PEOPLE, BRICKS & TIMBERS
The story of St. Michael's Parish Families
Livermore, California
1878 - 1978
EARLY PARISH FAMILIES
The following was edited from the book People, Bricks, & Timbers written for St. Michael Church Centennial in 1978. It is as complete as the information we have from those early days. This document considers the early parish families, not so much the early Livermore families. If you have anything to add or pictures to share, please contact us.
St. Michael Web Team
The story of our parish is in part the story of parish families. In the following accounts we present the histories of some of the families who started the parish and some of those who came during the first 60 years. Not all families are represented because information was not available. The families are arranged alphabetically by the father's last name. The mother's maiden name, when known, is given on the second line. Within the text the authors have tried to cross-reference the many interrelationships that exist because of marriages between early parish families.
BETTENCOURT, Chris
Chris Bettencourt's maternal grandparents, the Manuel Lawrence family, came here first in the early 1880's and were among the first settlers in the Tassajara area, where they engaged in farming and cattle raising. Their daughter Louisa married Joseph Bettencourt in 1888. They were parents to 11 children most of whom still live in the area. Madeline Peters and Chris Bettencourt were married at St. Michael's Church in 1935. They moved to Livermore where Chris engaged in farming and cattle raising. He also worked for the R.A. Hansen Company for many years
Return to Parish History: I.D.E.S. parade
BOBBA, Filberto and Teresa
Filberto and Teresa Bobba came to Livermore in 1937 from Italy. They lived at Third and P Streets. Bert worked in the brickyard and mines.
BONNE, Leon and Marie
Leon and Marie Bonne were both born in the South of France. They moved to Livermore with their children, Leontine and Ernest in 1919. Mr. Bonne established a French laundry on Second Street in the little red brick building that is now occupied by TravelUniversal. Several years later they built a new laundry on part of the property now occupied by the Crocker National Bank. Their son, Ernest, was married in 1943 to Adelaide Bairos of Pleasanton. Their daughter, Marguerite, married, and has three children. Emile Bonne, a second son, lives in Sacramento. Leontine married Bruno Canziani.
Leon Bonne died in 1927 and Marie married John F. Caratti. They have a son, John F. Caratti, MD, who is married and has two children.
BUCKLEY, Christopher
'Blind Boss Buckley,' as he was called in San Francisco, was an influential political boss whose summer home was on the Arroyo Road in Livermore. When he built his attractive home here, Mr. Buckley had already established a vineyard and winery on his property.
Mr. Buckley's son, Christopher Buckley Jr., went to school in Livermore. The family played an important part in the social life of the town.
One of the lovely stained glass windows in St. Michael's church was a gift of Mrs. Buckley. Mrs. Buckley wore Queen Mary type hats and guided her husband to their pew in the old St. Michael's Church, second on the left.
BURCH, Bernard and Annette
Dr, Bernard Burch came to Livermore from Texas. He practiced psychiatry at the Livermore Sanitarium for over 30 years, and served as Mayor of Livermore from 1956 to 1958. His wife Annette,a very accomplished musician, was very active in St. Michael's music programs. Bernard and Annette built one of most beautiful homes in Livermore, at the corner of college and K streets.
CAMPIOTTI, Carlo
Carlo Campiotti came from Italy in 1913. His daughter, Elena Volponi, and sons, John and Theodore, are parishioners. At the time of Carlo's death in 1977, he had seven grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren. Carlo was a concrete worker, the last surviving builder of St. Michael's Church that was rebuilt in 1916. He also made the cross on Father McKinnon's grave and performed major repairs on the church and rectory after they were damaged by leaks from heavy rains in 1925-26. He refused money for his work because his children were attending St. Michael's School tuition free.
CANZIANI, Martin and Guiseppina
Martin and Guiseppina Canziani moved to Livermore with their son Bruno in 1918 during the flu epidemic. Mr. Canziani was caretaker of the vineyard at Ravenswood, the Christopher Buckley home. Later he had his own vineyard on East Avenue, which is now part of the Jensen tract homes. Bruno married Leontine Bonne in 1938,and is employed at Wente Brothers Winery, his 45th year with the company. (1978). They have a son Leon, a graduate of St. Michael's.
