We started this blog in 2009 as a service for people far and wide descended from Swiss-Italian immigrants. Although the blog is no longer active, it will remain available to you to use as a valuable resource for genealogy research.
Author: Dale Bechtel
Maurice Perret: Scholar of the Italian-speaking Swiss
by Tony Quinn
The Swiss American Historical Society has just published a new book that was sent to all its members, “Emigrant Paths, Encounters with 20th Century Swiss Americans.” Among the people portrayed in the book is Maurice Perret, a French Swiss geographer from Neuchatel who was born in 1911 and died in 1996. Continue reading
Mattei family of Australia now on Facebook
From Barb Mullen, Australia
Over the last year and a half I have produced monthly newsletters on the Mattei family in Australia, spanning the years 1850 to 1950 primarily. The newsletters, Mattei Matters, covered the lives and families of the original Alessandro and Catherine Mattei nee Mulcahy and their 12 children. Continue reading
Carlo Martinoia / Charles Martin: “the wealthiest man in Sonoma and Marin counties”
From Marilyn Longinotti Geary, United States
Carlo Martinoia arrived in San Francisco via the Isthmus of Panama on June 15, 1852. Born in 1829 to a poor family in Cevio in the Valle Maggia, Martinoia began working at the age of 15 as a mason’s helper, first in France, then in Africa.
Seeking info on Antionia Calzonia who migrated to Marin County
From Barbara Dillon, United States
My great Grandfather Gardinzo Cheda great grandmother Antiona Calzonia came to California, Marin County, and started I believe the first dairy ranch in Jewell (Olema) Continue reading
Seeking information on Cabalzar from canton Graubünden (Grigioni)
From Jody Cabalzar, Australia
I’m seeking some feedback on the emmigration route my x3 great grand father would have taken from Graubunden on his way to Australia in 1863. Continue reading
Families emigrated from Certara
From Deborah, Switzerland
I’m looking for information on families from Certara (Val Colla) in Ticino, Switzerland – Moresi, Risi, Bassi etc.
Famiglie emigrate da Certara
Di Deborah, Svizzera
Cerco informazioni su famiglie emigrate da Certara (val colla) Ticino svizzera Moresi, Risi, Bassi,..ecc
Online book in English about Valle Maggia families
From Mark Lesina, United States
I found a link online (http://vuir.vu.edu.au/15416/1/Carlson_1997compressed.pdf) and have started reading it, and it seems really interesting. It is a book that has been scanned and placed on line by University of Victoria – Melbourne in Australia. Continue reading
Seeking information on the Scettrinis from Vogorno
From Carla Rezzonico, Switzerland
I am looking for information on Giuseppe and Paolo Scettrini from Vogorno, sons of Giulio and Angiolina née Gamboni, who left for America at the beginning of the 1900s. Continue reading
Spectacular visit to Coglio by Lafranchi descendant
Courtney LaFranchi, United States
I came to visit Coglio this past December and have been missing it like you wouldn’t believe. I come from a long line of Lafranchi’s, my great(x3) grandfather Guiseppe Pietro being the last to have been born in Coglio. Continue reading
The origin of the name Anesia?
From Barb Mullen, Australia
My great aunt was known as Auntie Easie, she was also called Anesia by some, Ann by others. It has been a puzzle to us for some time where the name Anesia has come from. Does anyone know if the name has connections with Ticino or more precisely, Cevio?
Looking for Cheda relations
From Barbara Reilly, United States
My great grandfather, Gaudenzio Cheda came to California from Maggia around 1860 and had the first dairy ranch. He married Antionia Calzonia and they returned to Maggia several times and had several children.
Gaudenzio’s brother, Pete had a son, Phillip Henry Cheda born in the US traveled to Maggia in 1922 and we are trying to find info on whether he stayed or if there are any Calzonia or Cheda’s that can be traced that I might be related to. My grandfather George Cheda hosted picnics for those living in California from Ticino on our family ranch in Tocoloma, Olema Marin County California. I can not id anyone in the photos.
The cello-playing Traversi from Cevio
From Mark McLaughlan, Australia
My great grandfather and great great grandfather were both named Carlo Traversi and according to the records were born in Cevio which was known as “Swiss-Italian” in our history. Continue reading
Excellent reference work on Ticino
From Marilyn L. Geary, United States
I came across a document on the web that may be useful for researchers who are looking for their roots in Ticino. It’s called the “Annuario della Repubblica e Cantone del Ticino: per l’anno 1859-1860” and it lists all kinds of information about the Canton, the political organization and leaders, the churches and hospitals and professions. Continue reading
The Morettis and Filippinis from Cevio and Coglio
From Lee Chiappalone, Australia
Moretti and Filippini: Both families emigrated from Cevio and Coglio Ticino to Australia in the late 1800’s. Family folklore has it they were related but there were no marriages between the families in this country.
Were there marriages back in Ticino? My GG grandfather was Ferdinand Moretti son of Johannes Moretti and Ivania Maria Mautero (not sure if those names are spelt right). Any information most welcome.
The Californian letters of Silvio DeBernardi
From Natasha De Bernardi, Ticino
Between 1880 and 1914, 27,000 young people from Ticino emigrated to California. Silvio Debernardi (14.1.1873 -13.7.1954) was one of them. This book (http://www.ndb-agency.ch/blog/?p=1991) contains 61 letters written and received by my great grandfather Silvio during his years in California, from 1891 to 1901.
The book is in English with the original Italian transcription printed at the end of each letter. Sixty-one images are included in the publication.
The Mattei family: Wonthaggi to Creswick
by Barb Mullen, Australia
In 1922, Peter, Elsie and Kenneth moved to Creswick to run the British Hotel. It was at this grand hotel some hundreds of miles from where most of the family were living, that fractures in the relationship between Peter and Elsie were visible. Continue reading
Seeking info on Rotanzi family of Peccia
From Marilyn Longinotti Geary, United States
I am searching for information on the Rotanzi Family of Peccia. Three sons of father Luigi Rotanzi left in the mid-19th century. Francesco went to Australia in 1855 and became a manager of a gold mining operation. Continue reading
Mattei family: From Rovanna to Gippsland and married life
by Barb Mullen, Australia
When Peter Mattei was about 5 years old, the family fortunes changed for the better. What was to become the family home, ‘Rovanna’ was a house on many acres of land where the family had fruit trees such as apple, pear, plum, peach and cherry trees. The chestnut so important as a food source in Cevio, especially in times of hunger, was also grown here and two trees stand today on the property in Green Hills, near Blackwood. Continue reading
