at 166 Martin with "Giocomo." Is he related?


Detail of 1889-90 St. Paul Directory. Source Information: Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Original Data: St. Paul City Directory, 1889-90 (St. Paul, MN: R. L. Polk & Co., 1889), 236.