Domenico Civitano ~ some of his story

On Wordless Wednesday  I shared the photo of Domenico Civitano and his four sons. I came across this photo on quite a few other Civitano family pages. It appears to have originally been shared on the Paglia Family Tree on Ancestry.

Domenico was my 1st c 2x removed, the son of Vito Luigi, brother of my great grandfather Vincenzo. Domenico was born 16 December 1885 in Grumo Appula, Bari, Italy. He married Giovanna (Jennie) Maggio on 20 Sept. 1908 at St Clairs Church in New York City. Serving as best man was Onofiro Rella and maid of honor was Domenica Servedio.

On October 12, 1909, Domenico’s only Uncle, Vincenzo was murdered over an ice route dispute. Newly married and a new dad to daughter Angelina born Sept. 7th, I can imagine there had to have been quite an uproar within the family. Domenico’s father Vito Luigi must have been devastated losing his only brother. His son Francesco along with Domenico were in this ice/coal delivery business together. The question remains who the assailant was in this case, that information has been lost and remains my top research priority to discover. There was a trial and conviction, time served and a release.

Continuing with Domenico and Jenny, along with 1 daughter, Angelina they went on to have 6 sons, Louis Joseph (Vito Luigi), Dominic, Frank (Francesco), Onofrio, James, and Michael. Because this photo is not labeled, I am going on the assumption that the boys are their first 4 sons.

I love everything about this photo, from the little hands on dad’s shoulders to the knickers and leggings on down to the shoes. All the boys look darling in their hats and dad Domenico looks quite handsome in his. Believing the youngest boy is about 3, that would be Onofrio born in 1917 placing the photo about 1920. Frank would be next, born in 1915, Dominic born 1913 and the oldest, Louis born 1911 which would make him about 9.

In 1915 the family had been living at 205 West 27th Street in NYC but by 1920 the family had moved and were living at 942 Columbus Ave. Working as a coal dealer in 1915, on the 1920 census his profession was written ice man – own business.  Doing well in business by 1930 the family moved to the ‘country’ – the Bronx  living at 1441 Leland Ave.  Son’s Louis 18, and Dominic 16, were both working with dad and listed as helpers on the ice route.

Tracking Domenico up to the 1940 census, the most recent available census record, he was 54, living at 1414 Taylor Ave. Bronx. He owns the home and the value was $9000. The census also tells us he had up to an 8th grade education and was working on his own account although the income amount was listed 0. He had applied for citizenship and his first papers were in. All of the children were still living at home, including his daughter Angelina, now married to Carmine Paglia and his first grandson Louis.

Domenico (Dominic) Civitano was born 16 Sept 1885, Grumo Appula, Bari, Italy  and passed away at the age of 95 in April 1981, White Plains, Westchester, New York.  He is at rest at Ferncliff Cemetery and Mausoleum.