MALUGANI Family History, Part I

The MALUGANI family has its earliest known roots in the Italian region of Switzerland near the Italian border. While the family probably lived on the Swiss side of the border before emigrating, the approximate location is listed as Lago di Como, a large lake on the Italian side of the border near the Swiss canton of Ticino. This proximity to the border probably accounts for the variance in recorded origin, from one record to another, as being either Italy or Switzerland. Per the 1900 census record of the Joseph MALUGANI ² family, Joseph was born in Italy but his wife and two eldest children were born in Switzerland, thus suggesting that Joseph was born in Italy but started his family in Switzerland. The name MALUGANI was not found among those listed in a Swiss book on Swiss family names published in 1940.

Three MALUGANI siblings (Giuseppe ², Antoni, and Caterina) immigrated in to America in 1889 and 1892, settling in Sonoma County, California. Joseph arrived first in 1889 and then Antoni and Caterina followed in 1892 and 1893 via New York along with Giuseppe's wife and two children. A fourth sibling is said to have emigrated to South America, likely Argentina.

Thanks to research from and collaboration with Jill (MARCI) SYBALSKY , our MALUGANI elders, and cousins who contributed to our family history.

DNA Analysis

DNA testing of John WARGIN's descendants, reveal that we belong to Haplogroup R1b1. From this we find that after "Eurasian Adam" (M168) left the Ethiopia-Sudan region of East Africa some 50,000 to 79,000 years ago, one branch of descendants entered the Middle East (Haplogroup F, M89) and spread throughout the northern hemisphere with Haplogroup K (M9) some 40,000 years ago. From a branch on the Central Asian Steppes (M45) some 35,000-40,000 years ago Haplogroup R (M207) and its subgroup R1 (M173) sprang and gave rise to Cro-Magnon Man (R1b/M343) in Western Europe 35,000 years ago. Yes, it appears our earliest WARGIN ancestors, along with those of most Western Europeans, were Cro-Magnon.

The R1b1 (P25) subclade likely resettled in Western Europe after the last glacial age ended some 10,000-12,000 years ago. As such, this widespread haplogroup is noted in 70-90% of the Western European population, and not only encompasses our Italian-Swiss MALUGANI ancestors but, further on down the line, those of my German MILLER and Polish WARGIN ancestors (both R1b1c/P25+).

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11.	Joseph C. MALUGANI 2	9 Feb 1864	12 Sep 1924	(60)
12.	Antoni MALUGANI	Mar 1866	28 Mar 1933	(67)
13.	Caterina MALUGANI	1 Sep 1868	9 Jan 1949	(80)
14.	MALUGANI

Carlo's name is presumed based on the fact his grandson, Carlo "Charles" Aurelio MALUGANI, was said to be named after his grandfather.

The first known son, Joseph Charles, born Giuseppe Carlo, emigrated to California first. A few years later, his brother Antoni, sister Caterina, wife Aurelia (CERINI) MALUGANI, and son and daughter followed. The other brother is said to have emigrated to South America, either to work in the diamond mines or, more likely, as a cattle rancher in Argentina.

11. Giuseppe Carlo "Joseph ("Joe") Charles" MALUGANI ², was born February 9, 1864, in the region of Lago di Como in Lombardi, Italy, now believed to have been pinpointed to the town of Primaluna, Lecco Province, in a valley that drains into Lago di Como from the east. He married Aurelia (Caterina) CERINI, proably in or near Giumaglio, Ticino, Switzerland, the home of the CERINI family and began his family there. Joe emigrated to California in 1889 ahead of the rest of his family and first settled in Analy Township, on the outskirts of Santa Rosa, Sonoma County. Aurelia, who was likely pregnant with their second child when Joseph left, joined him in 1892. After arriving in California they had six more children, all born in the greater Santa Rosa area:

A "Guiseppe MALOGANE," age 21 and native of Switzerland, departed Le Havre, France aboard the La Gascogne, arriving in New York on September 23, 1889.

Despite the misspelled name, one-year difference in immigration from the 1900 and 1920 censuses, and a 4-year age difference, this may very well correlate with our Giuseppe.

