Mary DeFeo

Family Historical Notes

                                                                                    Transcribed 4/9/2000

Notes of her son Thomas C. DeFeo:

May 2, 1982 and December 5, 1982 K.C. MO

(Conversations with Mom - Mary Pedacreda DeFeo):

According to Mom (Mary Pedacreda DeFeo) her father, Alessandro Pedacreda worked in the clay mines in St. Louis when he first came to the USA. Both her father and mother (Maria Galli Pedacreda) came to this country from the same town (Cuggiono) in the province of Lombardia in Northern Italy. Alessandro Pedacreda’s father (Pietro Pedacreda) drowned in the Ticino River just west of Cuggiono, Italy when Alessandro was only 2 years old. His mother (Rosa Carughi Pedacreda) remarried & had 3 sets of twins as well as other children. Two of the girls immigrated to Argentina. One married Pietro Maiana & lived in Santa Fe, Argentina.

According to Mom her Grandfather (Pietro Pedacreda) learned Latin from an Aunt in Cuggiono. She primarily taught the wealthy class of people in the area.

October 26, 1988, K.C. MO (Conversation with Mom - Mary Pedacreda DeFeo):

Mom’s Mother & Father (Maria Galli Pedacreda & Alessandro Pedacreda) took Josephine (oldest), Pierina, and Charles to their home town Cuggiono, Italy (see web site http://www.cuggiono.cyberlogic.it/e) sometime between 1900 and 1907 for a visit. They were there for almost one year. Josephine and Pierina went to school there. Local officials kept Charles passport and wouldn’t return it so that they couldn’t return to the U.S. Maria made a nuisance of herself and the local authorities who nicknamed her “L’Americanina” (the little american) finally returned Charles passport.

Josephine died in the great influenza epidemic of 1918.

Pierina’s husband (Dr. Louis Barricelli) was in General Practice in St. Louis. He came from Benevento, Italy north of Avellino, and east of Naples. According to Mom, while on horseback he struck a servant girl who ignored his advances, with a riding whip. He injured her eye and had to leave the country in disgrace. He came to St. Louis, entered Medical School and was in Washington University School of Medicine’s first granduating class.

Mom’s Uncle Charles (Carlo Galli) worked as a lumberjack in Minnestota. He looked like a “Swede” - tall with light hair & eyes. He was made foreman and was told not to speak when around management so they wouldn’t know that he wasn’t a Swede.

November 13, 1988 (Conversation with Mom - Mary Pedacreda DeFeo by phone):

Mom’s father, Alessandro Pedacreda, came to the USA at age 19.

Mom’s mother, Maria Galli, came to the USA with other young women. She went to St. Louis and stayed with her brother Charles (Carlo Galli).

They all came apparently came from the same town - Cuggiono, Italy.

Mom’s mother (Maria Galli) had two brothers in St. Louis, Charles (Carlo Galli) and Ernest (Ernesto Gally). Charles’s first job was in Minnesota as a lumberjack. Ernest’s first job was in Herron, Illinois in a tavern. He then bought a coal mine the “Sunny Jim” in southern Illinois. Another brother John (Giovanni Galli) was brought to the USA by Charles.

Maria Galli and Alessandro Pedacreda were married in St. Louis. The marriage was arranged by the mothers of Maria and Alessandro.

Mom’s mother (Maria Galli Pedacreda) had 7 brothers and sisters that she knows of that survived out of 17: Charles (Carlo), Maria, Ernest (Ernesto), Caterina, Delia Josephine, & John. Mom says that there was another sister (first name unknown) who came to the USA, married a Ponseroli; and returned to Italy where they bought a Villa in northern Italy. Her sons had been born in the USA and they escaped from Italy and returned to the USA so they wouldn’t have to serve under Mussolini.

July 16, 1989 (Conversation by phone with Mom - Mary Pedacreda DeFeo):

Maria Galli Pedacreda’s brother Charles (Carlo) was 6’4” tall and worked as a lumberjack in Minnesota before going to St. Louis. Her brother Ernest (Ernesto Galli) went from Minnesota to Souther Illinois (Heron). He bought a coal mine in Sesser, Illinois. Her sister Caterina Galli Ruzzati lived in southern Ill. (Heron); died in St. Louis. Her sister Jospehine Galli Merlo died in Heron, Illinois. Her brother John (Giovanni Galli) died in St. Louis (had shares in a small spaghetti factory). Another sister (first name unknown) Galli Panseroli

came to US & went back to Cuggiono, Italy.

April 16, 1990 K.C. MO (Conversation with Dad - Theodore C. DeFeo):

When Dad was born his Father (Arcangelo DeFeo) lived at 406 & 408 Holmes St. It was a duplex type building. Dad went to Washington Grade School at Independence & Cherry; then to Karns Grade School at 4th & Troost. His Dad bought a building at 709 & 711 E. 5th where the family moved. They occupied half and rented the other half. They later moved to 224 Park. Dad then went to Garfield Grade School. He went to Northeast High School. Dad’s Mother (Alessandra DeMeo DeFeo) also worked at the Market on Walnut St. (DeFeo Produce Co.) . People thought she was Irish due to the accent she picked up there. Dad used to walk to the Market from the Holmes St. residence . When they moved he had to take the Streetcar. Other DeFeo’s represented at the produce Market included: Mike, Jack, Joe (Toots grandfather). Nick had a Restaurant near the Market. Arcangelo DeFeo had two brothers: Joe (5th & Cherry) and Jim.

Dad’s Grandmother (Carmela Calbrese DeFeo) was brought to this country by his Dad when she was in her 70s. She died at 991/2 in K.C. MO.

Arcangelo & Alessandra DeFeo are buried in K.C.MO in St. Mary’s Cemetery at 23 & Cleveland.

11/18/1990 (Conversation by phone with Mom - Mary Pedacreda DeFeo):

Mom’s father (Alessandro Pedacreda) was only 2 years old when his father Pietro Pedacreda drowned (about 1876)in the Ticino River just west of Cuggiono, Italy. His mother Rosa Carughi Pedacreda remarried. She had triplets and some other children. Two of these sisters went to Sante Fe, Argentina and one married a business man with the last name of Maia (? sp.).

The father (Abramo Galli) of Mom’s mother (Maria Galli Pedacreda) at one time was a caisson worker in France building bridges.