Early History of the Serafino Leo Family
I cannot vouch for the accuracy of these facts but based on the information I have gathered from the Ellis Island records, the Prothonotary's office in West Chester, the National Archives in Washington, the data supplied by Joan Leo Lee concerning Serafino's birth records in Serrastretta, Michael Spieth (great grandson of Michael Fragale), and the combined records of Angie, Lucie, and Mamie, I have pieced together these facts.
Serafino Leo was born in Accaria, Serrastretta, CZ (Calabria) Italy on February 6, 1863. On April 28, 1894 he married Maria Francesca Fragale who was born on July 1, 1872. They were married in Serrastretta. Serafino was 31 years old and Maria was 22 years old. Serafino's parents were Tommaso Lio and Angela Gallo Lio.
On May 18, 1897, Serafino sailed aboard the ship SCOTIA from Naples and arrived at Ellis Island, New York, on May 29, 1897. He was 34 years old. His wife, Maria Francesca Lio (nee Fragale) sailed from Naples aboard the FURST BISMARCK and arrived at Ellis Island on February 9, 1901. She was 28 years old. Her brother Antonio Fragale, age 20, accompanied her on the voyage. The ship manifest obtained from the Ellis Island files clearly states that Francesca Lio was joining her husband, Serafino Lio, in West Grove, PA. It also records that Antonio was going to join his brother-in-law, Serafino Lio, in West Grove. There is also a note stating that Antonio has "poor physique".
After arriving in the United States, Serafino's last name became Leo and Maria's name became Mary. She is listed as Francesca Lio on the manifest instead of Maria Francesca Lio. Why "Maria" was not used will remain a mystery.
Serafino was one of the first Italians to settle in the Kennett-West Grove area. He was the only Italian among the Irish parishioners at St Patrick's Church in Kennett Square. He had no immediate family members in the United States and I have no information about his family in Serrastretta. There are many male and female Lio passengers listed in the Ellis Island records for various years and some of them were probably related in some way. There were four or five Leo (Lio) families living in the Kennett Square area as well as Gallo families that were related. Serafino's mother was Angelo Gallo. I think the older members of those families knew the relationship but it was never clear to the younger generation so we just called everybody "Cuz" when we met and they would do the same.
Serafino had settled in Baker's Station, a part of West Grove, and it was here that Angeline was born on January 5, 1902, and Thomas was born on August 27, 1903. Serafino worked in the rock quarry there until around 1903. A terrible accident occurred at the quarry causing the death of one of the workers. Apparently, the quarry began to fill with water which overflowed and flooded the entire area. The family must have been living near the site because Angeline and Thomas were taken out of the house through a window. Serafino was so upset and frightened by the accident he left Baker's Station and moved to Birch Street in Kennett Square. The location of the double house was known as the Brick Yard. He obtained a job with the Pennsylvania Railroad as a rail inspector. While still working for the railroad, he purchased a farm near Rosedale, Kennett Township, at the corner of Rosedale and McFarland Roads, about a mile from the house on Birch Street. The family farmed the land and grew mushrooms. Angie said she learned to drive the tractor and she and the other children helped in planting potatoes, corn, and other vegetables.
Some of Serafino's brothers-in-law arrived in the United States and lived with the Leo family until they were able to find work. On May 10, 1910 (1910 census), the Leo Family Lived in Kennett Township. The residents included Serafino Leo, 45, listed as railroad worker; Mary F., 38; Angeline, 9; Thomas, 7; Joseph, 5; Rose, 3; Angelo, 2; Frank Fragale, 36 railroad worker; Antonio Fragale, 30, trolly worker; Jerrado Fragale, 24, trolley worker; Louie Fragale, 18, greenhouse worker.
The 1920 census taken on February 24, 1920, lists Serafino Leo as Head; Mary, his wife; Angeline, daughter; Thomas, son; Joseph, son; Lucy, daughter; Mamie, daughter; Charles, son; Robert, son; Angelo Fragale (Head); Mary, wife; Concetta, daughter. A son named Angelo was never mentioned to us by Angeline. There were only the seven children of Serafino and Mary. It is my belief that son Angelo and son Charles were one and the same person. (Even in the application and other papers filed for citizinship there was confusion in listing Charles). Serafino was instrumental in getting some of his brothers-in-law jobs on the railroad or the trolley that ran from Kennett to Rosedale. He also helped other relatives to get a start in the mushroom business.
