 My great grandfather, Armando
Laratta, was the orphaned son of Marziale Laratta
and Teresa Prato. He first came to America when
he was about seventeen years of age. A search of
records for him immigrating to New York indicate
he left the port of Napoli on 24 Mar 1905 on the
S.S. Citta Di Torino and arrived in the port of
New York on the 11th of April. Listed as a
laborer from Crotone, unable to read or write,
and in possession of but ten dollars, he states
his destination as his cousin's at 129 Mulberry
Street in New York.He again shows up in the passenger
records at age twenty six. Departing from the
port of Napoli, Campania, Italy aboard the ship San Giovanni, he once again arrived in
New York on the 14th of May. How or why he went
to St. Louis is not yet known, but there he went
to work in a leather factory where he met Pietro
Rossomanno. While he worked, he saved money in
order to return to Italy in hopes of finding
himself a good Italian wife to bring back to
America.
Pietro's family
lived in a nearby town in Italy where Armando was
returning, so he asked if he wouldn't please go
visit them and give them his love and regards -
he also mentioned that he had two sisters who
were not yet married; and that is how my
great-grandfather met his wife, Eleanora
Rossomanno sister of his friend Pete.
They married
shortly afterwards in Italy, and just when
Armando was about to bring his wife Eleanora back
to the United States, the World War I broke out.
Armando, still an Italian citizen, was obligated
to fight in the Italian army and was in the
cavalry so their first child, Pantaleone, was
born in Italy on April 26, 1916.
Just as soon as
Armando could, he returned to the United States.
Records indicate that he was a resident of
Casino, Catanzaro, Italy and departed that
country from the usual port of Naples aboard the
ship Canada. He arrived in New York on
the 3rd of May 1920 listed as 32 years old and
married. The manifest also indicates that he was
in the U.S. in 1904 and 1914 and that he was on
his way to his brother-in-law's, Pietro
Russomanno at 820 Mound Street, St. Louis,
Missouri. He is listed as having a pale
complexion, brown hair, chestnut eyes and was
five feet, eight inches tall. His residence at
the time of departure was Casino, Catanzaro,
Italy.
Once in St. Louis,
Armando saved his money, and sent for his wife
and five year-old son. Naturalization papers
indicate that they came in April of 1920 on the
vessel, Patria, but the ship manifest
papers indicate that Eleanora came on the Patria
on the 8th of January 1921. She is listed on the
passenger list as fair complexion, brown hair,
and chestnut eyes - daughter of Saverio and wife
of Armando Laratta. Eleanora is listed as age 27
with son Panteleone, age 5 and their destination
is 928 La Beaume Street in St. Louis, Missouri.
Eleanora's sister Caterina had arrived in New
York aboard the Patria on the 15th of February
the year prior, followed by the arrival of their
parents (Saverio & Mariangela) and brothers
Giuseepe, Francesco and Armando, who came on the Providence 15 April 1921.
Eleanora had a
couple of miscarriages before her son Anthony was
born on in 1921, and had seven more children,
including little brother, Alfred, who died of
pneumonia when he was nine months old. Armando
went to barber school and opened his own barber
shop. Things prospered for the family until both
Armando and Eleanora contacted tuberculosis in
1933 and were put in a hospital in the county so
they could breathe fresh air. Their children were
all put in foster homes except their oldest son
who was seventeen; and although they recovered
from tuberculosis, Armando was never really well
again and passed away on April 26, 1937.
As the children
reached sixteen years of age, they each came home
to live with their mother who had bouts with
diphtheria, cancer, and other illnesses. She
passed away on the 7th of January in 1956.
Armando and
Eleanor were laid to rest in Calvary Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri.
Little of
Armando's background is known except that he was
born the 30th of March 1889* in Papanici, Italy
and that he was an orphan who had been raised by
an older sister. His wife Eleanora Rossomanno was
the daughter of Francesco Saverio Rossomanno and
had been born on 2 April 1893 in Papanici, Italy.
Armando married Elenanora in about 1914 in Italy.
*Death certificate indicates
he was born on 22 Mar 1888, son of Marziale;
Records of Papanice indicate he was born 20 Mar
1888.