CARATTI, Aqualino Paul(Joe)
GILARDI, Josephine
Aqualino Paul Caratti is better known in Livermore as Joe Caratti. He was born in Switzerland in 1887, and immigrated to San Francisco in 1906. San Francisco was trying to rebuild itself after the disastrous earthquake and fire that year, and Joe's experience in France working for a stonemason helped him to find work. He had spent his last $100 getting to the city.
He came to Livermore in 1914 to open a bakery on the main street with his brother John (Jack). He served three doughnuts and coffee for 10 cents. He was so poor, he once said that he only had one light bulb and if he wanted to go from the front of his store to the back, he had to take the light bulb with him.
He continued to operate businesses in Livermore until World War I. Then he and his brothers were drafted; and he had to close up shop and go off to war. When he came back he had to begin again, and operated restaurants and built a group of cabins for workers on local construction projects. This later became known as the community of Joesville. It was where North L Street joined the Lincoln Highway, now Portola Avenue.
In 1921, Joe sent for his mother, Abigaile, and sister, Gioconda from Switzerland. He also sent to Switzerland for Josephine Gilardi and married her in 1922. Gioconda (Josie) married Frank Tolle.
Joe always enjoyed stone masonry, and all his spare time was spent gathering and putting together pretty rocks. 'The Rock House' on Portola is his work.
CARDOSA, George
McLAUGHLIN, Jane
George Cardosa emigrated from the Azore Islands. He married Jane McLaughlin who had come to San Francisco from Poughkeepsie, New York, when the Army transferred her father.
The Cardosas moved from San Francisco to the Danville-Alamo area and then to a house in Livermore on what is now Ladd Avenue.
They had 10 children, only four living to adulthood. Mary Elizabeth (Mame) married James Gallagher. Geneviene married James Nevin and had three children: Phillip, Shirley (Nevin) Devany, and Mary Jane (Nevin) Moore. Gertrude married John Hock and had two daughters, Dorothy, the present Livermore City Clerk (1978), and Mary E. Hock Banke. Florence, an army nurse during World War II, has never married.
CERNUSCO, James
GATTORNA, Augusta
James T. Cernusco and his sister Marie came to Livermore in the mid 20's and boarded with Florence Deck at the Callaghan house on East Avenue. James started working in a bakery shop at the age of 18 and later became a partner in the bakery with Angelo Bottiani. Soon James and Marie's parents, Costanzo and Anna, moved to Livermore from Petaluma with a younger sister Teresa. With hard work and devotion from each member of the family, the bakery became a successful operation. Bread and pastries were delivered to the stores by foot; the baked goods were carried in large baskets. During World War II, when the Navy had its operations where the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory now stands,the bakery supplied the Navy Base with baked goods.
James married Augusta Gattorna their children are James and Eleanor Marie married Mario Ielmnin; they have one son, Angelo. Teresa married Louis Polomoni.
CIGLIUTI, Ernest
WALKER, Mary Jane
At the age of 22, Ernest Cigliuti came from Italy in 1913 on the S.S. Chicago to join his brother, Peter in Livermore. He bought a lot and house on First Street in Laddsville, which became his home for the rest of his life. Ernest married Mary Jane Walker. They had one child, Emil. Born in 1927.
Ernest's first job in Livermore was to work as a plasterer on St. Michael's Church. He worked for a time in the copper mines in Plumas County. In the ensuing years, Ernest worked for William Wilson & Sons California Transfer Company, local wineries, Hetch Hetchy, Livermore Naval Air Station, and Camp Parks. Together with Barney Dalmozzo he owned a furniture store in the building now occupied by Schlageter's. Ernest also did cement and brickwork for many years.
Ernest Cigliuti is second from right in this picture taken at the Livermore Branch of Canton Barrel, Inc., in 1939 or 1940. The factory was on the site of Granada Bowl on Railroad Avenue.