Furthermore, on August 27, 1892, La Touraine arrived in New York with a 23-year old "A. PAROLI" couple and one-year old daughter along with a 23-year old "J. MALUGANI" couple and two-year old daughter. Despite being too close to be a coincidence, the glaring discrepancies are that Antoni and Caterina (MALUGANI) PAROLI are believe to have been married in 1895 after their arrival in America and did not have any children born before that time. Additionally, the two-year old MALUGANI child more closely fits son Charlie rather then daughter Martina, who would have been 4 years old at the time, not to mention that Joseph would have been 28 years old rather than 23.

Joe was a dairyman and also a reasonably accomplished mason who is said to have first worked for the LEGGETT family near the intersection of the old Sebastopol Highway and Wright Road on the outskirts of Santa Rosa. Joe was naturalized at the Sonoma County Superior Court on September 4, 1894. His voter registration on August 6, 1896 listed him as a dairyman and described him as only 5' 2" tall, with a dark complexion, brown eyes, and black hair. It was also in this area that Joe was twice enumerated in the 1900 census, first as a lone, but married, boarder with the Louis PEDROTTI family in Llano Precinct, and then at the end of the month with his family in Analy Township.

Joe later worked for the AUSTINs above Rincon Valley and by 1901 built the "Rock House" residence off Saint Helena Road near his sister Catherina PAROLI and family. Joe filed the patent (200933 in Twp 8N R7W, Sec 21) for the Rock House property on May, 25 1911.

Joe was also registered in the Rincon precinct of Santa Rosa in 1900 and 1912, and as a Republican in the latter. Son Dan recalls that Joseph had a strong sense of citizenship and urged his son-in-law Toni MAGATELLI to become a citizen citing that one "must become a citizen to live here."

After the "Rock House," the MALUGANIs moved to the bottom of Alpine Road where they were enumerated in the 1920 census. There Joe set about building a second rock house, which he had nearly completed--all but the windows--before he died in 1924.

One September afternoon Joe's son Dan went looking for his father. After seaching a while he checked the corn field and found him lying passed out on the ground. Dan carried him back to the house and Joe died the next day of brachiopnemonia.

Joseph Charles MALUGANI died at the age of 60 on September 12, 1924 in Santa Rosa. He is buried at the Calvary Cemetery on Bennett Valley Road in Santa Rosa.

Aurelia (CERINI) MALUGANI died 24 years later on January 28, 1948 in San Rafael, Marin County, California and was buried three days later at the Calvary Cemetery, along side Joe and their daughter Philomena. Aurelia was 79 years old.

Sources

12. Antoni "Zeo Tony" MALUGANI was born probably near Lago di Como, Lombardia, Italy in March 1866. He emigrated to California in the early 1890s, either with his brother Joseph in 1889 or with his sisters in 1892. He was naturalized at the Sonoma County Superior Court on July 18, 1898 and registered to vote that same day. The voter registration lists him as a laborer, 5' 5" tall, with a dark complexion, brown eyes, and black hair. In 1900, Antoni registered as a resident of the southern portion of Sebastopol.

"Zeo Tony" died on March 28, 1933 in Sonoma County. He was 67 years old.

Sources

131.	Paul PAROLI	7 Feb 1896	Jan 1984	(87)
132.	Dominica PAROLI	(1898)	28 Dec 1917	(19)
133.	Charles F. PAROLI	5 May 1901	Jun 1981	(80)
134.	Martina PAROLI	(1905)	18 Feb 1907	(2)
1321.	Albert M. PAROLI, Sr.	9 Jun 1917	17 Mar 1992	(74)

On August 27, 1892, La Touraine arrived in New York with a 23-year old "A. PAROLI" couple and one-year old daughter along with a 23-year old "J. MALUGANI" couple and two-year old daughter. Despite being too close to be a coincidence, the glaring discrepancies are that Antoni and Caterina (MALUGANI) PAROLI are believe to have been married in 1895 after their arrival in America and did not have any children born before that time.

Catherine MALUGANI married Antoni PAROLI on April 8, 1895 in Sonoma County, California. They were married by S.K. DOUGHERTY, Superior Judge in Sonoma County. At the time, Caterina had been living in Stony Point, midway between Santa Rosa and Petaluma, and Antonio in Freestone, between Sebastopol and Bodega Bay. Both were 22 years old.

