Rockford LCN Roots - Aragona

[cavita]

I've never really looked up the proto-groups. We only have what's been written on them and I wish I could see court transcripts, if such a thing exists. From what's been written, in the 1870's-80's there were several identified groups:
1 Fratellanza in Favara (In the 1920's, informants in NYC used Fratellanza.)
2 L'Oblonica in Girgenti
3 Scattialora in Sciacca
Should be noted that these groups appear connected with other the other groups inc
4 Zubbio (Villabate)
5 La Fontana (Misilmeri)
6 Scaglione (Castrogiovanni)
7 Stoppaglieri (Monreale)
8 Fratuzzi (Monreale), I believe it was also called the Fratuzzi in Corleone as well.

Am I missing any?

There were Gambino members from Favara and Sciacca.

The Rockford family had many from Aragona

Yeah by later 1961 most of their hierarchy was from there:

Boss: Joe Zammuto (Aragona)
Underboss: Frank Buscemi (Aragona)
Consigliere: Joe Zito (San Giuseppe Iato)
Capo: Lorenzo Buttice (Aragona)
Onetime acting boss Phil Caltagerone (Aragona)

By the late 1970s you still had Zammuto and Buscemi but also men from Aragona with the names Galluzzo, DiGiacamo and Seminerio among others but they were pretty diverse in that they had guys from Sambuca, Partinico, Casteldaccia, Roccamena and Marsala.

Very interesting. How early did Rockford have an Aragonese presence?

By 1910-1915 they were already established in Rockford. One of the earliest members of LCN already in Rockford at the time were Joe Zammuto, his brother Frank and Phil Caltagerone. In 1917 Caltagerone and Frank Zammuto were arrested for the murder of Giuseppe Tarantola (of Camporeale) and they were sentenced to lengthy prison terms but was overturned on appeal. A first cousin of Frank Buscemi was Angelo Buscemi who was already established with the LCN there in the early 1930s before being killed while trying to extort a bar owner. There was another man by the last name Canistraro who was involved but was deported in the 30s. Apparently he was wanted for three murders in Aragona in the late 1920s.

[Angelo Santino]

I've never really looked up the proto-groups. We only have what's been written on them and I wish I could see court transcripts, if such a thing exists. From what's been written, in the 1870's-80's there were several identified groups:
1 Fratellanza in Favara (In the 1920's, informants in NYC used Fratellanza.)
2 L'Oblonica in Girgenti
3 Scattialora in Sciacca
Should be noted that these groups appear connected with other the other groups inc
4 Zubbio (Villabate)
5 La Fontana (Misilmeri)
6 Scaglione (Castrogiovanni)
7 Stoppaglieri (Monreale)
8 Fratuzzi (Monreale), I believe it was also called the Fratuzzi in Corleone as well.

Am I missing any?

There were Gambino members from Favara and Sciacca.

The Rockford family had many from Aragona

Yeah by later 1961 most of their hierarchy was from there:

Boss: Joe Zammuto (Aragona)
Underboss: Frank Buscemi (Aragona)
Consigliere: Joe Zito (San Giuseppe Iato)
Capo: Lorenzo Buttice (Aragona)
Onetime acting boss Phil Caltagerone (Aragona)

By the late 1970s you still had Zammuto and Buscemi but also men from Aragona with the names Galluzzo, DiGiacamo and Seminerio among others but they were pretty diverse in that they had guys from Sambuca, Partinico, Casteldaccia, Roccamena and Marsala.

Very interesting. How early did Rockford have an Aragonese presence?

By 1910-1915 they were already established in Rockford. One of the earliest members of LCN already in Rockford at the time were Joe Zammuto, his brother Frank and Phil Caltagerone. In 1917 Caltagerone and Frank Zammuto were arrested for the murder of Giuseppe Tarantola (of Camporeale) and they were sentenced to lengthy prison terms but was overturned on appeal. A first cousin of Frank Buscemi was Angelo Buscemi who was already established with the LCN there in the early 1930s before being killed while trying to extort a bar owner. There was another man by the last name Canistraro who was involved but was deported in the 30s. Apparently he was wanted for three murders in Aragona in the late 1920s.

When I get photoshop back I'd like to digitally display your work and findings in charts, graphs etc. If you're interested think of some ideas you'd like. As always, they'll belong to you once they're done.

