Until recent research became available, little was known about the Abate family with no information beyond Ralph and his father. With the availability of the Family History Library microfilm from Piane Crati, we now know that Ralph had two sisters, Rosa and Lucia, who married Giuseppe Maio in 1905 in Piane Crati. Ralph also had 3 brothers – Antonio, Giustino and Eugenio, although Eugenio died in childhood in Piane Crati.
Family stories have told that Giustino, who married Barbara Prezio, once lived in the Chicago area, possibly Blue Island, but moved to Canada and raised their family there. Their son, Benedetto, was born in 1906 in Piane Crati. Giustino’s Selective Service Registation Card shows that he once worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad. Further investigation with the railroad revealed that he did not take a pension or other benefits from the railroad. No other information is known about Ralph’s siblings. Ralph’s father, Francesco, immigrated to the United States after his first wife, Maria Belsito died and he remarried, Chiara Maria Mauro shortly thereafter. Francesco died in 1917 and is buried at Mt. Carmel Cemetery. Chiara’s whereabouts are unknown. Ralph immigrated to the United States in 1902 and was naturalized in 1918. He married Maria Antonio Guido in 1905 and had seven children. After divorcing Maria Antonio in 1925, he married Palma (nee Patera) Talerico that same year and had one child in 1926, who died in birth. Ralph and Palma divorced in 1941. Ralph and his family lived in the near west side of Chicago, known as Little Italy. Census data and family information shows that family lived on Polk Street, Elburn Avenue and Racine Avenue. Ralph died February 22, 1965 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and buried at Mt. Carmel Cemetery.
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Copyright 2004 Robert M. Tenuta
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