Antoni filed for land patent 8361, section 21 of Township MD 8N 7W, on June 2, 1904, which lies off St. Helena Road in the hills above Santa Rosa. By 1920, the PAROLIs resettled in Rincon Precinct that is likely later identified as being at 2733 Calistoga Road.

The PAROLIs are also recalled to have a ranch up Alpine Road, but the descriptions of 2733 Calistoga Road indicate a little way below where Alpine Road splits off of Calistoga Road. The 1930 census, on the other hand, lists the PAROLIs at Rincon Hill Road, which is no longer named as such. Could this refer to the Alpine Road ranch?

Antoni PAROLI died on 13 June 1940 in Sonoma County, he was 70 years old.

Catherine (MALUGANI) PAROLI died nine years later at the age of 80 on January 9, 1949 of hypertensive heart disease caused by arteriosclerosis. At the time she was living at the PAROLI Ranch at 2733 Calistoga Road, Santa Rosa. She was buried on January 12 at the Calvary Cemetery^[Dth].

Sources

Joseph C. MALUGANI
Josephine (MALUGANI) SANFORD
Antoni MALUGANI
Charles A. MALUGANI ³

111. Martina "Martha" Giuseppina MALUGANI was born in Switzerland on September 30, 1888. She emigrated to California with her mother and younger brother, Charles Aurelio in 1893, rejoining her father, Joseph Charles who had emigrated three years earlier. She married Geromezio "Jerome" Joseph MARCI, Sr., a native of Frasco, Ticino canton, Switzerland, and had seven children:

After the death of daughter, Elizabeth, at 18 months, Martina and Jerome split up and Martina remarried to Albert TOMLINSON, a boyfriend of her daughter Nellie's, at the time.

Jerome Joseph MARCI, Sr. died on January 4, 1966 of pyelonephritis (a urinary tract infection) brought on following seven years of urethral problems and anorexia at the Wheeler Hospital in Gilroy, Santa Clara County, California. He was 87 years old. Jerome is buried at Saint Mary's Cemetery in Gilroy.

Martina (MALUGANI MARCI) TOMLINSON died at the age of 92 on March, 27 1981 while residing in Acampo, San Joaquin County, California. She is buried in Lodi, San Joaquin County, California.

Albert Hesser TOMLINSON died on May 4, 1999 and is also buried in Lodi.

According to a Swiss book published in 1940 on Swiss family names, the MARCI name is first found prior to 1800 in the area of Frasco in the canton of Ticino. Later, between 1800 and 1900, it is also found in Landarenca in the canton of Grisors and Zurich, Zurich canton.

112. Carlo "Charlie" Aurelio MALUGANI ³, was born April 3, 1890, in Lago di Como, Switzerland (now in northern Italy). He appears to have been named for his grandfather Carlo MALUGANI and perhaps his mother Aurelia (CERINI) MALUGANI. He emigrated with his mother in 1893 at the age of 3 to California where he was reunited with his father who had settled a few years earlier. Charles married Pearl Elizabeth FISHER about 1915, he 25 years old at the time and she 14 years old. They had eight children:

Charles grew up in the hills above Rincon Valley in Santa Rosa and attended school for about two years at Alpine School, but that was hardly enough to learn to read. After he married Pearl he learned to read from her and was enumerated in the census as able to read and write.

By 1912, Charles was registered to vote in Rincon precinct as a Republican.

About 1915, Charles married Pearl Elizabeth FISHER in San Rafael, Marin County; he was 24 years old and she about 14 or 15 years old. They first lived at the Old GEMMET place up Calistoga Road and then moved over the hills toward Calistoga, Napa County, to the PETERSON ranch about halfway down the Calistoga grade (Petrified Forest Highway), where their first son Alvin was born in 1917. By 1918, they moved over to the Sonoma County side to Gates Road, just over the "BUCHI Grade." It was then that the "Spanish Flu" pandemic struck toward the end of World War I. Pearl, then pregnant with daughter Hazel, fell ill but managed to pull out of it before giving birth in January, 1919.