[cavita]

Sounds great... I'm still lacking photos of some guys and am trying to think of every angle to get them. I still have some more FBI files to get that will hopefully shed more light as I do find new things with every new file.

[cavita]

@Chris Christie
I also forgot to mention as far as early Rockford Aragona guys went, there was one Salvatore "Toto" Galluzzo, born in Aragona and immigrated to Rockford in 1922. He immediately started taking arrests for bootlegging. For a long time Chicago and federal authorities knew him by his alias Sam DeVito. He was arrested under that alias in 1933 when he, Frank Zammuto and dozens of others were arrested for running two huge liquor distilleries in Belvidere, Illinois and Savanna, Illinois. Some of the men involved lived in Rockford, Belvidere and Chicago and these distilleries had the capacity of producing tens of thousands of gallons of alcohol at a time. He kept fairly quiet for years but was also arrested for gambling at the Aragona Club. In the early 1970s he bought a house owned by Rockford LCN soldier Sebastian "Knobby" Gulotta. I suspect this Salvatore "Toto" Galluzzo was related to the Salvatore Galluzzo who rose in the Rockford LCN ranks in the 1970s and 1980s and I haven't looked into the lineage yet but suspect he may have even been his uncle.

[Angelo Santino]

@Chris Christie
I also forgot to mention as far as early Rockford Aragona guys went, there was one Salvatore "Toto" Galluzzo, born in Aragona and immigrated to Rockford in 1922. He immediately started taking arrests for bootlegging. For a long time Chicago and federal authorities knew him by his alias Sam DeVito. He was arrested under that alias in 1933 when he, Frank Zammuto and dozens of others were arrested for running two huge liquor distilleries in Belvidere, Illinois and Savanna, Illinois. Some of the men involved lived in Rockford, Belvidere and Chicago and these distilleries had the capacity of producing tens of thousands of gallons of alcohol at a time. He kept fairly quiet for years but was also arrested for gambling at the Aragona Club. In the early 1970s he bought a house owned by Rockford LCN soldier Sebastian "Knobby" Gulotta. I suspect this Salvatore "Toto" Galluzzo was related to the Salvatore Galluzzo who rose in the Rockford LCN ranks in the 1970s and 1980s and I haven't looked into the lineage yet but suspect he may have even been his uncle.

Born 1900, immigrated 1922-11-25, was going to his brother-in-law Francesco Zammuto, 1102 Ferguson St. On that same manifest were half a dozen people coming from Aragona to Rockford, NY and Chicago. One was Antonio Zammauto (wife Giuseppe Palette), 1878 who listed Francesco Zammuto as his cousin.

There were several Francesco Zammuto's going from Aragona to Rockford. Early one I found is 1913-7-27, born 1853 and arriving to his son Alfonso, 200 Morgan St, Rockford. Francesco Mirabile. In 1921 there were several Zammutos, Sammatino and Rotolos going from Aragona to Rockford, 1018 Main St.

In 1907 there were several who went to Chicago, one Francesco (age 15) and Angelo Zammuto (17), arrived from Aragona to 67 Oak St Chicago to uncle, Santo Salamone along with others from Aragona (Latino) going to that address.

Santo Salamone, born 1869, arrived in 1906 to brother in Law Carmelo Latino, 145 Culcotti (?) St, Chicago. Angelo Salamone, age 10, arrived as well.

[cavita]

@Chris Christie
I also forgot to mention as far as early Rockford Aragona guys went, there was one Salvatore "Toto" Galluzzo, born in Aragona and immigrated to Rockford in 1922. He immediately started taking arrests for bootlegging. For a long time Chicago and federal authorities knew him by his alias Sam DeVito. He was arrested under that alias in 1933 when he, Frank Zammuto and dozens of others were arrested for running two huge liquor distilleries in Belvidere, Illinois and Savanna, Illinois. Some of the men involved lived in Rockford, Belvidere and Chicago and these distilleries had the capacity of producing tens of thousands of gallons of alcohol at a time. He kept fairly quiet for years but was also arrested for gambling at the Aragona Club. In the early 1970s he bought a house owned by Rockford LCN soldier Sebastian "Knobby" Gulotta. I suspect this Salvatore "Toto" Galluzzo was related to the Salvatore Galluzzo who rose in the Rockford LCN ranks in the 1970s and 1980s and I haven't looked into the lineage yet but suspect he may have even been his uncle.

