1860-1943
Terrasini, Palermo, Sicily - Detroit, Wayne, Michigan
Giovanni Cusmano (Cusumano, Cusimano) was born in about 1860 in Terrasini, Palermo, Sicily.
(Two censuses make it 1860, one 1863.)
Terrasini is located between Palermo and Trapani, 24 km west of Palermo, 32 meters above the sea level in the wide and evocative Gulf of Castellammare, in the past, theatre of historical events and sailed by Greek, Phoenician and Roman vessels. It is a center of tourism, with a population of about 10.000, which triples in the summer months, not only for the location of the town but also for the hospitality of it's people. Terrasini probably got it's name because of the coast filled with caverns from Latin "terraesinus"..
from the web-site www.sicilian.net/terrasini
There are no Cusmanos in Terrasini today (although there are some in other parts of the island.) Terrasini contains both Cusumanos (about 60) and Cusimanos (about 30). The most common names in Terrasini are: Palazzolo (525), Maniaci (364), Bommarito (329), Viviano (298), Vitale (293), Ventimiglia (249), Tocco (227), Randazzo (227), Cracchiolo (204), Ciaramitaro (200).
He married Lena Mazzola. [There are about 53 Mazzolas in Terrasini today.] We don't know anything about her family. The censuses put her birth date at 1860. The first child we have a date for is Mary Assunta born 1883, so we assume they were married sometime around 1882, when they were in their young twenties. (The 1910 census says they were married for 28 years, which also comes to 1882.)
They had four children that we know of:
Mary Assunta b. 1883.
She married a Serra and had five children: John, Sam, Sarah, Rosie and Lena.
Rose b. ~1885?
She married a cousin (Paul Cusmano) and had eight children:
Anna, Lena, Phillip, John, Frances, Mary, Joseph and Loretta - the last two died young.
John b. 9 August 1895
This is our Grandpa Jack. He married Ruth Stanton and had six children.
Christopher b. 29 April1899.
He married Rosie. They had two children, John, who became a priest, and Nina.
According to the census, Giovanni emigrated to the US in 1901. Grandpa Jack came over in 1902 or 1905, and Chris and Lena in 1909 (different censuses give different dates). This was a common pattern among Italians. The father would come over and establish himself first, and then send for the rest of the family as money allowed. Sometimes the father would go back and accompany the wife and younger children, but often children came on their own, after they were about 10 years old. It is possible that the girls were already married by the time they left Sicily, and came over with their husbands.
I haven't found the names of the ships they came on, although I have a possibility for Giovanni's. There are many books containing ship passenger lists; the one for Italians is called Italians to America. There are several volumes, and the latest volume goes up to 1901. There was a Giovanni Cusmano from Terrasini on a ship called the Archimede, which sailed from Naples to New York (arrived 19 April 1901). Unfortunately, he didn't give his age or occupation - nothing to help identify him - and he said his destination was New York. There were 27 other people from Terrasini on the same ship; 16 were going to Detroit, 8 to St Louis; only 3 others were staying in New York. (people on the ship Archimede)
It is possible that Giovanni did stay in New York for a while. He does not appear in the Detroit City Directory until 1904, when he is listed as John Cusumano, a baker, living at 262 Woodbridge. He apparently owned (or was buying) the house, and there was a Joseph Cusumano, another baker, boarding with him.
He is in the city directory for the next 4 years, although his address changes! In 1905, it was 362 Woodbridge (a typo?), in 1906 back to 262, in 1907 he was boarding at 260 Woodbridge, and in 1908 he was back to owning - at 362 Woodbridge. His occupation is listed as "baker" in each case.
He is not in the 1909 City Directory, which is why I wonder if he might have gone back to Sicily to accompany Lena and Chris. In the 1910 census, the family is all together at 262 Woodbridge (which he owns). Phew.
(Meanwhile, Joseph Cusumano, who was boarding with him in 1904, disappears from the directories for a couple of years, and then from 1907 on there are at least 2 Josephs. One was born 1865, one 1870; one was a laborer, one an autoworker.)
From 1920 on, they (our Cusmanos) lived at 262 Woodbridge, although in 1920/21 the street numbering was changed, so it became 978 Woodbridge. This was apparently a big house - for several years there were 2 other families living there too, although G-Grandpa was the one that owned it. Chris was still single and living with them in 1935, which is the last City Directory I looked at. Grandpa Jack and Grandma Ruth got married in 1921, but Grandpa Jack is listed as living at 978 Woodbridge until at least 1923. (By 1930 they had moved to 9338 Woodlawn, which they owned.)
