VINCENZO CASELLI

Sacramento County

Biographies

VINCENZO CASELLI

VINCENZO CASELLI.--Among the prominent and interesting pioneers of California is Vincenzo Caselli, who came to California in 1854 when San Francisco was a city of tents. He was born in Lucca, Italy, August 16, 1835, the eldest of five children born of Pasquale and Marguerite (Giovannoni) Caselli, both natives of Lucca and both now deceased, the former in 1888, aged eighty-seven years, and the latter in 1887, aged seventy-eight. The opportunities for an education were limited to a few months, but Vincenzo Caselli improved his time as best he could, and he was obliged to make what he could by tying bundles of twigs together and selling them for two cents a bundle. Leaving his home, he went to France, where he sold plaster of Paris images for eight months, when he started for America with a party of his countrymen. They were en route from Liverpool forty-six days, arriving in New York in the fall of 1853. He began making and selling the images and did very well in the business. The first five dollars he made he sent to his mother in Italy. In July, 1854, Mr. Caselli started with five of his countrymen for California, the journey taking twenty-four days and they arrived in San Francisco, August 14, 1854. After a year spent in Tuolumne County, he returned to San Francisco and worked as a market gardener for some time. In 1856, Mr. Caselli removed to Sacramento and was in the same business; and after a year was able to rent twenty acres of land on which he raised garden truck; five years later he had saved sufficient money to purchase land of his own.

In 1861, Mr. Caselli was married to Miss Mary Nevis, a native of Portugal, and eight children were born to them; Alfred and Idelle died in infancy; Alfred is married and has two children; Margarita is the widow of F. Guisti and has three children; Albert is married and has two children and is a watchman at the courthouse in Sacramento; Manuel is manager of the home place and on November 21, 1894, married Miss Kate Calligori and they have one son, Vincent; Isabelle died in 1905, survived by two children: Flora is Mrs. O. Cecchettini and has three sons. In 1862 Mr. Caselli purchased a ranch of seventy-two acres where he farmed for ten years when he sold his property. In 1873, accompanied by his family of four children, he made an extended trip to Italy, returning to California the following year. He farmed on a ranch below Sutterville for two years; then purchased his present ranch of sixty acres in 1876. The house built on the ranch in early days is still standing, but Mr. Caselli has built a modern house in which he resides. Mrs. Caselli passed away September 20, 1877. On July 21, 1871, Mr. Caselli received his final U. S. Citizenship papers and has since been a stanch Republican. Mr. Caselli has made four trips to Italy, the last being taken in 1911, when he visited the old Caselli home place of his boyhood. Mr. Caselli has four grandsons who served during the World War, and he did his part in subscribing to Red Cross, Liberty Loans and other war activities.

Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.

Source: Reed, G. Walter, History of Sacramento County, California With Biographical Sketches, Page 948. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1923.