Giacinto (George) Pio Pianalto

George was less than 5 months when he came with his family to sunnyside, Arkansas, near Lake Chicot. Many other Italian families came over at this time. Shortly after coming to Arkansas, George's mother died giving birth to twins. His father, Dominico, went back to Italy and married Rosa Taldo. He then returned to his family in Arkansas and settled in northwest Arkansas at Tontitown. There were eight children born to this second union and there, the relatives of George lived. George left home as soon as he was old enogh to find work. He went to Pennsylvania where he worked as a railroad brakemen until he enlisted in the army in 1917. He left for the French front in Europe, where he took part in three major actions. He received no wounds but was gassed, and in 1919, he received an honorable discharge and was awarded a silver victory medal. After being discharged, George went back to the railroad job but his health caused him to look for a drier climate. He went to Wyoming to look at land, but the desolate country discouraged him. While traveling through Nebraska, he met friends from Tontitown Arkansas, who were going to Herndon, Kansas, to work for the Scheve's and Barenberg's for harvest. They encouraged George to go with them. In Herndon, he not only found work but he also met the girl he later marries.

George and Clara lived in Herndon, Kansas for three years when an opportunity came for them to rent land at Tully, Kansas, from Tony Mentlick and James Malone. In 1936 George purchased a farm nine miles southwest of Atwood. The home built by James Bliss was ideal for the family George and Clara were to have. A two story home with a large dining room, six bedrooms, and a long sun porch made to enhance a hot summer night's sleep for all the children. George spent long hours and hard work, but with the help of the older cheldren he still farmed the land at Tully along with the farm he now owned. Through the depression years the work had to grow to keep up with the needs of the growing family. In 1938 he purchased more land. In 1951 his oldest son Lester set up a dairy farm 1/4 mile south and they went into partnership. George was named Master Farmer by Kansas Farmer Magazine of Topeka in 1952. George and Clara also received the citation of the first outstanding Roman Catholic Family of the Salina Diocese by Bishop Freking. George spent many years on the Board of the Rural Electric Coops. He was a strong supporter of the local Farmers Coops and a member of the fourth degree of the Knight of Columbus. Clara was an active member of the Sacred Heart Altar Society. George's greatest joy and hobby was his orchard. All the labor of cultivating, spraying, pruning and irrigating paid off when his friends and relatives came not only for the delicious fruits that were harvested but also to visit with the folks.