Frank M Ambrose

Born in the Calabria region of Italy to Giovanni and Maria Ambrosio on March 24, 1872, we're only uncertain if he was born in the same town as his parents, which was Verbicaro. (The California Death Index has his month of birth as November!)It is recorded in the 1900 census that he came with his mother and brother to the US in 1881, he would have been about 9 years old. Below is a picture of him around the age of three, presumably taken in Italy.

In 1886, once they had been in California a little while, they had a lovely family portrait done. You can see this on his father's post.
Frank grew and married a California born girl named Annie. Her last name was said to be Zappieten, but the only surname like that we've found is Zappetini. They had two daughters together. Marguerita was born in July of 1893 and Gertrude was born, according to family records, in December of 1896. Some sources say she and Annie died during the childbirth. A document written by Frank many years later says his first wife died September 22 of 1898 and Gertie died in 1897. No mention of where they were buried. If they were buried in town, it will be very difficult to find any records of them. They lived, at least for a time, at 1220 Powell Street / Broadway. This is from an 1895 San Francisco city directory, page 194.
In the 1900 census it shows Frank had returned to live with his parents after the death of his wife and brought his daughter, Marguerita with him.
The picture below, cropped from a larger photo you'll see on Rose's page, was taken around 1903 with a new love, Catherine Agnes Howard. We're uncertain if they were married yet in this photo. (They married in San Francisco on February 11, 1903)
Just after their marriage, Frank began to show great dedication to working men's societies. The Woodmen of the World, King Solomon's Lodge of Freemasons, California Bodies (Scottish Rite), Ancient Egyptian order Sciots of the San Rafael Pyramid, Islam Temple (Shriners), Shrine Club of Marin and the Marin County Nobles Club to name a few. He was initiated as a Mason in October of 1904, passed on January 16 of 1905, and raised again in February of the same year. We have many reciepts of dues paid and identification cards from 1904 through the 1930's, and I'm sure these various organizations weren't all he participated in.
Frank and Catherine had only one daughter together (Alice) while living in San Francisco, after April 18, 1906, everything changed. The damages from the Earthquake and fires forced the Ambrose family into a camp of tents at the Presedio, and then to be herded onto a ferryboat like cattle bound for Marin County. They took the train to what was little more than a logging town, known as Larkspur.
While establishing their roots in a new town, Frank continued to be as active as he could in the Masonic society and his workers' union. He helped Larkspur organize their first Volunteer Fire Department, which began with one piece of equipment and no fire hose. He rented part of his paint store to the city for their meetings, became the second elected town Marshal, Constable, tax collector, and Fire Chief... "In those days everything was thrown in together." his daughter Alice was quoted to say in the book Larkspur: Past and Present.

With some of the town dignitaries... Can you spot him? Make sure you look at the Marin County Firefighters post, too!

The house at 11 Sycamore Avenue began as a small Victorian cottage built by Frank for his family around 1910. They outgrew it quickly it seems, and had to move to Locust Avenue, according to the Larkspur Historical Society book.

Today the integrity of the cottage has been lost due to extensive remodeling.

The Larkspur house they spent the most time in was at number 435 Magnolia Ave. This much larger house is right across the street from the City Hall and Fire Department- very convenient.
In the mid-1930's Frank and Catherine decided to move to Petaluma, and a 1942 letter home from their son, William, has their address at #3 -box 17 Sunny Slope Avenue.
Frank passed away in Santa Rosa (probably the nearest hospital) in 1945. He is buried at Olivet Memorial Park in Colma. After some hesitation, he was buried with his masonic ring and cap.