CLELLAND, Charles and Rose
Charles and Rose Clelland came to Livermore about 1924. Charles worked for Kaiser Gravel and Rose was employed at the Veteran's Administration Hospital. They had four children: Genevieve Maxine, Charles, and Daniel, all of whom graduated from St. Michael's School. Their son, Charles E., is the retired Livermore Fire Marshall.
DePAOLI, Guido and Helen
Guido and Helen DePaoli owned a ranch east of Livermore. Guido came to the valley in 1923. They had five children. Edward, Dorothy, Bernice, Barbara, and Jo-Ann.
DINEHAN, Mike
Mike and Mary Dinehan lived at the western end of First Street. Mike was the gravedigger for the local cemeteries before mechanized methods. He also had horses for hire. Their property abutted the Winegar public swimming pool and the baseball park for public games. The property also served as a preseason training camp for the Oakland Oaks baseball team.
DOLAN, Paul
CONCANNON, Veronica
Paul Dolan came to Livermore in 1916. He was born in Los Angeles and was a graduate of the Oakland College of Surgeons. He married Veronica Concannon in 1918. Some remember that he courted Veronica with a very fancy horse and buggy.
He built St. Paul's Hospital in 1927 and was the family doctor of a generation of St. Michael's families until he retired in 1951. He was very community spirited, a member of a number of service organizations, and a trustee of Livermore High School for many years. In 1950, he received the eagles Outstanding Citizen Award. He gave medical assistance as a county doctor to people in need. He could get gruff, but he had a heart of gold.
Paul and Veronica had two sons, Paul (deceased), and James. James married Jean Addleman and they have five children, Ruth Ann, Jim, Michael, Patrick, and Timmy. The four older children all graduated from St. Michael's. Timmy was a student in St. Michael's when they moved to Montana a few years ago.
FAVILLA, Julius
TOMASSETTI, Eda
Julius and Eda Favilla came to Livermore from Sacramento in the late 1930's. Julius was employed by the Pacific Gas & Electric Company for 45 years. He died in 1965. Julius and Eda had two children, Juleda and Julius H. Juleda married Henry L. Bettencourt; they have one son. Julius is not married; he still resides with his mother at Seventh and J Streets. He works as a pharmacist in Fremont.
FLESSATTI, Alessandro and Bernice
Alexander and Bernice Flessatti came to the Portola Avenue area in 1930 and were ranchers. Their son Paul attended St. Michael's School, as did Rosemarie Schenone, whom he later married. Rosemarie is John and Lena (Gattorna) Schenone's daughter.
FRACISCO, Charles J.
BARTHE, Margaret E.
Charles J. Fracisco, the son of John and Celeste Fracisco of Pleasanton, married Margaret E. Barthe, the daughter of Peter Barthe and Anne Flynn Barthe, at St. Michael's Church on August 31, 1929. Margaret E, Barthe had been baptized at St. Michael's Church in 1909.
Mr. and Mrs. Fracisco have five children, Dr. Barbara Mertes (Dean of Chabot College Valley Campus), C. Patrick Fracisco, Mrs. Jeanne Packard, Mrs. Martha Kopp, and Thomas P. Fracisco. All the children received the sacraments at St. Michael's Church, graduated from St. Michael's School, and were members of St. Michael's Church until they moved from Livermore.
The Fracisco family members have always been active in St. Michael's Parish. The Fraternal Order of Eagles selected Charles Fracisco for their Outstanding Citizen Award in 1973.
GATTORNA, Giovanni
SCHENONE, Rosa
As World War I was spreading over Europe, Giovanni Gattorna and his wife Rosa (Schenone) Gattorna made the decision to leave Genoa, Italy, and come to the United States to raise their young family in greater safety. In 1916, with their four young daughters,they came directly to Livermore where Rosa's father, Guiseppe, had been living. Their daughters were Lena, Augusta, Marie, and Antoinette. A fifth daughter Josephine was born here. The girls all attended St. Michael's School.