Later in 1919, by the 1920 census, the MALUGANIs moved down Calistoga Road to Alpine Road where they lived on Alpine Road (then recorded as "Rincon Hill Road") near his parents and aunt, Caterina (MALUGANI) PAROLI, who lived at the top of Alpine Road.

By 1922, Charles and his wife, Pearl, were given P.O. Box 297 in Rincon Valley. From there they moved to a converted chicken house on Alpine Road where Cora was born in 1923. Later they removed to a plot later dubbed the DERBY Ranch, just below where Alpine Road breaks from Calistoga Road and across the road from his sister Serena (MALUGANI) MAGATELLI. The DERBY Ranch address was noted as P.O. Box 282 in 1924 and 1928. Charles farmed the plot and cut firewood along Mark West Creek to take down into town to sell. The rest of their children were all born while living at the DERBY ranch, where they were enumerated in the 1930 census near the HITCHCOCKs, FECHTERs, SHARPs, MAGATELLIs, STEWARTs, PAROLIs, FISHERs, and WILLIAMS, and on through at least 1932, when youngest son Bud was born. The MALUGANIs had worked to buy the DERBY Ranch place but they lost it when a handshake deal fell through.

In the early 1930s, the MALUGANIs briefly moved north of Santa Rosa to Healdsburg, near the Madrona Manor (then known as the Madrona Knoll Rancho) at the junction of Dry Creek Road and Westside Road. Not long after they returned to Santa Rosa and settled in the Fulton area at a fruit orchard at 1689 Fulton Road, on the east side of the road near the creek that cuts through the northeast corner of today's Piner High School. There, Pearl's paternal grandmother, Harriet (CHAPMAN FISHER) WILLIAMS, lived with the MALUGANIs for a while about 1935 before her death in 1936.

On October 30, 1941, wife Pearl died of a heart attack while preparing a Halloween party for the L. B. BURTON family. Pearl was only 40 years old. She is buried at the Chapel of the Chimes in Santa Rosa.

After Pearl died, the family briefly moved a block south along Fulton to the west side of the road near the old Piner School, roughly catty-corner from today's Piner High. Not long after this, still in the early 1940s, the MALUGANIs moved to Frazier Street (now Frazier Avenue) near the Fairgrounds and Aston Avenue where Charlie's brother Joe lived.

After a brief stay at Frazier Street, Charlie bought 2289 Francisco Road from the KNUTSENs, back in the Fulton area. He lived there until his death in 1957.

As his daughter Hazel put it, Charlie was either happy or wanting to fight like a rooster when he got to drinking, often with Pearl's stepfather, Al WILLIAMS. He usually left disciplining the children to his wife and only laid a hand on his eldest son Al once, after several warnings.

Charles Aurelio MALUGANI died of liver failure at the age of 67 on April 28, 1957 in Santa Rosa. He is buried at the Chapel of the Chimes in Santa Rosa with Pearl.

The MALUGANI place at 2289 Francisco Avenue was left to youngest child Bud, but son Bert lived at the place while Bud served in the U.S. Air Force.

Sources

Tony served in France during World War I and later worked largely as a farmer laborer for various people such as Raymond FECHTER and brother, Joseph at his shale pit on Porter Creek Road. Tony's younger brother Dan recalls the contrast between brothers Tony and Joe who was a hard worker. Tony was known for his headaches that conveniently came on when there was work to be done.

Antoni MALUGANI died October 3, 1977 in his home in Santa Rosa.

Anthony MALUGANI: Services will be Friday at 10 a.m. at Lafferty and Smith Colonial Chapel for Anthony MALUGANI, 82, who died Monday in his Santa Rosa home.

MALUGANI was a life long resident of Santa Rosa. He was member of Veterans of Foreign Wars, Santa Rosa, and St. Rose Catholic Church. He was a retired construction worker.

He is survived by his two sisters and two brothers, Martina THOMALSON [sic], Lodi; Josie SANFORD, Washington; Joseph MALUGANI, Santa Rosa, and Dan MALUGANI, Mill Valley; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The Rosary will be recited at the mortuary Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Burial will be at Calvary Catholic Cemetery.

