San Joaquin County
Biographies
PETER LERTORA
PETER LERTORA, deceased, one
of the old-time Californians who spent his last days in Stockton, was a native of Italy, born
near Genoa, September 26, 1831. His parents were John and
Madaline Lertora, the father a farmer.
When he was a mere lad of eleven years he
left his native country and went to England. He subsequently emigrated to America, and for a time resided in Boston. From there he came to California in 1852, via Panama, and soon afterward went to the mines. His first
location was in Tuolumne County, afterward in Butte County, and finally he went to Calaveras County, and engaged in mercantile business at Angel’s Camp.
In 1863 he came to Stockton, and started on business on the corner of Washington and El
Dorado streets,
in partnership with P. Besagnio. He moved from there to El Dorado street, between Main and Levee,
where the “181” store now is, where he had no partner. He next moved on to
Levee street, where he carried on business about a year, then removed to the
corner of Aurora and Washington streets, in 1873, and carried on business there
until his death, which occurred October 8, 1885. He was one of the early
members of Campagnia Italians de Bersaglieri, No. I. He was married at Columbia, Tuolumne County, June 18, 1863, to Miss Madaline Rosasco, a native of
Italy, born near Genoa, and daughter of Augustine and Mary (Basso) Rosasco,
the father of a farmer. She came to this country with her parents when an
infant. They were located at Baltimore for a time, and from there her father came to California in 1855, locating in Amador County, where he followed mining, and afterward removing to Tuolumne County where he mined several years, then began farming. He
and his wife are both living on their ranche (sic) in Tuolumne County.
Mr. and Mrs. Lertora were the parents of
six children, of whom one is deceased, viz: Romeo A. Those living are Emil,
Attilio, Ida, Edmund and Peter. The eldest son, Emil, is an artist of
pronounced merit, whose work has already called for high encomiums from
critics. He was educated in this city, and at an early age displayed such a
fondness for painting and so much artistic genius that it was decided to allow
his natural abilities to shape his future career. He commenced his art studies
with Chav. Prof. D. Tojetti, one of the most eminent painters that the present
century has produced, and has remained under his instruction for over three
years. Already young Letora has displayed some creditable pictures in the
Mechanic’s Institute fair, San Francisco.
Mrs. Lertora now carries on a prosperous
business at the store, corner of Aurora and Washington streets, which has a reputation for fair and honest
dealing second to none in the city.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
An Illustrated History of San Joaquin County,
California, Page 359. Lewis Pub. Co.
Chicago, Illinois 1890.
© 2009 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
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