Giosia was born on 24 JAN 1876 in Torricella Peligna, the son of Donato Aspromonte and Colomba Piccone.
He died on 5 APR 1956. The place is not known.
His wife was Giovina D'Ulisse, who he married on 17 NOV 1898 in Torricella Peligna, Chieti, Italy. Their seven known children were Donato (1900-1991), Nicola (1902-1905), Nicola (1907-1955), unknown (1910-1911), Colomba (1910-?), Antonina (1915-1925) and Marziale (1918-1947).
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| Event | Date | Details | Source | Multimedia | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birth | 24 JAN 1876 |
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| Death | 5 APR 1956 |
Note 1
!BAPTISM: Book 1856-86, p.99.
!MARRIAGE-CHURCH: Book 1849-1900, p.195b.
!PARISH FAMILY CENSUS: p.24.
BAPTISM: Parents, Donato Aspromonte and Columba Piccone.
MARRIAGE-CHURCH: Name, Iosium. Father, Donato. Witnesses,
Camillo Teti and Nicola Mastrangelo.
ANNA DI MARINO'S RECOLLECTION OF GIOSIA AS TOLD TO ME THE SUMMER
OF 1998 IN TORRICELLA PELIGNA: Giosia died 5 April 1956.
PEPINO'S (GIUSEPPE, SON OF MARZIALE ASPROMONTE AND ANNA DI
MARINO) RECOLLECTION OF HIS GRANDFATHER AS TOLD TO ME THE SUMMER
OF 1998: At the age of 17 Giosia went to America, possibly
CO. He always spoke of Philadelphia. He said roads were
always straight in America. If there was a Hill, they would cut
it down (tagliavano le colline). If there was a ditch, they
would fill it (riempivano le fosse). He was a very strong man.
He used to do mechanical jobs such as pulling pulleys
(puleggia in Italian). He said since his son, Donato, was
short and frail (gracilino in Italian) tailoring was the only
good job for him.
GIOSIA'S (SON OF NICOLA ASPROMONTE AND ELISABETTA BOZZI)
RECOLLECTION OF HIS GRANDFATHER GIOSIA OF TORRICELLA PELIGNA AS
TOLD TO ME DURING A BARBEQUE AT ROCCA DI PAPA THE SUMMER OF
1999: Giosia obtained a government job with the work crew that
kept up the roads (cantoniere delle strade). This was a very
prized position in an area where practically everone was an
impoverished farmer. There was a selection process (concorso)
to get the job. Giosia knew the person who was handling the
process, and so to be sure he won, he gave him a big piece of
ham (prociutto) as a gift. They put the name of the
contestants in a hat and picked out the winner. The winner, of
course, was Giosia because each piece of paper had his name on
it.
Giosia along with his sons Nicola and Marziale and
daughter-in-law Elisabetta Bozzi opened up a bar on Corso
Umberto I. It was the most popular place in town because it has
a radio. Along with wine (or grapes) which they purchased from
a place just below Gessopalena called Marcelle, they served
Peroni beer. Unfortunately, they had to close because they
could not get along together.
Giosia was always very cordial to the many visitors that would
come to his house. If he had something to eat or drink, you had
to as well. Giosia remembers his grandfather was drinking a
glass of beer, and so he poured one for his grandson. Little
Giosia did not like the taste, but he did not want to offend his
grandfather. In the end, he drank it down in one big gulp. His
grandfather said Good boy and proceded to pour him another
glass. Little Giosia realized that there was no advantage in
gulping down the beer so from that moment on, he just sipped
what his grandfather gave him.
NOTES FROM CONVERSATIONS WITH GIOVINA (GINA) ASPROMONTE AND
MOTHER ANNA DI MARINO THE SUMMER OF 1998: Giovina D'Ulisse said
the Aspromonte family came from down south, possibly Calabria.
They were olive oil vendors. One of them then remained in
Torricella Peligna and established the family name. She said
some of the original oil jugs (amfore) were still around. They
said Giosia had no brothers, but they mention three sisters,
Vincenza, Domenica and Maria. They said Vicenza (baptismal
records - Maria Vincenza) married Vicenzo Di Marino (from her
death records - Antonio Di Marino). Domenica was married to
Giuseppe Aspromonte of Tre Confini. She died young. They
believe Maria died young. Giosia and Giovina were doing well
financially. He worked for the government on a road work crew.
Before the war (I assume WWI), they also had a bar (cantina)
which was an after-work (dopolavoro) gathering place. Giosia
was very good with money (svelto con denaro). Giovina was very
generous (donna con grande cuore). Giovina was a midwife
(ostetrica). Though Giovina was a small woman and Giosia was a
big man, Giovina was the true leader and decision-maker of the
family (lo faceva girare in torno a lei). Though Giovina was a
small woman and Giosia was a big man, Giovina was the true
leader and decision-maker of the family (lo faceva girare in
torno a lei). Anna Di Marino currently lives in the house that
belonged to Giosia Aspromonte and Giovina D'Ulisse. She took
care of them when they got older. Her kitchen (on the second
floor) used to be the bedroom of Giosia and Giovina. The third
floor, where Anna currently sleeps, used to be an attic. Anna
and Marziale used to live in the residence just to the right of
Giosia and Giovina. It all belonged to Giosia and Giovina. One
day, Giosia sold the part on the right without telling Giovina.
She became very angry with him (incavolato). Colomba Piccone,
Giosia's mother, was blind. Giovina spoke very little about her
in-laws and brothers and sisters. They mentioned that Giosia
Aspromonte and Giovina D'Ulisse had two boys named Nicola. They
said the first died at around the age of one (records indicate
age 2). They also mentioned Antonina (Antonetta) who was tall,
dark and beautiful. She died in her youth of the Spanish fever
epidemic. They did not mention the twins who apparently died as
infants.
Source: Dan Aspromonte aspromonte@got.net