Born 1900, immigrated 1922-11-25, was going to his brother-in-law Francesco Zammuto, 1102 Ferguson St. On that same manifest were half a dozen people coming from Aragona to Rockford, NY and Chicago. One was Antonio Zammauto (wife Giuseppe Palette), 1878 who listed Francesco Zammuto as his cousin.

There were several Francesco Zammuto's going from Aragona to Rockford. Early one I found is 1913-7-27, born 1853 and arriving to his son Alfonso, 200 Morgan St, Rockford. Francesco Mirabile. In 1921 there were several Zammutos, Sammatino and Rotolos going from Aragona to Rockford, 1018 Main St.

In 1907 there were several who went to Chicago, one Francesco (age 15) and Angelo Zammuto (17), arrived from Aragona to 67 Oak St Chicago to uncle, Santo Salamone along with others from Aragona (Latino) going to that address.

Santo Salamone, born 1869, arrived in 1906 to brother in Law Carmelo Latino, 145 Culcotti (?) St, Chicago. Angelo Salamone, age 10, arrived as well.

Great info! I'll have to look into these- another early Rockford/Aragona powerhouse was Lorenzo Buttice who immigrated to Rockford in 1912. Took numerous arrests early on for bootlegging. Even as late as 1939 when he and many other Rockford men set up illegal stills in Bureau County for the purpose of making liquor to avoid federal taxes and use it to refill bottles in Rockford area taverns. Buttice was listed as the Rockford LCN capo as early as 1964 until health issues forced him to retire that position in early 1966. It's not known when Buttice achieved capo status and I am unaware if that name was a big one in Aragona as far as mafia connections.

[Angelo Santino]

@Chris Christie
I also forgot to mention as far as early Rockford Aragona guys went, there was one Salvatore "Toto" Galluzzo, born in Aragona and immigrated to Rockford in 1922. He immediately started taking arrests for bootlegging. For a long time Chicago and federal authorities knew him by his alias Sam DeVito. He was arrested under that alias in 1933 when he, Frank Zammuto and dozens of others were arrested for running two huge liquor distilleries in Belvidere, Illinois and Savanna, Illinois. Some of the men involved lived in Rockford, Belvidere and Chicago and these distilleries had the capacity of producing tens of thousands of gallons of alcohol at a time. He kept fairly quiet for years but was also arrested for gambling at the Aragona Club. In the early 1970s he bought a house owned by Rockford LCN soldier Sebastian "Knobby" Gulotta. I suspect this Salvatore "Toto" Galluzzo was related to the Salvatore Galluzzo who rose in the Rockford LCN ranks in the 1970s and 1980s and I haven't looked into the lineage yet but suspect he may have even been his uncle.

Born 1900, immigrated 1922-11-25, was going to his brother-in-law Francesco Zammuto, 1102 Ferguson St. On that same manifest were half a dozen people coming from Aragona to Rockford, NY and Chicago. One was Antonio Zammauto (wife Giuseppe Palette), 1878 who listed Francesco Zammuto as his cousin.

There were several Francesco Zammuto's going from Aragona to Rockford. Early one I found is 1913-7-27, born 1853 and arriving to his son Alfonso, 200 Morgan St, Rockford. Francesco Mirabile. In 1921 there were several Zammutos, Sammatino and Rotolos going from Aragona to Rockford, 1018 Main St.

In 1907 there were several who went to Chicago, one Francesco (age 15) and Angelo Zammuto (17), arrived from Aragona to 67 Oak St Chicago to uncle, Santo Salamone along with others from Aragona (Latino) going to that address.

Santo Salamone, born 1869, arrived in 1906 to brother in Law Carmelo Latino, 145 Culcotti (?) St, Chicago. Angelo Salamone, age 10, arrived as well.

Great info! I'll have to look into these- another early Rockford/Aragona powerhouse was Lorenzo Buttice who immigrated to Rockford in 1912. Took numerous arrests early on for bootlegging. Even as late as 1939 when he and many other Rockford men set up illegal stills in Bureau County for the purpose of making liquor to avoid federal taxes and use it to refill bottles in Rockford area taverns. Buttice was listed as the Rockford LCN capo as early as 1964 until health issues forced him to retire that position in early 1966. It's not known when Buttice achieved capo status and I am unaware if that name was a big one in Aragona as far as mafia connections.

