Amador
County
Biographies
ENRICO GINOCCHIO
One
of the progressive, successful and well known men who have honored Amador
County by their residence was the late Enrico Ginocchio, who during his life
owned the largest and most important commercial enterprise in Jackson. He was
born in Italy, where he was reared to the age of sixteen years, receiving his
elementary education in the public schools.
In the hope of finding better opportunities for individual advancements
than existed in his own country, Mr. Ginocchio came to the United States,
arriving in Mariposa County, California, in 1853. He engaged in mining, but, because of his
youth, was allowed only half as much ground for his placer claim as a full
grown man. He mined there until 1857,
meeting with only moderate success.
Later he came to Jackson, where his uncle, E. Bruno, and C. Curotto,
were in business together. He bought Mr.
Curotto’s interest and subsequently became the sole
owner of the business. In 1866, when his
brother Alphonse came to this country from Italy, he took him into partnership,
and by their united efforts, diligence and good management, they built up the
largest mercantile business in Amador County.
Their store and warehouse occupied a space more than a block long, and
their stock of merchandise included everything required in the local
trade. They also became the owners of
extensive mining interests. Mr.
Ginocchio continued his active connection with the business to the time of his
death, which occurred in 1903, occasioned by the grief over the loss of his son
Joseph, who died in 1899. He was a
remarkable man in some respects, having an uncommon capacity for business
details, splendid executive ability and the faculty of inspiring confidence on
the part of all who had dealings with him.
He was a liberal supporter of all worthy benevolent causes and was
foremost in advocating progress along all lines of civic effort.
In
1871 Mr. Ginocchio was united in marriage to Mrs. Julia Curotto, a widow, with
a son, Charles. The latter married Miss
Nellie Dwyer and two daughters were born to them. Charles Ginocchio was killed in an automobile
accident in 1914. To Mr. and Mrs. Enrico
Ginocchio were born four daughters and a son.
The eldest daughter, Rose, is the wife of Frank Padesta; Lena, who is
now the wife of H. Lorenson, has two sons by a former marriage, Alphonse and
Enrico Brugin; Enrico married a daughter of E. Zumbiel, secretary of the
Argonaut mine. Henrietta Ginocchio is
the wife of Fred Eudey, who was private secretary to Congressman Caminetti
during his stay in Washington. Later he
entered his father’s bank as cashier and eventually administered the business
of the old Ginocchio store, which he later disposed of, after a continuous
record of fifty years’ existence. He is
now with the Bank of America at Jackson.
Mrs. Eudey is now serving as county librarian and is, by her uniform
courtesy and efficiency, greatly respected by the patrons of the library. The other member of the family is Mrs. George
Vela of Jackson. The old stone store
building at Butte City has been preserved by the family for sentimental
reasons. Mr. Ginocchio is remembered as
a man of earnest purpose, high business ideals and definite accomplishments and
during his active years here was a leader in business circles, commanding the
genuine regard of this fellowmen.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Wooldridge, J.W.Major History of Sacramento Valley
California, Vol. 3, Pages 49-50. Pioneer Historical
Publishing Co. Chicago 1931.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden Nugget Library's Amador County Biographies