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29 June 1883 - 20 January 20 1979 
Pietro Antonio Palombo was born in Vicalvi, Italy on June 29, 1883 son of Francesco and Filomena Di Lollo.
Pietro married Giuseppa Maola on 4 January 1906 in Casalvieri (Frosinone), Italy, a community about 10 kilometers South of Vicalvi. Their first son,
Francesco (Frank)
, was born 2 November 1906 in Vicalvi. Pietro made two trips to the US prior to his permanent move in 1915. One of the trips recorded at Ellis Island was on the SS Madonna, leaving Naples 27 March 1907, arriving New York 9 April 1907. The record indicates Read? No, Write: No Passage paid by: "by his god father Girardo". He was traveling with other passengers from Vicalvi - Felice Riggi and brother Giacomo among others listed on the manifest. Also traveling on the some voyage was Antonio Maola, Casalvieri, certainly a relative of his wife Giuseppa. Their second son, Floyd, was born in Vicalvi in 1908. Son Frank related that Pietro came to America and Colorado alone the first time, worked at Union Station in Denver cleaning coach cars for a nickel a day to make enough money to buy a little parcel of land in Derby to farm. Once he bought the land, he returned to Italy to get Frank and Floyd. He needed the boys to work the land. While Pietro was working in Vicalvi in the Spring of 1915, trying to save money to return to the US, he and Giovanna Palombo conceived a child. In 1915, Pietro immigrated with sons Francesco and Floyd, and Giovanna. Their Ellis Island Manifest records the following:
Frank recalled that Pete built a dugout on the farm and lined it with railroad ties to serve as the family's living quarters. It was partitioned into one bedroom, a living room and a kitchen approximately 20 feet by 8 feet, and had a dirt floor. "We hauled water half a mile for drinking and washing," Frank recalls. "There was no toilet, but Dad finally built an outhouse after we lived there awhile. "It was a paradise for mice," he said. "At night. they would crawl in bed with us." The family lived in the dugout for three years, and then rented a house with a barn and a well for water. Giovanna gave brith to a baby girl, Filomena, on Christmas day, 1915 in Denver. Giuseppa remained in Vicalvi. She immigrated in 1919, sailing from Naples on the SS Patria on the 5th day of December, 1919. Arrived New York: 23 Dec. 1919. Her Ellis Island record:
 Palombo Family in Denver 1922 or 1923. From left: Floyd, Sam, Pietro, Giuseppa, Louise, Frank. Sam was born in 1919. Pietro and Giuseppa's only daughter, Louise was born in 1922 with downs syndrome, fondly remembered by her cousins. She died of ovarian cancer in 1973 or 74 ; about 45 years old; while living in a nursing home. Jim, the youngest son, was born in 1926. Jim's wife recalls that Pietro and the boys would work the fields all day; Giuseppa, known as Josephine to her family, worked the fields as well; then she would cook dinner and they would all go to the barn to get things ready for market. It took 4 hours to get from Derby to the farmers' market area; now occupied by the Colorado Convention Center. To do this every day; almost the entire year, was a hard life for them. Giovanna and Filomena visited Pietro and family in Derby about 1934.
The 2 oldest boys eventually started their own farms when they left home and married. Frank and Nellie had a "milking parlor" and Floyd did as well - but he also grew produce; a huge truck farm. Sam went to work for Public Service, married a divorcee with 2 children and built a house next door to the Derby farm.
Josephina died of heart disease in 1962. Pietro lived alone for the remainder of his life until the mid-1970's. He was 92 when he died. Frank passed away in the late 80's, Floyd in 1968, Jim passed away in 1998 at 72, and Sam was the last one in 2002. All the sons died of cancer. Pietro and Josephine's extended family lives in the Denver area. Some of Josephine cousins from Italy live in the Brighton area. Go to GF Family Page Giovanna Palombo Manfredo Page Go to Italy Page  Vicalvi, Italy PageContact: Gary Feuerstein |