Mom remembers G-Grandpa living on Fort Street, so they must have moved sometime after 1935.
He died on February 25, 1943 and is buried at Mt. Olivet Cemetery (6-Mile and Dequindre). I don't know when Lena died.
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contact me at: lee@leesgenes.com
page last updated 19 Aug 2006
Giovanni 1860-1943
1860 - 1863 born, Terrasini, Palermo, Sicily
~1882 - married Lena Mazzola
1883 - daughter Mary Assunta b.
18xx - daughter Rose b.
1895 - son John b.
1899 - son Christopher b.
1901 - emigrated to US
?? Ship Archimede- Naples to New York - arrived 19 April 1901
Cusmano, Giovanni - no age given - male - no occupation given - destination New York
1904 Cusumano, John, baker, h. 262 Woodbridge (Detroit) (Cusimano, with Fruntiere, Louis)
Joseph, baker, bds 262 Woodbridge
1905 Cusumano, John, baker, h 362 Woodbridge
1906 Cusumano, John, baker, h. 262 Woodbridge
1907 ditto bds. 260 Woodbridge
1908 ditto h. 362 Woodbridge
1910 Census - Michigan, Wayne Co, Detroit, ED 64 sheet 11 - taken 17 Apr 1910
262 Woodbridge -
Cusmano, John head m w 47 married 28 y, b Italy, mf b Italy, immigrated 1901, speaks Italian,
baker, bakery, owns, doesn't read or write, rents home.
Lolina wife f w 50 married 28 y, 6?overwritten 4 children, 4 still living, b. Italy, parents b. Italy,
immigrated 1909, doesn't read or write.
John son m w 15 single, b. Italy, immigrated 1902, speaks English, helper in bakery,
reads, writes, attended school this year.
Christopher, son m w 11, single, b. Italy immigrated 1909, speaks English, reads, writes, attended school
1920 Federal Census - Michigan, Wayne Co, Detroit. ED 160, p. 2
262 Woodbridge - 3 families
Ellis, Anthony (wife Julia) rents
Mendel, Magel (rents) and Claryzek? Mike (boards)
Casamano, John - head - owns - mortgaged. male white 60 married.immigrated 1901. alien.
can read and write. born Italy, native tongue Italian. father&mother b. Italy, native tongue Italian.
can speak English.baker. delicatessen.
Lena wife f w 60 married immigrated 1901. alien can read write, born Italy, parents b. Italy (native tongue Italian) can speak English
John son m w 23 single immigrated 1905 naturalized 1917 can read write b. Italy etc.
can speak English. machinist- machine shop
Christopher son m w 19 single immigrated 1909 alien can read write b. Italy etc.
can speak English. helper - machine shop
1921-22 Cusumano, Jno baker h978 Woodbridge
Jno Jr mach ditto
Chris lab r978 Woodbridge e
1922-23 Cusmano Chris lab r978 Woodbridge
Cusumano Jno baker h978 Woodbridge
Jno jr mach h978 Woodbridge
1930 Michigan Federal Census - Wayne County - Detroit [Roll 1035, Bk 2 - Image 15] SD 21, ED 82-112, Sheet 8a stamp 175, written 3310) - Ward of city 5, Block #183 - taken 7 Apr 1930 line 37 - 978 Woodbridge - 3 families
Delia, Gasper mw 53 Italy & wife Marianne 43 Italy
Bommarito, Joseph 21 Missouri & wife Fannie 18 Missouri
Cusmano, John head rents $25 mw 70 married at 27, can read & write, all Italy, emigrated 1900,
not naturalized, speaks English
Lena wife 70 married at 27 no read & write, all Italy, emigrated 1910, not naturalized, doesn't speak English
Christopher son 27 s? 28?, can read & write, all Italy, emigrated 1910, not naturalized,
speaks English, laborer auto factory, not a veteran
1931-32 Cusman John (Lena) h978 E Woodbridge
1932-33 Cusman John (Anna) lab h978 E Woodbridge
1934 Cusmano John (Lena) h978 E Woodbridge
Christopher autowkr r978 E Woodbridge
1935 Cusmano Christopher lab r978 Woodbridge
John (Lena) lab h978 E Woodbridge
19xx moved to Fort Street
1943 Feb 25 - died. Buried Mt. Olivet Cemetery, 6-Mile & Dequindre
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contact me at: lee@leesgenes.com
page last updated 19 Aug 2006