CHILDREN
OF
ARMANDO LARATTA & ELEANORA ROSSOMANNO
- Panteleone
Marziale Laratta - born 25 April 1915 in
Italy; married Mary Flynn and legally
changed his name to Lee Forest. He died
on 29 November 2006 in Reseda, Los
Angeles Co., California.
- Anthony
Laratta - born 18 December 1921 in St.
Louis, MO. He married Clara Boice and
died 22 January 1980 in California.
- Theresa Laratta - born in St.
Louis, MO; she married (1) Clarence Moore
Lane and (2) Virgil Albert Baugh.
- Elvera Anne
Laratta - born in St. Louis, MO; married
Raymond Fredrick Hale.
- Mary Laratta - born 04 May 1927
in St. Louis, Missouri. She passed away
15 September 1996 in Sacramento,
California. She married (1) _____ Kelly;
(2) Ronald Weise; (3) Merrill Adrian
Adams.
- Callandina
Laratta - born in St. Louis, MO; she
married Francis Dalton.
- Joseph
Laratta - born 06 November 1929 in St.
Louis, MO; married Evelyn Craig.
- William
Laratta - born in St. Louis, MO; married
Charlotte.
- Alfred
Laratta - born in St. Louis, Missouri,
died at nine months old.
Generation II
Lee Forest
(Panteleone Marziale Laratta) - son of Armando
and Teresa Prato, married Mary Flynn in St.
Louis, Missouri. He and Mary were the parents of
Mary Lee, and Jaime. Lee passed away on 29 Nov
2006 in California.
Anthony Laratta -
son of Armando, who was born in St. Louis in 1921
and died in California in 1980, was the husband
of Clara Boice who was born on the 8th of
December 1925 in St. Louis, Missouri and died in
Phoenix, Arizona in 1997. They were the parents
of Armand "Butch", Anthony, and Robert
Laratta who were all born in St. Louis, Missouri.
Theresa Laratta -
who was born in St. Louis and currently resides
in Arizona. She married (1) Clarence Moore Lane,
who had been born 3 June 1918 in St. Louis, MO
and was the son of Clarence L. Lane and Mary
Jeannette Moore. He passed away in St. Louis,
Missouri on 30 April 1966. After about eight
years of marriage, Theresa and Clarence divorced
and she married Virgil Albert Baugh. Virgil, or
"Bud" was the son of Edward S., and
Helen (Miller) Baugh. He was born 11 June 1920 in
St. Louis, Missouri and passed away on 12 May
2004 in Glendale, Maricopa Co., Arizona.
Theresa and had
one child with Clarence Lane, my mother Mary
Jeanette Lane. Her children by Virgil A. Baugh
are: Gary Alan, Sally Viola, and Bonnie Lou
Baugh.
Elvera Anne
Laratta - daughter of Armando, was born in St.
Louis, Missouri and currently resides in
California. She married Raymond Fredrick Hale who
was born 14 June 1927 in Cleveland, Ohio and was
the son of Oscar Seton Hale. He passed away on 16
June 1977 and was buried in at sea. They are the
parents of Eleanor Rey born in San Francisco,
Donna Dea, Susan Ann born and Mark Anthony,
Maureen and Dale Richard Hale all born in
Cincinnati; and youngest son Matthew Raymond Hale
born in California.
Mary Laratta -
daughter of Armando, was born 4 May 1927 in St.
Louis, Missouri and passed away on 15 September
1996 in Sacramento, California. She married (1)
____ Kelly; (2) Ronald Weise; (3) Merrill Adrian
Adams who was born 30 November 1930 in Harrold,
SD and died 9 May 1991 in Los Angeles,
California. She and Kelly had daughter Carol Lynn
Kelly who was born 29 January 1947 in Bilexy,
Mississippi and died 1990 in Sacramento, CA. She
had been the wife of (1) Harold Hartman; (2)
Robert Allert; (3) Bruce Harvey. - Mary and
Ronald Weise had only one child, Ronald Weise,
who died 4 May 1970 in Los Angeles, California as
a teenager. - Mary's children with Merrill Adrian
Adams were Christopher Merrill Adams who was born
in Santa Monica, Los Angeles county, California
and married June Alice who was born in Moline,
Rock Island, Illinois; son Thomas Adrian Adams
who was born in Torrence, California and had
married Kimberly Keister; and daughter Jeanine
Angela Adams who was born in California and
married Tony Michael DeLeonardo, and are the
parents of son Brandon.