They lived on Las Positas Road where they raised vegetables. The family had a partnership in a vegetable garden and also in a grocery store, L. Schenone and Co., which was located on East First Street. The same building now houses the City Hall Annex.
Lena married John Schenone; Augusta married James Cernusco; Marie married Andy Corsiglia; Antoinette married Albert Morris; and Josephine married Tom Bailey.
GENONI, John and Mary
John and Mary Genoni came here from South San Francisco in 1924. Their children were Joe, Frank, and Madeline. They bought 17 acres of land on Arroyo Road and Lomitas Avenue, over the hill from the Redemptorist Fathers. Mary worked at Bonne's French laundry. John was a vineyardist and worked as a laborer at odd jobs during the off-season.
HENRIQUES, Antonio and Isabelle
Antonio and Isabelle Henriques came to Livermore in 1934 from Modesto, where they had been in the dairy farm business. Antonio immigrated to America from the Azores in the early 1900's. Isabelle was born in Moraga, California. They had three children, Joseph, Louise, and Mary.
Antonio was ill when he came to Livermore, so Isabelle did odd jobs until 1941, when she went to at the Livermore Sanitarium and the Veteran's Administration Hospital.
Joseph, Louise, and Mary attended local schools. Joseph served in the Navy during World War II, and has two sons, Michael and Timothy. Michael now lives in Lake Tahoe and Timothy has taken his first vows as a Christian Brother at St. Mary's College. Mary attended college in San Jose and Berkeley and now teaches in Livermore. Louise lives in Southern California.
HOLDENER, Fred
Fred Holdener Sr. moved to Livermore from Tracy in 1931, a widower with three young children: Fred, Jr., Carl, and Marie. He purchased and operated Valley Dairy, now known as Holdener Dairy, on Pleasanton Road (now called Stanley Boulevard). All three children went to St. Michael's in the original building. Son Fred Jr., recalls that it had four classrooms, two grades to a room. The Sisters lived upstairs. He remembers Sister Borges and Sister Ambrose were teachers.
Fred Jr. married Elsie Ott from Manteca and all their children also attended St. Michael's School. When St. Charles, the second Catholic parish in Livermore was established, the Holdeners by means of location became St. Charles parishioners. However, the family maintained their close ties to St. Michael's. Their daughters, Janet and Karen, chose to be married at St. Michael's in June 1977 because of their deep felt attachment to the parish and to Monsignor Adams.
LOUGHREY, Peter and Bridgette
Peter and Bridgette Loughrey came from Ireland. Peter was a sheepherder. The Loughrey's lived on First Street opposite the old church. Later they built a new home on the corner of Sixth and Lizzie Streets (South Livermore Avenue). Their daughter, Sadie, married John Hachmann.
Sadie and John had four sons: Francis married Mary Oliverri from Texas and they had one son; Lawrence married Mary Cappot from Half Moon Bay and they had a son and a daughter; the youngest son Irvin (Mike), married Margaret Rochin who was a member of one of the first Spanish families that settled in the Livermore Valley. Mike and Margaret have two daughters, Joyce and Carol. Joyce married Raul Garcia; they have a daughter. Carol married Gilbert Oliver; they have a son.
MALLONI, John
DELL-ERA, Camilla
John and Camilla (Dell-Era) Malloni left San Francisco in 1934 to come to Livermore. John was a winery worker. They lived on Fourth Street at 'I.'
MEDEIROS, Manuel
LEWIS, Philamena
Manuel Medeiros and Philamena Lewis were married at St. Augustine's in Pleasanton in 1927 and came to Livermore to live. For many years the two of them owned and operated a combined beauty shop and barbershop on First Street in Livermore. Besides his business interests, Manuel served the city of Livermore for nearly 18 years: for six years he was a member of the Planning Commission (four of those he was chairman); he was elected to three 4-year terms as a councilman and during one of those terms he served as Mayor (1961-63). While he served as a city official, Manuel fought hard to prevent Fourth Street from becoming a thoroughfare so St. Michael's School children would not be endangered.
For many years Philamena kept the I.D.E.S. crown in her home. It was her idea to have the crown moved to the church for safekeeping.
