San
Joaquin County
Biographies
JOSEPH J. RASPO
A prominent young citizen of Banta,
Joseph Raspo is the proprietor of the widely-known general merchandise store,
and a progressive man of affairs to whom the town in agreeably indebted. He was born in Saluzzo,
Piedmonte, Italy, on February 28, 1885, the son of Fillipo and Mary (Toulie) Raspo,
whom he accompanied from Havre, France, arriving eventually at New York in
November, 1888, and coming on to Santa Cruz, where his father followed the life
of a rancher, until he passed away there on February 18, 1902. As a lad our subject attended the public
school in Santa Cruz until he was thirteen years old, when he was compelled to
get out and maintain himself at the same time that he helped support his
widowed mother. Mrs. Raspo then sold the
small ranch and moved to Santa Cruz, where she is now a resident.
Joseph went into the lumber camp of
the F. A. Hein Company, in the mountains, where he worked for wages until a
serious accident occurred to him.
Recovering, he drove a bakery wagon, building up a fine route and
profitable business, later entering the employ of the Wells Fargo Co., with
which corporation he continued for a couple years at Vera Cruz; then he entered
the employ of the E. I. DuPont Powder Company, joining their staff as a
mechanic.
In 1911 Mr. Raspo removed to Banta,
where he entered the employ of G. Brichetto, who maintained a general
merchandise store there; and six years later he acquired a one-third interest
in the concern and its trade, and in November, 1918, he became sole proprietor,
purchasing the business from the Brichetto heirs. The April previous to his removal to Banta he
had married Miss Mollie Brichetto, the second daughter of the late G.
Brichetto, and a gifted young lady who was born and reared at Banta, and who is
a graduate of St. Agnes Sisters College.
Three children have blessed their union, Frank J., Marie Louisa and
Geraldine. The family now resides in a
pretentious residence at Banta, for Mr. Raspo believes in endeavoring to have
everything that may make life worthwhile.
The family is Roman Catholic, and Mr. Raspo also belongs to the Santa
Cruz Lodge of the Eagles. In matters of
political import, he is a Republican, having been made a citizen of the United
States in 1911.
When the pioneer G. Brichetto
founded the business so enviably identified with his name since the seventies,
he established himself in a small way as a purveyor of fruits and vegetables,
thereafter erecting a Class A fire-proof structure in Banta. The floor-space has since then been increased
several fold. Here besides the stock of
merchandise may also have been found, from the time of their introduction here,
the U. S. Post Office, and long distance telephone.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
1124. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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