Cuggionesi:(n) The people native to or the residents of the village of Cuggiono, Italy. |
|
Intro Storia Vansaghi Intro Page Home Page
|
- The Vansaghi Story Top of Page
- Caesar Vansaghi was born in Casate, Italy on Feb. 5, 1877. Casate is a small village in the Lombardia region of the Province of Milan in Northern Italy. He was the youngest son of Giuseppe Vansaghi and Rosa Berra Vansaghi.
- Caesar's father Giuseppe was a carpenter. Giuseppe was one of about 12 children, many of whom lived on and worked the family farm. His trade was building caskets (wooden boxes) to bury the dead. Caesar's mother had only one leg, because the other had to be removed due to poor circulation. Caesar had a brother Carlo that died at the age of 18, a brother Emilio, and no sisters. The economics of Italy at that time was one of impoverishment, and forced the entire family to live together under one roof. The economic implications meant that aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, cousins, sons, daughters - everyone was forced to live together for survival. In addition to this, in order to ensure their survival, all money that was earned was forced to be turned over to the heads of the household.
- At the age of 18, in compliance with Italian law, Caesar Vansaghi was drafted into the Italian Military for 6 months compulsory training. His training took place in the mountains of Switzerland. During this time, Caesar got his first taste of life beyond the fields and shackles of the family farm. Also during this time was when he first heard the lure of the fantastic fortunes that were to be earned in America. Caesar developed a plan to one day own property and 'become rich.'
- When Caesar returned home to Casate, back to working on the family farm, he had matured beyond the confines of the young man who had left six months earlier. He now desired his own family and farm. He acted on his desires, and on Jan. 16, 1901, he married Ersilla Louisa Zoia.
- Caesar and Emilio both set out from the small confines of Casate to find their fortune in America. They found their way to Herrin, Illinois, and began work as common laborers in the coal mines of the boom town. Eventually, they both sent word to an uncle, Luigi Vansaghi, that there was work in America, and Luigi came as well. During the time that they worked in Herrin, they sent money back to Italy to their families, as well as continuously saving for the purchase of their own homes.
- After a couple of years of hard work, Caesar saved enough money and went back to Italy to bring his bride to America. At that time, Louisa was not yet ready to leave her family in Italy. She talked Caesar into staying for a short while. That short while turned into about a year, during which time they were blessed with their first-born: Rosa, named after Caesar's mother.
- After the birth of their daughter, Caesar was ready to return to America, but Louisa resisted. Caesar told his wife that he was coming back to America, and that if she wanted to stay in Italy, she would have to stay on her own. Louisa realized the social consequence of not standing by her husband, especially with a child, and eventually relented. The parting memories of the family, which have been passed down to the for several generations, were Louisa saying good-bye to her mother-in-law. The newborn baby sat on the lap of the one-legged woman as Rosa cried, knowing full well that she would never again see her son or his family. And it came to pass as truth.
Caesar returned to Herrin, Illinois in January of 1906. Louisa followed in October of 1906, bringing the baby Rosa with her. The trip was arduous, and the comradeship along the way, especially at sea, was of great consolation to Louisa. She was befriended by a fellow Cuggionese named Berra who helped her with the baby along the way. The families remained friends in the new world for all their lives. In fact, upon arriving in the new world, Louisa was greeted by a very active community of Italians, many of whom were Cuggionesi. The Italian community in Herrin settled mostly on the West end of the town, and was a haven to many Italians from the regions of Lombardia, Piedmonte, Sicily, Tuscania, and others. The Italians brought their ways to the new world, and founded the church Our Lady of Mount Carmel, named after their patron saint in Cuggiono. They established a parish cemetery named San Carlo, named after the cemetery in Cuggiono. They started the CC(Christopher Columbus) Club, the Rome Club, the Lombard Society, and other brotherhoods that served their inherent need for community.
Caesar and Emilio bought property on the West end of Herrin. Initially, their properties adjoined each other, and their families grew up together. The children played together, and they shared vegetables from the gardens, holidays, and all the joys and sorrows that life tends to bring. Caesar worked in the coal mines with his brother, and they prospered in the new world. They even built matching houses on opposing corners of what would eventually turn out to be a city block. They made wine each year from the grapes that they grew, which were started from the cuttings brought from Italy. These grape vines continued to grow in the family for another 50 years. Each year they bought a piglet in the spring, and fattened it all year long. Late in the fall the custom was to kill and butcher the pig. The meat was salted or dried to help the families through the winter months.
Prosperity in the new world did not come without a toll. The labor the miners endured was long and strenuous. The mines were extremely dangerous. The pay was low, and the forced expectations of the mine owners are well documented as being inhuman. The mine workers struggled to form a union in order to join forces and improve their conditions and wages. Many men were killed or maimed in the dangerous conditions of the coal mines, as well as the struggle to unite. A common ploy of the mine owners was to employ 'scabs', or workers who would cross the picket lines of the striking miners. There are famous documented incidents where violent conflicts in these situations were deadly. These incidents are well known for having taken place in Herrin during the time of Caesar and Emilio Vansaghi's family years. 
Emilio was killed 7 June 1931. He was riding in the back of a truck that was on the way to a meeting of the Miner's Union. There were three men in the back of the truck when the truck overturned, and all three men were killed. Emilio cried for his brother Caesar as he lay in the hospital, knowing that he was about to die. He expressed worry for his four children, as well as regrets for his shortcomings in life. Caesar reassured him that he would care for his family. Caesar and his family remained true to that promise to for all the days of their lives. The children were cared for, fed, and shown comfort in Caesar and Louisa's home. Emilio's widow eventually moved closer into Herrin, leaving behind the house that Emilio had built. But the children were continually cared for during the years that followed.- Another suffering of the Italian Immigrant was the ostracism and prejudice shown by some in American society. Italian children were often criticized at school for speaking their parent's native language, and the Italian language was often forbidden. In Herrin, the Ku Klux Klan had a very strong chapter which often imposed itself on the Italian Community. Caesar and Louisa's home was at one point violated during prohibition by the hooded Ku Klux Klan (Ku Klukkers, they were called) in a vain effort to confiscate the illegal wine that was being made. Fortunately, the spineless Ku Klux members weren't smart enough to look under the coal in the shed, even in the coffee pot that was sitting on the coal stove in plain sight. The family would be forever grateful to Louisa for pouring the last wine from the household jug into the coffee pot.
- Cesare passed away in 1954 at the age of 77 years. He lived a full life until his dying breath. Louisa passed away peacefully in 1967 at the age of 86 years. They both lived their final years in the original house that was built for their family in Herrin, Illinois. During their lives they survived two world wars, financial loss during The Great Depression, the death of two young children, emigrating from their home in Cuggiono, Italy, and countless other tribulations. Along the way, they passed along to their family the values of community and tradition that they had learned in Italy. Those qualities are valued and embodied today by their descendants.
This page was last modified: Saturday January 05, 2008 12:44 PM