In recognition of Philamena's many contributions to the community the Fraternal Order of Eagles named her to receive the Outstanding Citizen Award in 1974.
MIHOEVICH, Marin
MATULICH, Jacqueline
Marin Mihoevich was brought to the United States by his granduncle, Frank Grassi, at the age of 11. He was a graduate of St. Michael's School.
In 1931, he married Jacqueline Matulich in Sacred heart Church in Hollister, the same church in which Jacqueline's mother, Maria,had married John Matulich in a double wedding with her cousin in 1900. John had come to the United States from Yugoslavia in 1908.
Marin and Jacqueline had two children, Marguerite and John, both graduates of St. Michael's School, and both married in St. Michael's Church. Marguerite married Louis Wright; they have one daughter. John married Carolyn Wattenburger, whose father was the Livermore High School Principal for many years. They have two sons. John and Carolyn reside in Livermore, and John is employed at the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory.
MUELLER, Louis
HEROLD, Bertha
The ill health of two of their sons brought Louis and Bertha (Herold) Mueller and their nine children from Milwaukee, Wisconsin,to Livermore in the late 1920's. Their children were Louis, Jr., Laura, Violet, Herold, Maybelle, Roland, Franklyn, Erwin, and Norman. Roland died of tetanus at 10 years of age. Franklyn a pilot, was killed in World War II. The others all married and live in Livermore.
The first to marry was Violet, who married Carmelus Owens May 3,1932. Carmelus' family are longtime Livermoreans. (They have two children, Richard and Margaret.)
Next to marry was Laura. She married William Rehder of Livermore June 29,1932. They have five children, William, Jr., John, Thomas, Annabeth, and Robert, whom they lost as an infant.
Louis, Jr., married Rose Bajt of Montana on April 8, 1939. They had four children, Rosemarie, Joanne, who died as an infant, Edwin, and Michael.
In the same month on April 16, Maybelle married Ernest Fagundes, whose mother was born in Livermore. She was of the Davina family, longtime residents of the Valley. Of this union, two children were born, Maybelle and Robert.
In 1947, on May 10, Norman married Carol Garner of Turlock. The Garners are California pioneers. They have two children, Shelia and Kenneth.
Later that same year Herold took his bride, Ruby Owen of East Troy, Wisconsin. They settled in Livermore and raised two children, Kathryn and Franklyn.
The last to marry was Erwin, who married Patricia Leek Livermore. Their children are George and Jennifer. Pat is music director for St. Michael's Church.
Bertha and Louis Mueller brought their nine children from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Livermore in 1929 in this precursor of a modern camper. Front L-R: Louis, Jr., Franklyn (deceased), Norman, Roland, Maybelle, Erwin, Herold, Violet, and Louis, Sr. Rear: Laura and Bertha.
O'SHEA, Jeremiah
Jeremiah and Margaret O'Shea came to Livermore in 1919. They lived in Laddsville directly behind the original St. Michael's Church. Jeremiah was a railroad man who had worked several towns in northern California. A prime reason for settling here was to send their three children to a Catholic school. Their son is Mortimer (Mickey) O'Shea. He recalls enrolling in St. Michael's when he was in the sixth grade. He also remembers the Hogan twins (Sister Francis and Sister Ursula) from his days at St. Michael's School.
REZENDES, Charles
GOMES, Norma
Charles Rezendes was born in Tall River, Massachusetts, and came to California when he was six years old. He lived in Tracy, graduated from Tracy High School, and then came to Livermore in 1939 because he was interested in boxing. Manuel Madeiros became his manager and he lived with Philamena and Manuel for a time. He worked at Cresta Blanca Winery and in 1942 married Norma, daughter of Manuel and Clara Gomes. Charles enlisted in the Navy and was stationed at Livermore Naval Air Station for 14 months before shipping out to the Hawaiian Islands. On discharge he came back to Livermore and went back to work for Cresta Blanca. He has been there for 38 years. He is still involved in boxing and teaches youngsters to box with the Livermore Boxing Club.
