...There was Vincent Bruzzese (ca-1850) - Husband to Rose Severino (ca-1850). They gave birth to Domenico Antonio Bruzzese (1874) and Francesco Bruzzese (sept-16,1876), in Reggio Calabria. A younger sister would follow (but I don't know her name). Vincent died no later than 1888, when Francesco was just a small child. At age 12 (year 1888) he left his mother and younger sister to work on the farm of the "Patraon's" (spelling doesn't look right)(Domenico's whereabouts at this time is unknown). Francesco would save his earnings and every Sunday, would walk back home and give them to his mother. She would eventually buy a goat for milk (butter, and cheese) and a hen for eggs. They would eat polenta with a little olive oil together, and he would go back to working on the farm. This continued for 9 years, and when Francesco was 21 (1897), he began courting Anna Rosa Gilberto (jan-25, 1883) of Grotteria, daughter of Giuseppe Gilberto and (mother unknown). Courtship was heavily supervised at this time, so the extent of their fore-play would have been bare foot footsie under the dinner table. Growing up in poverty, Francesco would not own a pair of shoes until he was 22.
While working on the farm, another worker insulted Francesco by calling Anna Rosa a half-breed (where is her mother from?) Francesco pulled out his work knife and they engaged in a fight. In the end, the man was dead, and Francesco was sent to prison. Here, he learned to read and write, mathematics, and the trade of tailoring. He made suites for the guards and for the warden, and got off on good behavior after 8 years (1906). At this point, I assume he went back to his mother and to Anna Rosa, and they were married 2 years later (1908). An interesting finding I've made from looking at the documents graciously provided by several family members over the years (a shout-out list here would be good) is that in 1906, when Francesco got out of prison, Francesco's 2-years older brother Domenico Antonio married Anna Rosa's older sister Antoinette Gilberto (1877, Grotteria). So brothers married sisters. Shortly after getting out of prison and marrying with Anna Rosa (now Bruzzese), Francesco set off for America, to Stubenville, Ohio, where he had friends. He began working for a Jewish man as a tailor and learned a lot from him. I would like to quote from Rose Bruzzese Ninerell's letter.
"He found work with a Jewish man whom he respectfully referred to as 'Mr.Fine'. He learned much from Mr.Fine, to be courteous, mannerly and considerate of others. These qualities he later instilled in his children, saying 'It costs you no money to say, 'Thank you, please, and good-morning.'"
After about two years, he would buy a fare for his wife. He sent for Anna Rosa who would arrive at Ellis island on February 23, 1909 on "The Campania", according to records at Ellis Island (conflicting information - another document, The "Gilberto Family History Report" says they arrived on the "San Giorgio", from Naples, Italy, February 7th, 1909 and that their destination was 112 North Sixth Street, Stubenville, Ohio). She was accompanied by her sister Antoinette, Francesco's brother Domenic Antonio, and their two children - Theresa Marie (2 years old at the time of the journey) and an adopted Eugenio Barberino (8 years old). They came to stay with Francesco at 156 North Sixth Street, Stubenville, Ohio.
Eventually, Francesco would open and operate his own grocery store. Anna was the book keeper, and they would have six children together.
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