Leoluchina Spatafora (1884 - 1958)

Born 1 Sep 1884 in Corleone, Palermo, Italy

Ancestors

Wife of Giuseppe Nicolosi — married 25 Jan 1902 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States

Died 17 Feb 1958 at age 73 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States

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Biography

Leoluchina Spatafora is born and baptized Leoluchina on 1 September 1884. In this record, she is said to be the daughter of Joachim Spatafora and Blasia Cascio. Blasia's last name is Cutrone; her mother's last name is Cascio. Leoluchina's godfather is Joseph Mistritta, who is unmarried.^[1]

No civil birth record has been found.

In the 1900 federal census of Chicago, Ward 23, taken 7 June, Gioachino Spatafora, 25, born in January 1875 (he is actually 20 years older than reported), heads a household at 73R1 Milton Ave with his wife, Biagia, 31, born March 1869. They’ve been married 17 years. Biagia has had 6 children, all living. At home are Laura, 16, born in August 1883 (actually, Sep 1884); Joseph, 12, born in February 1888 (actually, 1889). Rose, 8, born in August 1892. Benjamin (a match for Bernardo, born in April 1894), 7, born in June 1892. Vincent, 3, born in June 1896, and Nell, born in October 1899. All but the baby were born in Italy, and Nell was born in IL. The parents emigrated in 1898 but the children’s immigration years are unknown. Gioachino is a day laborer. Joseph is at school. ^[2]

Guiseppe Nicalosi, age 30 (b. 1872) and Leolochin Spatafon (Leoluchina Spatafora), age 17 (b. 1885), marry in Chicago on 25 January 1902.^[3]

In the 1910 federal census of Chicago, taken 25 April, Giuseppe Nicolosi, 38 (b. 1872), heads a household at 1000 Gault Court with his wife of 8 years (m. 1902), Laura, 25 (b. 1885), and children Mary, 5 (b. 1905), M..stine?, 3 (b. 1907), Josephine, 2 (b. 1908), and Angelina, nine months (b. 1909). His wife has had five children, four living. Also in Giuseppe’s household is his brother Carmelo, 42 (b. 1868), sister in law Lida, 27 (b. 1883), and their sons John, 2 (b. 1908), and Biagio, nine months (b. 1909). Carmelo and Lida have been married 5 years (m. 1905). Lida has had 3 children, 2 living. The adults were all born in Italy and the children in Illinois. Giuseppe immigrated in 1893, Laura in 1899, Carmelo in 1898, Lida in 1905. Giuseppe and Carmelo are both saloon keepers working on their own account. Also living with Giuseppe is his sister, Laura, 30 (b. 1880), single, who works in a tailor shop. She immigrated in 1905.^[4]

On 5 August 1911, Angelo Marino, who is six years old, is lured away by kidnappers, who are neighbors on Gault Court, and fellow Corleonesi. Brothers Joseph and Carmelo Nicolosi and their wives, from 1000 Gault Court, are arrested.^[5][6] Joseph and Leoluchina were godparents to Angelo's older brother Joseph, who was born in 1903.^[7]

In the 1920 federal census of Chicago, taken 8 January, Carmelo Nicolosi, 50 (b. 1869), heads a household at 536 West Oak St. Carmelo is from Italy and immigrated in 1898. He became naturalized in 1905. He owns his home. His wife, Paula, 34 (b. 1885), immigrated in 1907 and was naturalized in 1908. Their children at home are John, 10 (b. 1909), Mary, 7 (b. 1912), and Biagio, 2 yr 6 mos. (b. Jul 1917), all born in Illinois. Also living with him is his sister, Laura, 40 (b. 1879), a widow, who immigrated in 1907. Carmelo owns a grocery store and his sister works there as a helper.

The next household on this census sheet is Joe Nicolosi, 46 (b. 1873), who heads a household at 1000 Cambridge Av. He owns his home. He immigrated in 1894 and naturalized in 1904. His wife Laura, 35 (b. 1884), immigrated in 1898 and naturalized in 1905. Their children at home are Bessie, 12 (b. 1907), Josie, 11 (b. 1908), Angela, 10 (b. 1909), John 4 yrs 7 mos (b. Jun 1915), and Joachino, 2 months (b. Nov 1919). Joe owns a saloon.^[8]

In the 1930 federal census of Chicago, taken 24 April, Joseph Nicolosi, 56 (b. 1874), heads a household at 1000 Cambridge Ave. He owns his home, worth $3,000. With him are his wife, Laura, 45 (b. 1885), and children Mary, 25 (b. 1905), Josephine, 22 (b. 1908), Angelina, 20 (b. 1910), John, 16 (b. 1914), and Jack, 10 (b. 1920). Joseph first married at 28 and Laura at 17 (m. 1902). Joseph and Laura were born in Italy and their children in Illinois. Joseph immigrated in 1893 and Laura in 1900. He is an independent storekeeper. Josephine is a coil winder for a radio company, Angelina is a typewriter for a bank.