Charles and Norma have a son David, who has been the principal of St. Michael's C.C.D. High School Religion.
SALVADOR, Joe and Julia
Joe and Julia Salvador came to Livermore from Oakland in 1914. As an experienced worker, Joe helped set up and operate the Fuse Works (Coast Manufacturing). Their daughter is Anne White.
SANTUCCI, Louis
BAER, Frances
Louis and Frances (Baer) Santucci had a pig farm on Lomitas. Frances parents, the Baer's, were ranchers at Twin Oaks Farm,they had come from Hayward in 1928. Max and Buddy Baer were her brothers.
SARBORARIA, Louis and Amalia
Louis Sarboraria came from Piedmont in northern Italy to San Jose in 1922 and worked at a bakery in Mountain View. He returned to Italy to marry Amalia Scaglia in 1930 and bring her back to this country. They moved to Livermore in 1934 and bought a bakery on First Street. When they sold the bakery in 1946, Louis became the city gardener. Their son John attended St. Michael's School. He is now a pharmacist in Livermore, (1978) married to Barbara Owens. Two of their three sons are old enough to attend St. Michael's School.
SCHENONE, Angelo
BERAUDIERE, Frances
Angelo Schenone came here from Italy as a child in 1895. He married Frances Beraudiere, daughter of Francois and Isabel (Livermore) Beraudiere in old St. Michael's Church in 1909. Until he retired, Angelo was a grocer and rancher. Now widowed, Frances still lives at her birthplace, Las Positas Rancho, where she and Angelo also raised their family.
They had three daughters: Antoinette, who married Thomas Egan; Eleanor, who married G.R. Auguston; Juanita who married Herbert Vidalin. They also raised an orphaned nephew, Joseph, who married Alberta Chambers. Joseph was the Livermore Municipal Judge until he recently retired.
SILVA, John V.
OLIVEIRA, Anna
John V. Silva was born on the island of St. George in the Portuguese Azores. When he came to California, his family settled in Los Banos, where he managed a creamery for the Western Meat Company. He and his brother Tony, married twin sisters from Livermore. John married Anna Oliveira, and Tony married her sister, Philomena.
At the time John moved to Livermore, Archie Young managed a creamery on Sixth and Maple Streets. John bought out Young and continued to manage the creamery for Western Meat.
When the church garden needed replanting, Father Looney wanted landscaping that would be easy to maintain and inexpensive to water. He had noticed the beautiful flowers and shrubs in the Silva gardens so he asked John to landscape the church garden. John did the gardening and also performed handyman duties for the parish for nine years.
Anna Silva still lives in Livermore (1978) in the family home on Maple Street.
TOLLE, Frank
CARATTI, Giaconda
Frank Tolle and Giaconda Caratti were married in 1921. They built their home on Linden Street. Frank was a cowboy and then a shoe repairer. His store was on First Street. Giaconda was Joe and Jack Caratti's sister.
WHALEN, John and Anna
At the onset of the Great Depression, Anna and John Whalen left their home in Mason City, Iowa, in June 1929 to make their fortune in California. This was on the advice of Anna's family. They settled in Livermore with their six daughters:
Agnes (Whalen) Depatta, Kathryn (Whalen) Sorensen, Mary (Whalen) Noyes, now deceased, Ann (Whalen) Adams, Margaret (Whalen) Sorensen, Joan (Whalen) Ibarolle, and their son Joseph since deceased. The family lived near Church Street, right behind St. Michael's Church.
All the children attended St. Michael's School and Livermore High School, and Anna Whalen is still active in parish activities and senior citizen events. (1978).
VIALE, Louis and Rose
Louis and Rose Fossio Viale came here from Montechiaro, Italy,in 1911. They had three sons, Joseph, Frank, and Attilio (Butch). They owned and operated the Livermore Hotel at South Livermore Avenue and First Street. They also went into the cattle business and then opened a meat market at First and McLeod Streets. This was expanded into a meat and grocery store that lasted until 1962. Frank Viale married Adelia Pizziol.
Walt Callahan, editor, 2000