Sacramento County
Biographies
JAMES FRASINETTI
Foremost among the qualities which are
essential to permanent success are both optimism and perseverance, controlled
by unswerving honor, and to the possessor of these attributes fortune denies
nothing.
Keen in business and industrious to a
marked degree, James Frasinetti, sole proprietor of
the Florin winery of Florin, Cal., today occupies a position for which he
is fully equipped, and among his associates is regarded as a man of influence
and firmness of purpose. A son of beautiful Italy, which has produced
many of our best known and most prosperous citizens, his birth occurred
November 22, 1872, in Montemurro, in the province of
Basilicata, which was also the birthplace of his father, Constandino.
The latter was united in marriage with Carmella Galanti,
of Montemurro, and of the six children born to them,
all natives of Italy, five are living. Settling in New York City, Constandino Frasinetti engaged in
the manufacture of candy for eight years, after which he came to San Francisco,
Cal., and continued in the business for the succeeding two years. In 1887
he took his family to Sacramento, where he followed his trade successfully
until 1897, when he returned to New York City. He passed away
November 14 of that year, being survived by his wife, who died in 1905.
Though but five years old when the family
came to the United States, James Frasinetti bears
vividly in memory the wonderful scenes through which he passed on his way to
the new land, and in spite of the lure of his mother country has remained loyal
to the home which has given him both contentment and prosperity. Until
the age of fourteen he attended public school in New York City, taking
advantage of his educational opportunities with the foresight characteristic of
his race, and, upon his graduation, willingly participated in the support of
the family. In 1885 he accompanied his parents to California and assisted
his father in the candy business, learning the confectioner's trade and
becoming an expert in the art of candy making. In 1899 he established a
winery in Florin, where he has since resided. The site of his present
vineyard was a grain field when he located upon it, and he set out the vines
and erected the buildings. Most of his products, which include a general
line of fine wines and brandies, are shipped to New York City, and are in
universal demand, owing to their superior quality.
On May 28, 1893, Mr. Frasinetti
was united in marriage in New York City with Miss Rose Cassieri,
who was reared and educated in Italy. Six children lend their contrasting
personality and ambitions to the interest of the family circle: Constandino, familiarly called "Christie," his
father's chief assistant, was born in 1894; Angelo, born in 1902; Joseph,
in 1904; Carmella, in 1906; Amelio, in 1908; and
Thresa, in 1910. Mr. Frasinetti
and family are known to be both generous and thoughtful regarding those less
fortunate than themselves, and deservedly rank among the leading citizens of
the community.
Transcribed by Sally Kaleta.
Source: Willis,
William L., History of Sacramento County,
California, Pages 747-748. Historic
Record Company,
© 2006 Sally Kaleta.