Pietrantonio Storia

Pietrantonio Storia

(Pietrantonio History)

My Italian side of the family is from Casacalenda, Italy. My great grandfather, Michele Archangelo Pietranotonio, son of Emmanuuella (Vincelli) Pietrantonio and Francesco Giuseppe Pietrantonio left Casacalenda at at sixteen and came to America in 1903. Michele's father wanted Michele to become a priest to gain higher education. Michele refused and escaped to America ending up on the Upper Levee with other Italian immigrants. Michele's brother, Dominico, came to Minnesota to bring Michele back home. Michele refused. Francesco cut his son out of the will and never spoke to him again. Francesco was a Padrone (landowner, specifically for growing and harvesting grapes). His family would host and financially support an annual fiesta for the town of Casacalenda.

Michele Arcangelo Pietrantonio came to Minnesota and resided on the Upper Levee as a boarder in the household of Marie (Vendetto) Delmonte and Joseph Delmonte. The Delmonte family six children: Nick, Tony, Carmen (Del), Daniel (Danny), Maria Lucia and Samuel. Marie (Vendetto) Delmonte died at thirty-three years old during child birth. Maria Lucia had to drop out of 3rd grade to raise her brothers, her father, and the boarder (Michele Arcangelo Pietranotio) after her mother died. 

Michele Arcangelo Pietrantonio married Maria Lucia Delmonte.  The picture above is on the day of their wedding. Maria Lucia was twelve years old and Michele was twenty-one years old.

Michele and Maria Lucia had four of their own children. This photo includes my grandpa and his siblings: Marie (named after Maria Lucia's mother, Marie), Irene (named after Michele Arcangelo's sister, Irene), Emma (named after Michele's mother, Emmanuuella) and Frank (my grandpa - named after Michele's father, Francesco). 

This is just a glimpse of my family's history!