Siskiyou County
Biographies
JOE A. LEONETTI
Italy has supplied few better citizens to the United States than Joe A. Leonetti, who combines within himself the finest characteristics of his race, and is today one of the most successful men of California. This success has been won entirely through his untiring efforts, his good judgment and his habit of thrift. The large flourishing clothing business which he conducts at Weed, California, is proof of the progress which he has made since he landed on American shores, with little money but much ambition.
Joe A. Leonetti was born in Casino, Italy, October 24, 1886, a son of Frank and Rose (Fabiano) Leonetti. Frank Leonetti was a stockman in Italy, and came to the United States in 1893, locating first in New York, where he remained ten years, then returned to Italy for about three years, after which he went to South America, and on the southern continent spent seventeen years in the stock business. In 1921 he came to Weed, California, and spent the last few months of his life with his son. His death occurred in September of that same year.
After debarking at the port of New York, Joe A. Leonetti remained for a short time in that city and in 1903 came to California, locating first at McCloud, where he worked for the McCloud Lumber Company for five years, during the summers, while in the winters he was employed in a San Francisco foundry. He then went to Fort Bragg, Mendocino county, where he was employed in the hospital as a nurse for a period of four years.
His next move was to Weed, where he was employed by the Weed Mercantile Company for eight years, during which time he learned the mercantile business thoroughly, dreaming of the day when he would have a business of his own. In 1921 he established what is known as “Joe A. Leonetti’s Quality Store.” Within two years Mr. Leonetti increased his business more than two-fold. His stock includes men’s furnishing, shoes, and hosiery for ladies and men, and his lines are the very finest procurable, such as Hart, Schaffner & Marx clothing, Stetson hats and Nettleton shoes. He has forty-two hundred feet of floor space, his store having been remodeled to thrice its original size. Mr. Leonetti was the architect and directed the construction of all parts of his building. He owns the building and the entire business, all which represents a value of approximately seventy-five thousand dollars. Mr. Leonetti is a communicant of the Roman Catholic Church, and is a member of the Sons of Italy.
In 1914 Mr. Leonetti was married to Miss Sophia Scalise, a daughter of Frederick and Domenica Scalise, residents of Italy.
Mr. and Mrs. Leonetti have become the parents of two children, namely, Rose Marie and Frank, both in school.
Transcribed
by Craig Hahn.
Source: Wooldridge, J.W. Major History of the Sacramento Valley California, Vol. 2 pgs. 29-30. Pioneer Historical Publishing Co. Chicago 1931.
© 2005 Craig Hahn.
Golden Nugget Library's El Dorado County Biographies