Calandina Laratta
- daughter of Armando, was born in St. Louis,
Missouri. Her children with Dalton are - Lawrence
who married (1) Sharon; (2) Kay A. Watkins; and
daughters Barbara and Rita Dalton.
Joseph Arkland
Laratta - son of Armando who was born in St.
Louis 06 Nov 1929 and married Evelyn Craig,
daughter of Eugene Lewis Craig and Nattie Miller.
They are the parents of Timothy Robert who was
born in St. Louis, and married Diana Lynn Mack,
Vincent Joseph who was born in St. Louis and
married Michelle Bast, and Stephen Joseph Laratta
who was born in St. Louis, and married Cassie
Joyce Paul. Joseph passed away in Jefferson Co.,
Missouri in 1898 and his wife Evelyn passed away
in 2001.
William Laratta -
son of Armando who was born in St. Louis, and
married Charlotte. They are the parents of Joyce
and Susan Laratta.
Generation
III
Armand "Butch"
Laratta - son of Anthony and Clara was born in
St. Louis, Missouri and married in California,
Sandra Richardson, daughter of Richard James
Richardson and Rose Marie Adams. Their children
are - Wendy, Christine, and Russell Laratta.
Robert Lee Laratta - son of
Anthony and Clara was born in St. Louis, and
married in 1966, Pamela Jean Richardson who was
born in Orange County, California and also the
daughter of Richard James Richardson and Rose
Marie Adams. They are the parents of - Sherry
Jean Laratta who was born 23 June 1967 in Los
Angeles, California, and died of leukemia on 20
June 1972 at the City of Hope, in California and
was laid to rest at Valhalla Memorial, North
Hollywood, California; and daughter Camie Rose
Laratta who was born in California. - Pamela
remarried after her divorce to Robert and is also
the mother of a third daughter, Veronica Marie,
daughter of the late James Ronald Welch of
Phoenix, Arizona. Pamela passed away on
Christmas morning 1999 and is laid to rest in
Flagstaff, Arizona.
Mary Jeanette Lane - my
dear mother, was the daughter of Theresa
(Laratta) and Clarence Lane. She was born
in St. Louis, Missouri on 31 October 1942 and
passed from this life on 04 November 1999.
She married Victor Delano Davidson in Phoenix,
Arizona. Vic is the son of the late Vernon
William Davidson and Clara Constance (Neagle) of
Luverne, Barnes County, North Dakota. Vic and
Jeanette are the parents of Victor Gene, Patricia
Ann, and baby Darlene Davidson who was born and
died on 3 October 1962 in Phoenix, Maricopa
County, Arizona. Darlene and Jeanette are both
laid to rest at Rest Haven Park Cemetery in Glendale, Arizona.
Gary Alan Baugh - son of
Theresa and her 2nd husband Virgil Baugh, born in
St. Louis, Missouri. He married in Phoenix,
Arizona Michele Helene Merva who was born in
Anchorage, Alaska and is the daughter of the late
Stephen Joseph Merva and Kathleen Coombs. Gary
and Michele are the parents of twin sons, Gary
Alan and Daniel Josiah, and son Darrell Stephen
Baugh who is now married to Alona. Gary and
Michele are proud parents of three grandchildren:
Dalton; Stephen & Brenna Baugh.
Sally Viola Baugh -
daughter of Theresa and Virgil Baugh, was born in
Phoenix, Arizona. She is the mother of four
children: Michael Dwyane and Derek Lee Gilbert;
and Charles Vincent and Angela Michelle Penoyer.
Bonnie Lou Baugh - daughter
of Theresa and Virgil Baugh, was born in Phoenix,
and married David Alan Peffly of Ottawa, Franklin
County, Kansas. Their children are - Travis
Lawrence, Misty Dawn, David Alan, Jr., and Trevor
Dillon Peffly.
Eleanor Rey Hale - daughter
of Elvera Anne and Raymond Hale, was born in San
Francisco, California and married in Orange
County, CA Laurence Melvin McKinney who was born
in Port Angeles, WA. Larry was born Laurence
Melvin Judd, son of Richard Laurence Judd
(deceased) of Grandview, Washington and his name
was legally changed by his step-father in the
early 60's to McKinney. Eleanor and Larry's
children are - Sean Patrick, Scott Alan, and
Audrey Rose McKinney.
