Gaetano's Life

Gaetano Scrugli was born on May 15, 1862 according to his Untied States death records. Gaetano married a woman in Cortale with the surname of Savino and had at least 2 children with her. I have never found his ship records, but it seems Gaetano left his wife and children in Cortale sometime in the late 1800's. He left Cortale for Chicago's "little Italy" neighborhood where he found a job and lived alone. His three sisters and children were still in Cortale. He frequented a saloon owned by Teodoro Bertuca and befriend him. As he got to know Teodoro better he learned that he was a widower looking for a nice Italian wife. At that point Gaetano began negociating the marriage of Teodoro to his youngest sister Maria who was recently widowed in Cortale. This is what brought Gaetano's sisters Carmela and Maria to Chicago. Gaetano remained close to his sisters until his death on August 8, 1926.

Gaetano's Son

Gaetano had a son named Antonio. Antonio Scrugli has 2 ship records so he must have come to America, left and come back again. His first ship record on the Nord America shows him entering Ellis Island on December 14, 1901 with another Cortale citizen, Francesco Sarcetta(?). The ship's manifest lists his age as 18, therefore he must have been born around 1883. His occupation was listed as barber. The manifest also lists him as going to Chicago to see his Uncle, Santoro Savino at 190 Taylor Street, Chicago. My family remembers Ralph Savino who attended many family gatherings. Ralph was the Godfather of my father. His next ship record has him travelling on the Lombardia which arrived in New York on April 2, 1909. This ship record has him going to see a cousin named Antonio (I can't make out the last name). Antonio Scrugli married Rose Bucciere and they had 2 children that I know of, Emma and James. There was a third child, however I do not know his name. Antonio died in Chicago on September 17, 1931 from acute appendicitis. He is buried in Queen of Heaven cemetary in Hillside, Illinois.

Gaetano's Daughter

Antonio had a sister, Maria Scrugli. She is known to the family as Mariusa. Mariusa arrived on December 13, 1920 on The President Wilson. Her destination was listed as her brother Antonio's at 712 Sholt Street in Chicago. There were many other passengers from Cortale on this ship. Eventually, Mariusa married Andre (Andrew) Fattigato. Andre came from a large family and had many brothers and sisters. According to the family, Madiusa and Andre did not have children of their own, but they did raise a number of Andre's nieces and nephews. She was a beloved member of my family and is now buried at Mount Carmel Cemetary with her husband and "grandson".