The next home in the census is at 536 Oak Street, headed by Carmelo Nicolosi, 60 (b. 1870), his wife Pauline, 61 (b. 1869), children John, 22 (b. 1908), Mary, 18 (b. 1912), and Bennie, 12 (b. 1918), and sister-in-law Jenny Pomillo, 36 (b. 1894), single. Carmelo, Pauline, and Jenny were born in Italy, and the children in Illinois. Carmelo immigrated in 1897 and Pauline in 1906. Jenny immigrated in 1922. Carmelo is an independent storekeeper. Jennie is an independent linen repairer.^[9]

In the 1940 federal census of Chicago, taken 6 April, Joseph Nicolosi, 66 (b. 1874), heads a household at 1000 N. Cambridge Ave. with his wife, Laura, 55 (b. 1885), both born in Italy, and their children John, 24 (b. 1916), and Jack, 20 (b. 1920), both single, born in Illinois. Joseph is the proprietor of his own family cafe and his wife and sons are employed as helpers.^[10]

Joseph, age 74 (b. 1873) dies on 1 March 1947 in Chicago.^[11]

An obituary for Joseph Nicolosi, of 1000 N. Cambridge Ave., runs on 2 March 1947 in The Chicago Tribune. It names his wife, Laura, and children Mary, Bessie La Flore, Josephine Thompson Guzzaro, Angeline Sgro, John, and Jack. He is buried in Mount Carmel Cemetery.^[12]

Death

Laura dies at the reported age of 73 in Chicago in February 1958. Her occupation is listed as "housewife". Her address is listed as "2615 No Ridgeway, Chicago". She is buried at Mount Carmel Cemetery.^[13] Her home address on her cemetery record is "1910 N 74th Court, Elmwood Park, Ill.".^[14]

Sources

1. ↑ Baptism of Leoluchina Spatafora, 1 September 1884, "Italia, Palermo, Diocesi di Monreale, Registri Parrocchiali, 1531-1998," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12332-67604-56?cc=2046915&wc=MG34-SP6:351041801,351041802,351287601 : accessed 04 Apr 2014), Corleone > San Martino > Battesimi 1884-1888 > image 62 of 398; citing Archivio della Diocesi di Palermo.
2. ↑ Year: 1900; Census Place: Chicago Ward 23, Cook, Illinois; Roll: 273; Page: 8; Enumeration District: 0700; FHL microfilm: 1240273 Enumeration District: 0700; Description: City of Chicago, 23rd Ward; 16th Precinct bounded by Locust, Townsend, Chicago Ave, Milton Ave Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.
3. ↑ FHL Film Number: 1030333. Ancestry.com. Cook County, Illinois, Marriages Index, 1871-1920 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
4. ↑ Year: 1910; Census Place: Chicago Ward 22, Cook, Illinois; Roll: T624_264; Page: 14A; Enumeration District: 0954; FHL microfilm: 1374277
5. ↑ Dziennik Chicagoski. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]), 11 Aug. 1911. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045747/1911-08-11/ed-1/seq-1/>
6. ↑ Bits of News. (1914, May 7). The day book. (Chicago, Ill.). Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045487/1914-05-07/ed-2/seq-32/>
7. ↑ "Illinois, Chicago, Catholic Church Records, 1833-1925," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DTMQ-2ZF?cc=1452409&wc=M66G-RZ7%3A39538101%2C39987701 : 20 May 2014), Assumption BVM Parish (Chicago: Illinois St) > Baptisms 1902-1915 > image 150 of 834; Catholic Church parishes, Chicago Diocese, Chicago.
8. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GR6C-77L?cc=1488411&wc=QZJP-QFT%3A1036473701%2C1037511801%2C1039064201%2C1589341230 : 10 September 2019), Illinois > Cook (Chicago) > Chicago Ward 22 > ED 1226 > image 20 of 28; citing NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
9. ↑ Year: 1930; Census Place: Chicago, Cook, Illinois; Page: 21A; Enumeration District: 1535; FHL microfilm: 2340217
10. ↑ Year: 1940; Census Place: Chicago, Cook, Illinois; Roll: m-t0627-01005; Page: 7A; Enumeration District: 103-2649
11. ↑ FHL Film Number: 1991466. Ancestry.com. Illinois, Deaths and Stillbirths Index, 1916-1947 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
12. ↑ Chicago Tribune; Publication Date: 2/ Mar/ 1947; Publication Place: Chicago, Illinois, USA; URL: https://www.newspapers.com/image/371469905/?article=cc2c53ae-7791-45a5-8e91-e6de25c06ec9&focus=0.7543965,0.22288214,0.87201715,0.2567577&xid=2378
13. ↑ "Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1878-1994," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVRN-MQ95 : 16 March 2018), Laura Nicolosi, 17 Feb 1958; citing Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States, source reference , record number , Cook County Courthouse, Chicago; FHL microfilm .
14. ↑ "Illinois, Archdiocese of Chicago, Cemetery Records, 1864-1989," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2HN-Q6JV : 11 March 2018), Laura Nicolosi, 22 Feb 1958; citing Hillside, Cook, Illinois, United States, Hillside, Cook, Illinois, United States,Mount Carmel, Archdiocese of Chicago, Illinois; FHL microfilm 1,487,472.