CAPT. ANTONIO SBARBARO

Sacramento County

Biographies

CAPT. ANTONIO SBARBARO

CAPT. ANTONIO SBARBARO.--The clever, artistic Italian-American, genial of temperament and industrious in habits, has an enviable record for “making good” in the United States; and this characteristic is well illustrated by the popular Capt. Antonio Sbarbaro, boot- and shoemaker to the exclusive circles of Sacramento, and to the best of the suburban families. He was born at 444 Washington Street, New York City, on November 29, 1857, the son of Bertolame and Rose (Cordano) Sbarbaro. His father was originally a cattle dealer in Italy, as were many members of his family, who took to commercial pursuits in their native land. When the father came out to the New World, he chose the American metropolis as the best field for his peculiar ability as a contractor in the unloading and loading of boats. Having done well in America, he married in 1853, in New York, and was actively engaged in his business until he returned to Italy on June 22, 1869, with his good wife and family; and there they both lived and died. Antonio went back with them, and so is the product, so far as his elementary education is concerned, of both the Italian and the American schools. This acquaintance with the daily life of the two continents has been of great service to him.

Besides learning the boot- and shoemaking trade as a boy, he ran errands for the Union soldiers, and he also lent a helping hand to the pursued negro; and he is credited with having saved the lives of over 200 Africans, some real slaves, by assisting to hide them in cellars and to bring them the necessaries of life while they were in hiding, and then to help spirit them away. He also tells of seeing many of them, when pursued, throw themselves into the Hudson River and drown, to avoid being captured and taken back to slavery. Indeed, his life in New York is most interesting. Even as a kiddie of six years, he began to shine boots, carrying his shining box over his shoulder. He sold badges of Lincoln in 1861 and 1864; and he shined Lincoln’s boots in the old Occidental Hotel on Broadway, in February, 1865, when Lincoln was on his way to Washington to be inaugurated the second time. After the assassination of the President, he sold Lincoln badges also. While he was shining the boots of the President, he was asked many questions as to his habits, schooling, etc.; and upon leaving, Mr. Lincoln admonished the lad to “always tell the truth, especially to your parents.” This has never been forgotten by Mr. Sbarbaro, and is one of his cherished memories of the martyred President.

Antonio Sbarbaro went to Europe with his parents on June 22, 1869, and remained there until 1878. The family settled in the city of Bobbio, on the river Trebbia, and while in Italy he entered the Italian army and did his duty by the land of his father’s birth, and was discharged in 1878 as first sergeant. While he was living in Italy, he became the president of the Societa Operaia, a union which included all mechanics, and he served six terms; even while he was in the army he was not allowed to resign his office. On May 8, 1878, he left for California, and arrived here on September 13. He came to Sacramento in 1880, and worked for Tom Harper, remaining in his employ until he embarked in business for himself, first at 1125 Third Street, and then at his present location at 705 I Street. He has been fairly successful ever since he started, not getting rich, but certainly getting his share of the trade from such persons as are particular about their foot-wear and are determined to have the best; at his present age of sixty-six he challenges any and all men of his craft to do better or more accurate work.

On October 8, 1887, in Sacramento, occurred the marriage of Antonio Sbarbaro and Miss Emilia Boitano, from which union were born two children, Rosie and Adelina. Mr. Sbarbaro served as a captain in the Bersaglieri Company, in Sacramento, which took leading parts in the National Guard activities under General Sheehan, and Colonels McKee, Seymour, Guthrie and others. Incidents of historical interest are related by the Captain, of which we mention one that took place on September 22, 1888, when his company was returning from San Francisco, after having attended the anniversary of the entry of the Italian army into Rome, when the rule of the Pope was overthrown. They were in full regalia, and on crossing the bay on a ferry-boat Captain Sbarbaro met C. C. Allen, then adjutant general of California, and ordered his company to stand at “present arms” before the state officer as a token of respect. This was never forgotten by General Allen, who became a warm friend of Captain Sbarbaro. Another incident of interest occurred at the time of the A. R. U. strike in 1894. The striking railroad men broke into the Bersaglieri hall and took all their guns, evidently to protect themselves from the soldiers, who had been ordered to Sacramento. The Captain reported the loss of the arms to Mayor Steinman and to Sheriff O’Neil, and also to United States Marshal Baldwin. He was told by the latter that all the guns would be given back to their rightful owners, as the state guards had taken all guns from the strikers and they were stored in the basement of the capitol building. Upon orders from Mr. Baldwin to General Allen, the guns were once more delivered to Captain Sbarbaro.

Captain Sbarbaro has been an active Republican politician for many years, and for thirty years has been a recognized leader in the Italian colony, serving as president of the colony for several terms. While president of the Italian colony he held the confidence of his people and always got results when promoting any drives for beneficial purposes, not only from the Italian population, but from people of every creed and nation. He always got prompt returns from many of the prominent citizens of San Francisco, among them A. Sbarbaro, president of the Swiss-Italian Bank, L. Scatena A. Pedrini and J. F. Fugazi, who always responded to calls for aid. The Captain was the first man to induce the Italian consul at San Francisco to visit Sacramento. This was on April 26, 1908, and was the first time an Italian consul had visited the capital city. In 1913, the Captain appeared before the state legislature to ask for the appropriation of money to teach Italian in a cosmopolitan school in Sacramento. In the movement he had the support of Luella B. Johnston, then president of the board of education, and Charles C. Hughes, superintendent of schools. This was made a bill and passed, not only for Sacramento, but for all cities in the state over a certain population where it was deemed expedient to teach that language. This was the first attempt made for the passage of such a measure in Sacramento. Captain Sbarbaro has always been ready and willing to aid those in distress, either at home or abroad. In 1886 he raised a fund for the destitute from the cholera epidemic at Liguria and Napoli, and for the flood sufferers at Veneto, that same year; and he also raised money for the relief of those made destitute at the time of the great tidal wave at Galveston, Texas. At the time of the Messina disaster in Italy, in 1908, the call came for funds for the earthquake sufferers; and on January 3, 1909, Captain Sbarbaro, then president of the Italian colony in Sacramento, sent out a call for a meeting to arrange for soliciting funds to send to the refugees. The results were immediate, as that same day over $1,000 was subscribed and inside of three months there had been raised $7,713.98, which had been sent in $1,000 amounts from time to time. This money was raised by solicitation from people of all nationalities, and was sent through the state branch of the California Red Cross by Captain Sbarbaro to the committee in Italy that had been appointed to care for the sufferers. The results of the drives by the various committees are shown in a personal letter to Captain Sbarbaro from A. Bonnheim, treasurer of the Sacramento Red Cross, in which it was stated that all moneys collected for the above purpose had been sent to Italy. During the “Days of ‘49” parade in 1922, in Sacramento, Captain Sbarbaro was Grand Marshal of the Italian Division, and this division had the distinction of winning the second prize. He is one of the best-known men in Sacramento, and has always shown his public spirit by helping every worthy and worth-while project that has been brought to his notice, that had as its aim the uplift of his fellow-men and the making of a better and greater Sacramento.

Transcribed Joyce Rugeroni.

Source: Reed, G. Walter, History of Sacramento County, California With Biographical Sketches, Pages 330-333. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1923.