114. Serena MALUGANI was born in July 1896, in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California. She married Antoni "Tony" Benjamin MAGATELLI and had five children:

Tony was from Tovo di Sant'Agata, Sondrio, Lombardia, Italy. He emigrated, departing from Naples aboard the Sicilian Prince and arrived in New York on April 13, 1904. He was bound for San Francisco, presumably to meet up with a Mr. GAZZETTI of 533 Green Street, along with an Antoni (OMADEI), also of Tovo di Sant'Agata. His brother Domenico migrated seven years later in 1911, as did his widowed mother 20 years after that in 1931.

The MAGATELLIs lived across Calistoga Road opposite the DERBY Ranch where Serena's brother Charlie lived from about 1924 to 1932.

Serena is remembered as a hard-drinking woman with a fiery temper.

Serena (MALUGANI) MAGATELLI died on May 1, 1928 in Sonoma County. She was only 31 years old.

Tony MAGATELLI died 21 years later on November 13, 1949 in Sonoma County. He was 64 years old.

Serena's husband, Benjamin "Tony" MAGATELLI was an elder brother of Domenico MAGATELLI who married Dominica PAROLI, Serena's cousin on her mother's side.

115. Josephine "Josie" L. MALUGANI was born December 5, 1898, in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California. She may have been simply named for her father Joseph, but may as well have been named for her maternal grandmother Josephine CERINI. She married Leo E. SANFORD, a native of Minnesota by way of Seattle, Washington, and had four children:

The SANFORD family lived in Glen Ellen, Sonoma County where Leo had a butcher shop in the late 1920's. About 1932 the SANFORDs moved to "God's Country" in Washington, as Leo used to say. There he ran a shrimp boat in La Conner, Skagit County in Northwestern Washington.

Leo E. SANFORD died on May 17, 1968 in Mt. Vernon, Skagit County, Washington. He was 73 or 74 years old.

Josephine L. (MALUGANI) SANFORD lived to the age of 95 and died on October 4, 1994 in Snohomish County, Washington.

116. Joseph Constantino MALUGANI II was born October 9, 1899, in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California. He married Evalina HAROW and had five children:

Evalina left the family soon after her first grandson Bobby was born in December 1945. A few years later Joe remarried to Anita M. (BACCI) BUONACORSI, an Italian immigrant who had two daughters from a prior marriage.

Joe worked a shale pit on Porter Creek Road above Santa Rosa. He was a very hard worker and put in long hours.

Joseph Constantino MALUGANI II died on August 22, 1984 at the age of 84.

Anita (BACCI BUONACORSI) MALUGANI died 15 years later on January 14, 1999 at the age of 91 years. She was buried on January 19 at the Redwood Memorial Gardens in Guerneville, Sonoma County.

117. Philomena L. MALUGANI, possibly spelled Filomena, was born October 2, 1901, at the "Rock House" in the hills above Rincon Valley, Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California. She lived with her parents and never married.

After her father died in 1924, she, her mother, and youngest brother moved into Santa Rosa and resided at 926 Cherry Street where she worked at a hotel, recalled to be the Lincoln Hotel.^{[Cen 1930]}

Philomena L. MALUGANI died November 19, 1931 at the young age of 30. She is buried along side her parents at the Calvary Cemetery on Bennett Valley Road in Santa Rosa.

118. Daniel Joseph MALUGANI, Sr. was born on August 11, 1908 in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California and is believed to have been named for his maternal uncle, Dan CERINI. He married Stella Maria COMALLI, also the daughter of Italian immigrants, on October 10, 1932 at the St. Thomas Aquinas Cathedral in Reno, Washoe County, Nevada. They had two children:

Daniel Joseph, Sr. is the youngest of eight children and therefore developed a wonderful sense of humor. He attended Alpine School in the hills above Rincon Valley in Santa Rosa. There the MALUGANI family was closely allied with the FISHER-WILLIAMS family through the marriage of Dan's eldest brother Charlie. As Dan recalls, the tall, hardy FISHER boys frequently stood up for the smaller Italian MALUGANI boys, Dan in particular, when trouble was afoot.

