Francesco Inserra (1886)

Born 3 Oct 1886 in Termini Imerese, Palermo, Sicily, Italy

Ancestors

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Biography

Francesco Inserra is born 3 October 1886 in Termini Imerese, the son of Rosario Inserra and Ignazia Ciresi.

On 4 October 1886, Ignazia La Nasa, age 60 (b. 1826), housewife, reports the birth on 3 October 1886 of a baby to Ignazia Ciresi, age 25 (b. 1861), housewife, and wife of Rosario Inserra, age 34 (b. 1852), in their home in Via Macello, #17, Termini Imerese. The child is a boy and is named Francesco Inserra.^[1]

He is named after his paternal grandfather. He has an older brother of the same name, born the previous year, who is presumed to have died in infancy. Francesco is named after his paternal grandfather.

Rosario Inserra, 48 (b. 1851), married, and his son, Francesco Inserra, 12 (b. 1887), appear on lines 22-23 of the manifest of the Sempione, departing Genova and arriving in New York on 24 April 1899. They are both gardeners from Termini going to Washington DC, where they are joining Rosario’s brother in law, Ignazio Buonaventura. at 410 5th St. SE.^[2]

On the SS Virginia sailing from Napoli 21 March 1910 and arriving in the port of New York on 4 April, appearing in line 5 is Francesco Inserra, 24 (b. 1885-6), single, laborer, born and last resided in Termini, in Palermo province. He leaves his father, Rosario Inserra there. Francesco is going to Utica, NY, joining a cousin also named Francesco Inserra, at 97 Elizabeth St. Francesco was previously in the US from 1899-1907 in Washington. He is 5’4” with a pink complexion and chestnut hair. He has a patch in his left eyebrow.^[3]

Frank Inserra (“Inseria”), of 229 Whitesboro, Utica, NY, registers for the draft for WWI. He is 30, born 3 October 1886 in Italy. He does not intend to naturalize. He is a self employed merchant who is single and supports his mother. He served in the military as a telephone operator for two years (presumably in Italy). He signs his own name, Frank Inserra. On 5 June 1917, the registrar describes Frank as being of medium height and built with brown eyes and black hair.^[4]

Frank Inserra of W. Utica, age 27 (b. 1891), businessman, born in Italy, son of Robert Inserra and Irene Cirese, both of Italy, marries Lucy Rizza of West Utica, age 23 (b. 1895), daughter of Rosario Rizza and Josephine Arena, both of Italy, in Utica, NY, on 24 June 1918. The witnesses are N. Rizza and Maria Capecelatro on 5 October 1918.^[5]

Owen marries Margaret Rizza, Lucy's sister, around 1919.^[6]

Frank and Lucy have three known children: Robert (c. 1920), Zina (c. 1921), and Dominick (c. 1926).

In the 1920 federal census of Utica, NY, taken 21 January, at 231 Whitesboro St, Frank Inserra, 28 (b. 1891), heads a household with his wife, Lucy, 25 (b. 1895), both born in Italy, and son Roseo, six months, born in New York. Frank immigrated in 1912 and Lucy in 1910. Frank is self employed in the fruit industry.^[7]

In April 1923, Frank is driving a truck for their company when he strikes a motorcyclist.^[8][9]

The Banana Supply Company of Utica is chartered on 22 October 1925 with capital of $49,000. Directors, all of Utica are F. H. Inserra, Frank Inserra, and Owen Inserra.^[10] The company is a consolidation of five banana importers in Utica: the Inserra Brothers, of 143 Whitesboro Street, consisting of Frank and Owen; Frank Inserra, of 516 Albany St; Frank and James Longo, of 633 Mary Street; Al Lanasa of 509 3rd Ave., and Blase Mercurio of 509 Broad St. The Banana Supply Company purchases the new business location of Inserra Brothers at Whitesboro and Hotel Streets and begins immediately to supply bananas to dealers in central and northern New York. The secretary of the new company is Owen's brother, Frank. and the assistant treasurer is their cousin, Frank Inserra, Jr. Frank Longo is the new company's president.^[11]

In the 1930 federal census of Utica, NY, taken 3-16 April, Frank Inserra, 41 (b. 1889), heads a household at 761 Mary St. He owns his home, worth $3,500. At home his wife, Lucy, 34 (b. 1896), both born in Italy. The children: Robert, 10 (b. 1920), Zena, 9 (b. 1921), and Dominick, 4 (b. 1926), all born in New York. And his father in law, Rosario Rizza, 69, born in Italy, a widower. Frank immigrated in 1911. He is a fruit merchant who owns his own store. His wife immigrated in 1909, and Rosario in 1907. He is a tailor working in a shop.

