San
Joaquin County
Biographies
JOSEPH ALEGRETTI
Among the representative men of the
second generation in San Joaquin County we mention Joseph Alegretti of
Stockton, who was born in this city on January 23, 1880, the son of Gaetano
Alegretti, who came to California in 1859 and was one of the first Italians to
settle in Stockton. He was born in
Chiavari, Italy, June 22, 1841; his father was Joseph and his mother was
Giovanni (Bisagno) Alegretti, the former a distinguished sculptor. Gaetano attended a private school until six
years old, later a school kept by a priest, but his attendance was irregular
for seven years; and he also went to an evening school to study drawing, as he
early evinced an aptitude for art. He
helped his father in his shop to carve and in 1856 began learning a trade in a
shipyard. His uncle, Pio
Bisagno, had been in California and had gone back to
Italy in 1857, with glowing tales of the wonders of the Pacific Coast
country. Gaetano was enthused and wanted
to come to California, but he had no money for transportation. In 1858 arrangements had been made for his
fare to New York and he prepared for the trip, but being under legal age he
could not get a transport to leave Italy, and on June 13, 1858, he enrolled as
a carpenter on a sailing vessel bound for Philadelphia. Before leaving his visited friends and
relations, who upon parting, gave him small sums of money as presents. His father went to Genoa to see him off and
when bidding him goodbye, Gaetano put this money, some sixty francs, into his
father’s hand and told him to keep it.
It took the ship three and one-half months to reach its destination and
upon arriving in Philadelphia the lad was given to understand that at a certain
hotel he would find more money from uncles in California for his passage to San
Francisco. This had not arrived and he
had to wait some little time; fortunately the next incoming ship from the coast
brought the money and he bought a ticket via Aspinwall and the Isthmus to San
Francisco, arriving twenty-two days later on the S. S. Golden Gate. He at once went to work for his uncles,
Bisagno Brothers, in a crockery store, and six months later he was sent to
Stockton to take charge of a branch store which was erected at the corner of
Washington and El Dorado streets. He
received $20 a month for the first two years, then $30. His studies and contact with people had made
him a good French, Spanish and English scholar and he was thus well qualified
to carry on a responsible business. When
he left the employ of his uncles he opened a grocery store in partnership with
a cousin, A. Daneri, at El Dorado and Lafayette streets; then eighteen months
later bought his uncles’ store and ran it for the same period at the old
location, then moved to 430 South Center Street. Beginning with a small salary Mr. Alegretti saved
his money and invested it intelligently in real estate in San Joaquin County,
all of which has greatly increased in value so that his heirs enjoy a
competency accrued from his labors. Mr.
Alegretti related interesting experiences during his lifetime. During the flood of 1862, when the lower part
of the city was covered with water, an old barge from the river floated down
the street and went aground at the corner where he was employed in the store;
he also told of the miners and Spaniards who would often come into his store
and demand free drinks, flourishing guns to emphasize their demands, and how he
drove them away with an old pickaxe he had hidden back of the counter for such
occasions.
Gaetano Alegretti was united in
marriage on August 19, 1864, to Miss Maria Macchiavello,
born at Soti, Italy, and they had six children: one now deceased was named Giovanna; and the
eldest, Mrs. Clotilda A. Macchiavello,
died December 4, 1915, leaving a son Gaetano and a daughter, Maria, living in
San Francisco. Those living are Miss Clorinda; Leonora A., Mrs. G. Ghiglieri;
Miss Anna, all in San Francisco; Joseph, of Stockton, the only son. Gaetano Alegretti was one of the founders of
the Italian Gardeners’ Association and was president of the lodge many years;
he gave his gun, belt and sash, which he wore when presiding over the lodge, to
his son Joseph. He was a member of the
Odd Fellows; the Druids, serving as secretary and treasurer of the latter; and
was treasurer of Court Cavalotti of the Foresters and
a member of the Knights of Pythias, Lodge No. 20. He was one of the organizers of the
Commercial & Savings Bank and was a member of the board of directors, and
his name, with the names of the other founders, is inscribed on the wall in the
new bank building at the corner of Sutter and Main streets; he also helped
organize the Union Safe Deposit Bank. He
accumulated several ranches in the county and valuable real estate in Stockton,
and the old home is still standing at the corner of Commerce and Washington
streets, a portion of which was brought around the Horn in pioneer days. The holdings of Mr. Alegretti have been
incorporated under the name of G. Alegretti Company, of which Joseph is the
president. Gaetano Alegretti died on
February 5, 1910, and he was survived by his widow until January 21, 1916. Mr. Alegretti was a leader among his
countrymen and they sought him for advice because they did not understand the
ways of this country, and he often became their banker in the earlier days in
Stockton.
Joseph Alegretti was educated in the
schools of Stockton and worked with his father as long as he continued in
business, and since the death of his parents he has had charge of the large
estate as president of the corporation.
Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph
Alegretti there are three talented daughters who are the pride of the Alegretti
home: Georgia, Leonora M., and Margaret
C. Fraternally Mr. Alegretti is a member
of the Stockton Aerie of Eagles, being among the oldest members of the lodge at
this time. Mr. and Mrs. Alegretti have a
large circle of friends throughout San Joaquin County who appreciate their
worth as citizens of this great state.
Transcribed by V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
1477. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2012 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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