On a September afternoon in 1924, just after Dan turned 16, his mother sent him out to find his father. After seaching a while he checked the corn field and found him lying unconscious on the ground. Dan carried him back to the house and he died the next day of brachiopnemonia.

After Dan came of age, he worked at a service station in Santa Rosa on the corner of 5th and A streets. After marrying Stella they moved to the bay area where he worked for Standard Stations.

They moved into San Francisco on July 4th, 1934 where Dan recalls traversing the Golden Gate Bridge when it first opened in May 1937.

Later Dan opened his own tire shop, the Malugani Tire Center, in Mill Valley, Marin County, California.

Dan's wife Stella Maria (COMALLI) MALUGANI died on 17 July 1999 in Mill Valley. She had suffered from Alzheimer's disease in her final years. Her funeral, which my family and I attended, was held on the 21st at "Our Lady of Mount Carmel" Catholic church in Mill Valley. She was laid to rest at Valley Memorial Park in nearby Novato.

Daniel Joseph MALUGANI, Sr. died on February 28, 2008 at his home in Mill Valley. He was 99½ years old, and had hoped to outlive his elder maternal cousin Olga (CERINI) CERINE, but missed catching her by a mere five days. He was laid to rest alongside Stella at Valley Memorial Park in Novato.

Marin Independent Journal, March 1, 2008:

Daniel Joseph MALUGANI, Sr. Born in Santa Rosa, CA, Daniel passed away on February 28th, 2008 at the age of 99. He passed away peacefully with his family at his bedside at home.

Daniel grew up on the family farm. He went to Alpine School, a one-room schoolhouse through the 8th grade. His best childhood friends included his horse Ned and his dog Brownie.

Daniel married Stella COMALLI in 1932 and was married for 66 years. He embraced change, was young at heart, and was very inventive. Daniel founded Malugani Tire Center in 1948, which is now run by his grandchildren.

He was an entrepreneur, had an adventurous spirit, and took many risks. Daniel was always a loving and cheerful person -- ready with a joke and a smile. He was a great listener and very supportive. His hobbies included gardening, photography, playing his sax, telling stories, riding his horse, and road trips. He liked to brag that he drove for 80 years without receiving a ticket or citation. It is estimated that he drove over two million miles. Family always came first. Daniel was one of nine children.

He is survived by his children Margo MONGE and Dan, Jr., 14 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren, and one great great-grandson, and many loving relatives and friends.

Family and friends may attend a Visitation Monday, March 3rd, 2008 starting at 6:00 p.m. with a Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m. at Our Lady Of Mt. Carmel Church, 3 Oakdale Avenue, Mill Valley and the Funeral Mass Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. at the Church. Interment Valley Memorial Park, Novato. Memorial gifts preferred to St. Mary's School, 1730 Janes Street, Arcata, CA., 95521 or to your favorite charity. Arrangements under the care of ADOBE CREEK FUNERAL HOME, 331 Lakeville Street, Petaluma, CA 94952.

1321.

Albert M. PAROLI, Sr.

9 Jun 1917

17 Mar 1992

(74)

Domenico MAGATELLI was from Tovo di Sant'Agata, Sondrio, Lombardia, Italy. He emigrated, departing from Le Havre, France aboard the La Gascogne and arrived at Ellis Island on March 14, 1911. Upon arrival he stated he was to join his sister Bettina in Fort Bragg, Mendocino County, California by way of San Francisco. His elder brother Antoni had also immigrated seven years earlier, and his widowed mother followed 20 years later in 1931.

In December, 1917, when son Albert was just months old, Dominico was loading explosives (either black powder or dynamite) on to a wagon when it ignited. Dominico escaped with his life but Dominica was thrown from the wagon and died a few days later on December 28. She was only about 19 years old. Tragically, Domenico MAGATELLI took his life five months later at Dominica's grave.

Their infant son Albert was adopted by Dominica's parents and raised as a PAROLI.

Dominica's husband, Domenico MAGATELLI, was a younger brother of Benjamin Antoni MAGATELLI who married Serena MALUGANI, Dominica's cousin on her mother's side.

Charles PAROLI died in Santa Rosa on June 1981 at the age of 80.