At the same address is another head of household, Owen Inserra, 39 (b. 1891), born in Italy, who also owns his home, worth $3,500. At home with him are his wife, Margaret, 32 (b. 1898), also born in Italy. They married when he was 29 and she was 22 (m. 1920). And children Zena, 10 (b. 1920), Josephine, 7 (b. 1923), and Mary, 5 (b. 1925), all born in New York, and a brother in law, Natale Rizza, 37 (b. 1893), born in Italy. Owen is a fruit merchant with his own store. He immigrated in 1912 and his wife and brother in law in 1909. Natale is a tailor in a tailor shop, like his father.^[12]

In the 1940 federal census of Utica, NY, taken 16 April, Frank Inserra heads a household at 761 Mary St. (Street is named on previous page.) Frank is 50 (b. 1890) and his wife, Lucy, is 44 (b. 1896). Their children at home are Robert, 20 (b. 1920), Zina, 19 (b. 1921), and Dominick 14 (b. 1926). Also in the household is Rosario Rizza, father in law, 79 (b. 1861). Frank, Lucy, and Rosario were born in Italy and the children in New York. Frank is a wholesale fruit merchant. His son Robert is a wholesale fruit salesman.

At the same address is the household of Owen Inserra, 46 (b. 1894), his wife Margaret, 42 (b. 1898), and children Zina, 20 (b. 1920), Josephine, 18 (b. 1922), and Mary, 15 (b. 1925). Owen and his wife were born in Italy and the children in New York. Owen is a wholesale fruit merchant. His daughter, Zina, is a stenographer for a wholesale clothing factory.^[13]

A news report of a house fire at 761 Mary St explains that Mr. and Mrs. Frank Inserra own a two story building at this address and occupy the first floor. The fire damages the rear of their home early Sunday morning of 6 January 1946. No one is hurt.^[14]

In February, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Inserra, 761 Mary, announce the engagement of their daughter, Zina Virginia, to Salvatore Cannerelli, son of Mr. and Mrs. Sebastian Cannerelli, 763 Mary. ^[15]

Sources

1. ↑ Atto di nascita, Francesco Inserra di Rosario. (1886, October 4). Record no. 631. "Italia, Palermo, Termini Imerese, Stato Civile (Tribunale), 1862-1910," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9MZ-5HR2?cc=1947613&wc=MDBD-XM9%3A245876501%2C246785902 : 20 May 2014), Villaurea > Nati 1877-1886 > image 3165 of 3204; Tribunale di Termini Imerese (Termini Imerese Court, Termini Imerese).
2. ↑ EllisIsland via SteveMorse.org Accessed 3 June 2018.
3. ↑ EllisIsland via SteveMorse.org Accessed 3 June 2018.
4. ↑ "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-G1NB-934D?cc=1968530&wc=9F83-6TL%3A928312401%2C929097501 : 14 May 2014), New York > Utica City no 3; Graves, William J.-Z > image 587 of 4801; citing NARA microfilm publication M1509 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
5. ↑ "New York, County Marriages, 1847-1848; 1908-1936," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9Q97-YSGQ-C8H?cc=1618491&wc=38MT-GP8%3A1583178101%2C1583192301 : 24 January 2016), Oneida > Marriage records, 1917-1919, vol 4 > image 400 of 540; citing county clerk offices from various counties, New York.
6. ↑ Obituary: Mrs. Rosario Rizza. The Utica Observer-Dispatch. 25 June 1929.
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RNX-L6Z?cc=1488411&wc=QZJY-92D%3A1036473601%2C1037950701%2C1040202101%2C1589332482 : 14 December 2015), New York > Oneida > Utica Ward 2 > ED 117 > image 34 of 36; citing NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
8. ↑ “Litigation In County Court.” Daily Sentinel (Rome, NY) 15 November 1923.
9. ↑ “‘Brownie’ Sues Utica Company Demands $2,000.” The Utica Observer-Dispatch. 15 November 1926. P. 17.
10. ↑ “Utica Firm Chartered.” (1925). Utica Daily Press.
11. ↑ “Five Local Companies Are In Banana Merger.” Utica Daily Press. 29 October 1925.
12. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GRC3-RNT?cc=1810731&wc=QZFQ-LTL%3A649437801%2C649628901%2C649555601%2C1589282657 : 8 December 2015), New York > Oneida > Utica > ED 102 > image 10 of 34; citing NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002).
13. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89MB-77LF?cc=2000219&wc=QZXR-RWC%3A790105101%2C793634401%2C805498501%2C805499501 : accessed 30 May 2018), New York > Oneida > Utica City, Utica, Ward 8 > 67-36 Utica City Ward 8 (Area A - part) > image 14 of 32; citing Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012.
14. ↑ “Utica Veteran Victim of Fire.” Rome Sentinel. 7 January 1946. P. 8.
15. ↑ Utica Observer-Dispatch. 3 February 1946. P. 4-B.