Donna Dea Hale - daughter
of Elvera Anne and Raymond Hale, was born in
Cincinnati, Ohio and married in Rossmore,
California, Gary Lamb. They are the parents of
April Rose, and Jarrit Lamb.
Susan Ann Hale - daughter
of Elvera Anne and Raymond Hale, was born in
Cincinnati, Ohio. She married/divorced (1) Tony
Krauss and (2) Richard Pomponi. Susan and Tony's
children are - Justin, Samantha, and Rachel
Rainbow Krauss who married Travis Howard.
Maureen Hale - daughter of
Elvera Anne and Raymond Hale was born in
Cincinnati, Ohio and H. She married/divorced
Robert Turner. Maureen is the mother of of Bryan,
Matthew, Natalie, and Steven Turner.
Dale Richard Hale - son of
Elvera Anne and Raymond Hale, was born in
Cincinnati, Ohio.
Carol Lynn Kelly - daughter
of Mary Laratta was born in Bilexy, Mississippi
and died 1990 in Sacramento, CA. She had married
(1) Harold Hartman; (2) Robert Allert; (3) Bruce
Harvey and was the mother of Mary Angela Hartman;
Rickey Allert who was born 3 Aug 1968 in
Gillette, WY and died 11 June 1991 in Sacramento,
CA; Eric Lee and Jeremiah Connan Harvey.
Thomas Adrian Adams - son
of Mary and Merrill Adams, and father of David
James, Sabrina Nicole, and Ronnie Adrian Adams.
Jeanine Angela Adams -
daughter of Mary and Merrill Adams, wife of Tony
and mother of Brandon DeLeonardo.
Lawrence Dalton - son of
Calandina and Frank Dalton, married (1) Sharon
(2) Kay A.Watkins. Children of Lawrence Dalton
and Sharon are - Lawrence who married Rhonda
Sherfy, and Quinn who married Kara Kosador.
Children of Lawrence Dalton and Kay A. Watkins
are Thomas and Tara Lynn.
Barbara Dalton - daughter
of Calandina and Frank Dalton, married Donald G.
Cooper and are the parents of Donald G. and
Matthew L. Cooper.
Timothy Robert Laratta -
son of Joseph Laratta was born in St. Louis,
Missouri and married Diana Lynn Mack. Timothy's
children are Jamie Nicole, and Jenna Marie
Laratta.
Vincent Joseph Laratta -
son of Joseph Laratta was born in St. Louis,
Missouri and married Michelle Bast. Their
children are Brendan Joseph, and Conner Stephen
Laratta.
Generation IV
Camie Rose Laratta
- daughter of Robert Lee Laratta and Pamela
Richardson was born in California. She and Jeff
Wetter are the parents of Sherry Ann, Justin Levi
and Ryan. One more daughter, Katrina, was born to
her in 2007.
Patricia Ann
Davidson - daughter of Mary Jeanette Lane and
Victor Delano Davidson, was born in Arizona. She
married William Peters, son of the late George
and Louise Peters of Michigan. Patti and Bill are
the parents of one child, Lara LeeAnn.
Misty Dawn Peffly
- daughter of Bonnie Lou Baugh and David Peffly,
was born in Arizona. She married Jesus Alberto
Rodriguez Molina who was born in Guadalajara,
Jalisco, Mexico and is the son of Jose Guadalupe
Molina and Maria Louisa Rodriguez. Jesus
and Misty are the parents of one two sons: Jesus
and Angel; and one daughter Cheyenne.
Sean Patrick
McKinney - son of Eleanor Rey Laratta and Raymond
Hale, was born in California and married Ellen
Debrah Shepard. They are the parents of one son,
Kyle Aaron.
Scott Alan
McKinney - son of Eleanor Rey Laratta and Raymond
Hale, was born in Anaheim, California and married
Diane Renne Martinez. They are the parents of
Leroy James and and Ryan Scott McKinney.
Rachel Rainbow
Krauss - daughter of Susan Ann Hale and Tony
Krauss, married Travis Howard and are the parents
of Alana Mae and Jacob Howard.
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