On June 9, 1912, Serafino filed his Declaration of Intent to become a United States citizen. He filed his Petition for Naturalization on October 31, 1912, and he was granted citizenship on March 9, 1914. He was 39 years old.
According to the "sisters" (Angie, Lucie and Mamie), Serafino was a kind, gentle, generous soul who loved his children and was always ready to help new immigrants get settled...from living at his home until other housing was found, finding employment or starting a business, and to helping with naturalization proceedings.
Serafino developed stomach cancer and died on April 15, 1928 at age 65. He is buried in the Leo lot at St. Patrick's Cemetary in Kennett Square, next to the Ruggieri lot. Mary left the farm sometime around the beginning of World War II. Mary, Joseph, Charles, Robert and Nina (Louis Fragale's daughter Mary Fragale who lived with her aunt soon after her mother Catherine died) moved into a small house on Birch Street. When her sons were drafted in World War II, Mary lived in a small house with her niece, Nina. Her son Joseph was given a hardship discharge and came back to live with his mother but he was employed and wasn't able to be with her all the time. At some point in the early '50s, Nina left and Mary's health was beginning to fail. It was decided to bring her to Angie's house where she died on September 24, 1953, at the age of 81. She is buried next to Serafino in St. Patrick's Cemetary.
Prepared by Melania Ruggieri Eapen
April 29, 2007
Revised April 29, 2010
Personal Memories
None of the grandchildren knew Serafino with the exception of Angie's daughter, Rosalie, the oldest of the grandchildren, but her memories were very sketchy. All of us, however, knew our grandmother, Mary Fragale Leo. She was always happy to welcome us and she enjoyed the company of her grandchildren.
Angie told me that Serafino had a railroad pass and he would take her and some of the other children to Philadelphia. At that time there was daily train service from Oxford, PA to Philadelphia. On Saturdays, they used to walk along the railroad tracks to Broad Street in Kennett Square and do the weekly shopping.
I wish I had more information on the family in those early days. Uncle Robert was only 4 years old when Angie married. He was 5 when Rosalie was born. He was more like a brother to the six of us. Angie, Aunt Lucie, and Aunt Mamie made regular Sunday visits to the "farm" with their children. Aunt Lucie's children, Marcie and Albert, spent a lot of time on the farm with Nonne Leo. We (Angie's children) usually walked the 2 or 3 miles to the farm and then rode home with Angie. The house did not have central heat or hot water. In the winter we sat in front of the big, black cook stove to keep warm.
Nonne Leo had chickens running loose around the house and one or two roosters. I think Charlie teased the roosters because they were really mean. It was a real challenge to go through the backyard to the "outhouse" or go down to the hen house to gather eggs and avoid being chased by one of them. Across the road there was a large apple orchard. Some of the boys would climb the trees and shake the branches so that the apples fell to the ground. The rest of us gathered the apples and gave them to our aunts. Mom always took a big bag of apples home with her and for days we would enjoy her apple pies, apple cakes, apple dumplings, and apple sauce as well as just eating fresh apples from the tree without the threat of pesticides.
Uncle Joe, Uncle Charles, and Uncle Robert were single and they gave each of the neices and nephews a lot of attention and support. Uncle Tom was married and didn't spend too much time at the farm with us.
The family was very close in those days. We used to sit on the porch and share stories. We all laughed so hard our stomachs ached. Aunt Mamie was the life of the party. She always had some funny tale that would put all of us in stitches. My brothers spent a lot of time with Charlie, Joe, and Robert. They could discuss any problems they had and they could get answers to all of their questions. I'm sure they learned the facts of life from their uncles. It was the same for the girls in the family. The aunts and uncles always took time out for us.
I have to mention here that in spite of their lack of "higher education", our mother, our aunts, and our uncles were intelligent, humorous, caring, and loving. Those times when all of us were together are still etched on my mind and I can recall the whole scenes as though it were yesterday. Life was simple, the love and support of aunts ans uncles, and the loving and caring parents gave us a firm background and taught us how vital la famiglia is in our lives.
Prepared by Melania Ruggieri Eapen
April 29, 2007
Revised April 29, 2010