Mike and Frances Fragassi

The parents of Angela, Rocky, (and Emmalina) Fragassi... Shrouded in mystery until recently.

Mike came from Southern Italy, not Sicily, and Frances was born in Mexico although her father was French.

Here are the hard facts we have on this couple so far.

1920 Federal Census January 5
Norwalk Township, Precinct 2, Los Angeles, CA- Center Street

Head of House FRAGASSI, MIKE (this is where we first discovered
his name)
Rents the home, Male, White, age 28 at last birthday, Married, Immigrated 1909, Alien, Attending School and can Read and Write. Born in Italy, mother tongue Italian. Father and mother both born in Italy. Can speak English. Occupation: Gardener at Rail Road Company for wages.

Wife of Mike: FRANCES
Female, White, age 20 at last birthday, married, Immigrated 1912 (or 02- hard to read), Alien, attending school, can read and write. Born in Mexico, mother tongue Spanish. Father born in France, mother tongue French. Mother born in Mexico, mother tongue Spanish. (Frances) can speak English.

Daughter: ANGELINE
Female, White, 1+ year old, single, born in California. Father born in Italy, Mother born in Mexico.

1930 Federal Census- April 14
Montebello Township, Los Angeles County, California-
1135 South Wilkins Avenue

Head of Household: FRAGASSI, MIKE
Owns the home, valued at $3000, the family has a radio set, it is not on a farm. Male, White, age 39, married, age 26 at first marriage, has not attended college since September 1929, Can read and write. Born in Italy, mother and father born in Italy, language spoken in home before coming to the US- Italian. Year of Immigration 1906 (?) as an alien? Can speak English. Works as a gardener doing odd jobs for wages, actually employed, not a veteran.

Wife of Mike: FRANCES
Female, Mexican, 39 years old, married, age 17 at first marriage, no college since 1929, can read and write. Born in Mexico, father from France, mother from Mexico. Spoke Mexican in home before coming to the US in 1911 as an alien. Can speak English.

Daughter: ANGELINA
Female, Mexican, age 11, single, attending school, can read and write, born in California

Son: ROCZI
Male, Mexican, age 9, single, attending school, not specified whether he can read,
born in California

We have several Ellis Island accounts with good information, but there is some confusion about trips taken in 1909. One record that does make sense states Mike's father back home is named Rocco. The rest is difficult to read.

Another interesting discovery recently was that there was another daughter born to Mike and Frances. Her name was Emalina Fragassi in the California Birth Index. She was born on March 5, 1923 in Los Angeles county. It also added to the arguement of which birth year was the right one for Rocky. He COULD NOT have been born in October of 22 if his sister was born in March of the following year. The strange thing was that she was not in the 1930 census, so that tip was set aside. Recently, in a trip to the State Library, I found in the California Death Indice that she died at the age of four months, on July 11, 1923. We have not gotten a death record on her yet, so we do not know the cause.

We're still looking for more information.