San
Joaquin County
Biographies
MARCELLS G. BATTILANA
An interesting business that
flourishes more and more is that of Marcells G. Battilana, who styles his
enterprise the California Floral Company, located on North California Street,
Stockton, in which city he was born on the 25th of February,
1900. He is the son of Joseph and Lottie
(Gianelli) Battilana, the former a native of the Genoa district in Italy and
the latter a native daughter of Stockton, her father being G. Gianelli, a
pioneer grocer of the city. Joseph
Battilana is now a prominent real estate dealer in Stockton, recognized as one
of the progressive and influential leaders in his field. It is no wonder, then, that our subject is
well-known as one of the rising young merchants of the city.
He attended the Lafayette, Jackson
and South schools, and was graduated from the Washington school, after which he
went to San Francisco in 1916 and was with the Bank of Italy. Leaving that institution, he took a position
with the Pacific Coast Shipbuilding Company of San Francisco, and worked in the
shipyards during the World War.
Returning to Stockton, he became associated with his father in real
estate ventures, and later he was connected with the Commercial & Savings
Bank of Stockton.
An
uncle, A. Serventi, had established the California Floral Company in Stockton,
and his health failing, on April 6, 1921, Mr. Battilana and I. L. Randolph
bought the established business continuing the same under its original name. Mr. Serventi is now deceased. “Say it with flowers” is the slogan
challenging the attention of the public to their business, which has fairly
doubled itself since these hustling young men took it over. They have everything in the line of flowers
and ornamental plants, and their place is always among the most attractive in
the city. They deal direct with the
leading wholesalers of San Francisco, and are therefore always sure of
commanding the market.
At
San Francisco on January 15, 1921, Mr. Battilana was married to Miss Inez Squellati,
a native of Jackson, Amador County, the daughter of Virgil Squellati, a pioneer
of Amador and Calaveras counties and a graduate of the Stockton high
school. She also taught school for a
year at Palermo School in Valley Springs.
One daughter blessed their union, Marcelyn
Jean, born on June 14, 1922. Mr.
Battilana is a member of the American Institute of Banking in San Francisco,
having taken a course with the Bank of Italy; and he also belongs to the
Fraternal Order of Eagles, Stockton Parlor No. 7, N. S. G. W., and the
Druids. Being among the best-liked of
the younger set, his social connections spell prosperity in his business; and
the prosperity of his floral undertaking is a matter of concern and congratulation
to the community, since the California Floral Company renders an exceptional
service to many.
Transcribed by V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
1432. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2012 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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