Sierra
County
Biographies
JOHN GENASCI
John
Genasci, an extensive and prominent landowner,
rancher and dairy farmer, whose ranch is located two miles northwest of Loyalton, Sierra County, is deserving of much credit for
what he has accomplished, for he began life here as an ordinary farm hand and
has achieved his present success by virtue of his persistent industry and the
exercise of sound judgment in all of his affairs. His ranch, on which he has lived for
twenty-eight years, consists of four hundred and forty acres, while another
ranch in this vicinity, containing five hundred and fifty acres, is owned
jointly by himself and his brother-in-law, Raffaele Dotta. He also owns
two hundred and twenty-seven acres, devoted to the raising of hay and grain,
lying four miles west of Loyalton; one hundred and
sixty acres, devoted to grazing purposes; and other ranch of one hundred and
seventy acres, and a forty-acre tract recently acquired from the government;
and still another ranch of one hundred and twenty acres, making a total of
eleven hundred and fifty-seven acres owned by him, besides his interest in the
five hundred and fifty acre tract. He
bought the home ranch in 1902, the next two hundred and forty acres in 1908 and
the remainder by subsequent purchases at various times.
Mr.
Genasci was born in Canton Ticino, Switzerland, on
the 22nd of July, 1868, and is a son of Constantino
and Giovanna Genasci, lifelong residents of Canton
Ticino. The father was a carpenter and
builder and attained the age of sixty years, while the mother lived to be
seventy-four years of age. Their little
farm, on which they kept a few cows, was located near the entrance to the
famous St. Gotthard Tunnel, close by the village of Airolo. John Genasci
attended the common schools of his home neighborhood and at an early age went
to work on farms and assisted his father in his building operations. He served the required time in the Swiss Army
and received a thorough training in military matters. For some time he hired out
as a common worker on Swiss farms, and also learned dairying and the making of
butter and cheese. In 1893 he
immigrated to the United States, coming at once to the Sierra Valley. He soon secured work on a ranch near Beckwith
owned by James L. Humphrey, on which he was employed before his marriage. Even for a few years after their marriage his
wife continued to work for her brother, Raffaele Dotta. After buying
the present home ranch, he made many substantial improvements on it, and now
has a good farm house, dairy barns, stock sheds and three large concrete dams
for irrigation purposes. He has worked
hard, has wisely invested in more land from time to time, and is still buying
land. He and his wife have worked in
close cooperation for the sake of their children, all of whom have received
good educations, and they have earned the genuine respect of their neighbors
and others who know of their tireless efforts since coming to this state.
On
June 28, 1898, in Reno, Nevada, Mr. Genasci was
united in marriage to Miss Josephine Dotta, a
daughter of Francisco and Deborah Dotta and a sister
of Raffaele Dotta, who are
referred to on other pages of this work.
Her sister, Angelina Dotta, who is unmarried,
is housekeeper for her brother Raffaele. Mrs. Genasci also
was born in Canton Ticino, Switzerland, and came to the United States in
1893. Mr. and Mrs. Genasci
are the parents of four children, namely:
Silvia, who graduated from the University of Nevada in 1926 and from the
University of California in 1927, taught in the high school at Jackson, Amador
County, California, and on July 29, 1930, in Reno, Nevada, was married to
Charles B. Wahlend, who is a graduate of the University
of Nevada and is now employed in the Bell Telephone Company’s office at
Oakland, where they reside; Julio, who graduated in 1928 from the University of
Nevada, where he had majored in agriculture, is now the agricultural extension
agent in Humboldt County, Nevada, and is at present preparing the exhibit for
the fair at Winnemucca, Nevada; and Attilio is a
junior in the University of Nevada.
Mr. Genasci
received his naturalization papers at Downieville and
has since given his political support to the Republican Party, showing a
commendable interest in the affairs of his community. He and his wife were reared in the faith of
the Roman Catholic Church and remain true to its teachings, giving liberally of
their means to religious, benevolent and charitable purposes. They assisted in establishing the Catholic
Church at Loyalton and contributed to the church
building, prior to which time services had been held in the schoolhouse. The spirit of hospitality and good cheer is
in evidence in their home and they and their children are popular throughout
the community.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Wooldridge, J.W.Major History of Sacramento Valley
California, Vol. 3 Pages 177-179. Pioneer Historical
Publishing Co. Chicago 1931.
© 2010 Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden Nugget Library's Sierra County
Biographies