San Francisco County
Biographies
G. GINOCCHIO
G. GINOCCHIO.--Prominent among the Italian residents of San
Francisco is the subject of this biographical sketch, who was born
in Borzonasca, Italy,
in 1839. His father was a merchant and manufacturer of woolen goods. He was educated
at Chiavari, the county seat, and at the age of sixteen years, with two
companions, started for the United States of
America. Crossing France
to Havre they met other friends on route to America;
when they reached the port their steamer was gone, and rather then wait fifteen
days for another steamer they embarked on a sailing vessel, and were sixty
three days on the voyage. After a rest of thirty days in New York
City, they set sail for California, going
via the Isthmus, and arriving in San Francisco
in 1856. Mr. Ginocchio went at once to the mines at Coulterville, Mariposa
County, to meet his Cousin, E.
Ginocchio, who was there in business. After a short visit he engaged in mining,
which he continued two years with anything but satisfactory results. He then
took charge of his cousin’s store while he went to Fraser
River, returning at the end of
twenty months. Mr. Ginocchio then became manager of a store at Deer Flat, but
this venture also proved unsuccessful. He was afterward connected with several
mercantile enterprises in various mining localities until 1867, when he
returned to Coulterville. There he took charge of a store and remained until
February, 1870. In that year he came to San Francisco,
with a capital of $500, and engaged in purchasing and reselling business. He
carried on a large and profitable trade. He also established stores at San
Diego, Yuma and Portland.
In 1879 his health failed through over work and he closed out his business,
making safe investments with his capital. He is a stock holder in the
Italian-Swiss Agricultural Colony at Asti, Sonoma
County, and has been treasurer of
the colony since 1885. In August, 1887, he bought a ranch of about 200 acres at
Asti, and he has placed 120 acres
in mixed fruits and vines. In 1884 he built a $30,000 residence at 2727 Folsom
street, where he now resides. A portion of his time is spent in superintending
the cultivation of his ranch.
Mr.
Ginocchio was married in San Francisco,
in 1880 to an American young lady, a native of San
Francisco. He is a man of genial disposition, of
excellent judgment, and strict integrity of character, and well worthy of the
success that has finally crowned his efforts.
Transcribed by Kim Buck.
Source: "The Bay of San
Francisco," Vol. 2, Pages 528-529,
Lewis Publishing Co, 1892.
© 2006 Kim Buck.
California
Biography Project
San
Francisco County
California
Statewide
Golden
Nugget Library