ANSONO CASELLI

Sacramento County

Biographies

ANSONO CASELLI

ANSONO CASELLI.--An esteemed Italian-American whom many friends are glad to hail is the retired merchant of Sacramento, Ansono Caselli, an early settler from the Tuscany province in Italy. He was born on a farm on December 1, 1853, and when twenty-one years old, crossed the ocean to America. Before leaving his sunny country, he had learned the trade of a shoemaker; and for two years after reaching San Francisco, he worked at that line of occupation.

In 1876, Mr. Caselli came to Sacramento, and for a while worked for an Italian shoemaker in a small store on J Street, and later he was in business for himself there as a custom shoemaker. Shoes in those days sold for sixteen dollars per pair, and when he had been able to save some money from the fair amount of profit, he opened a shoe-store of his own at 527 K Street, in 1894. It was a small affair, at best, but he later, in 1906, rebuilt the place and added two stories, and he still owns the building, having for forty years carried on his business at the one location in Sacramento. He sold out his business, however, in 1921, and retired, able to look back with agreeable complacency to the day when he arrived in California really poor, and the ensuing years which were years of success.

Since coming here, Mr. Caselli has seen many changes in the capital city. When he arrived, Seventh Street was the end of the retail business district, and wooden sidewalks and muddy streets greeted the eye. Law and order, however, were observed, albeit the Vigilantes had to take a hand to effect the reform, and our subject saw two men hanged in the courthouse yard. He knew all the leaders of great enterprises as they emerged to local and even national and international fame, and became himself well-known to many.

In 1888, at Sacramento, Mr. Caselli married Miss Mary Stanton, a native of Sacramento and the daughter of Perin Stanton, the pioneer hardware dealer of the city. In 1889, Mr. and Mrs. Caselli toured Europe, and among the many other places, made a visit to Mr. Caselli's old home in Italy. Mrs. Caselli, though from a long-line American family and unable to speak European languages, nevertheless, enjoyed the trip immensely. Herself always a social favorite and Mr. Caselli a baritone singer of note, they were received with favor, and while in Sacramento they were always prime favorites. Returning to America, they continued to reside at the old Stanton home on Sixth Street between M and N, in Sacramento, until 1910, when Mr. Caselli purchased his present commodious residence at 1615 Twenty-sixth Street. Here Mrs. Caselli passed away March 28, 1920, at an age of sixty-three. She is sadly missed, not only in her own home, and in the Eastern Star Lodge, of which she was past matron, but in her entire native city, where she was a true type of the capital city's daughters. Since her death, Mr. Caselli's household has been presided over by Mrs. Giovanni Salvietti, a niece of Mr. Caselli, who, together with her husband and two daughters, is keeping up the hospitableness of the Caselli home.

Although retired from active business, Mr. Caselli continues to take a keen interest in the progress of Sacramento City, of which for so many years he was and active and successful business man, and in the Masonic order, of which he is a Knight Templar.

Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.

Source: Reed, G. Walter, History of Sacramento County, California With Biographical Sketches, Page 869. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1923.