If you could, provide me a list of early members and I'll see what I can do. This might warrant its own thread.

The names I provided aren't necessarily mafia per say, but it does show an earlier Aragonese network which are the tracks that the mafia ran on.

[Angelo Santino]

July 4th 1917 there was a Frank Zammuto and Philip Caltagerone serving time for murder in Ill.

Best I can tell, everything starts with Carmelo Latino, Aragona, arrived in Chicago in 1905 to his cousin Gius. Lazzaro. In 1906 Latino would be the receiver for brother in laws Santo Salamone and Michele Vaccarello. It then appears in 1907 Santo Salamone relocated to Rockford where his house is the destination for other Zammutos, Latinos, Cortinos and a Terrasi. The Galluzzo's seem to be connected through a marriage to Frank Zammuto. In 1907 I have a Mori Galluzzo arriving in NY and going to brother Angelo at E 38 st. In 1913 there was an Alfonso and Francesco Galluzzo who went to Union St, Bk. In one record Salvatore Galluzzo listed his father's name what looked like "Mose", and there was a Mori in 1907. Aragonese all.

I looked into things from the Italian side and Zammuto and Salamone surnames run in Aragona, not always mafia related. There was one Vaccarello denied entry into the US for his criminal record in Italy, his son however arrived and lived in NJ.

[Angelo Santino]

reference, Rockford hierarchy, 1931-present, cavita. viewtopic.php?f=32&t=4794

[cavita]

July 4th 1917 there was a Frank Zammuto and Philip Caltagerone serving time for murder in Ill.

Best I can tell, everything starts with Carmelo Latino, Aragona, arrived in Chicago in 1905 to his cousin Gius. Lazzaro. In 1906 Latino would be the receiver for brother in laws Santo Salamone and Michele Vaccarello. It then appears in 1907 Santo Salamone relocated to Rockford where his house is the destination for other Zammutos, Latinos, Cortinos and a Terrasi. The Galluzzo's seem to be connected through a marriage to Frank Zammuto. In 1907 I have a Mori Galluzzo arriving in NY and going to brother Angelo at E 38 st. In 1913 there was an Alfonso and Francesco Galluzzo who went to Union St, Bk. In one record Salvatore Galluzzo listed his father's name what looked like "Mose", and there was a Mori in 1907. Aragonese all.

I looked into things from the Italian side and Zammuto and Salamone surnames run in Aragona, not always mafia related. There was one Vaccarello denied entry into the US for his criminal record in Italy, his son however arrived and lived in NJ.

Yes, Caltagerone and Zammuto allegedly killed Giuseppe Tarantola and sent to Joliet but their convictions were overturned. Zammuto was the brother of future Rockford LCN boss Joe Zammuto and I believe he was an early member. Later FBI files stated an informant (Augie Maniaci) told them Caltagerone was named acting boss while Tony Musso was in prison from 1931 to 1932. That's interesting the early Aragonese in Rockford cane right at the turn of the century. There were enough in Rockford by the 1920s to warrant their own club, The Aragona Club, where the Rockford LCN held their weekly meetings.

[Angelo Santino]

I'll look up Philip Caltagerone. I came across his name in connection with the 1917 case but didn't explore it. I didn't recognize the name as a mafia leader until I went back to your Rockford Hierarchy thread. Without jumping to conclusions, 1920 would seem kinda late for a Family to form, especially when its roots started growing in 1907. However there's examples of families forming in the 20's. DeCavs being one.

Ok, Filippo Caltagerone arrived in 1912 with Alfonso Buscemi, both to their uncle Gerlando Vaccarello on Oak St, Chicago. Were there any ties between Rockford and Boston? They have relatives that settled there (Moscatos-Zammutos).

Antonino Musso was from Partinico. Wonder what the connection was there.

Drawing back to B's post about the AG networks being self-contained, it sure seems like the groups that formed in the 1920's were all AG-related. I'm thinking of Ribera, maybe Rockford (despite what I'm speculating on above). B can maybe elaborate more.

I'm compiling all of this info an excel spreadsheet. Once Rockford is fairly exhausted I can email it Cavita. Then maybe expand it into other AG factions. It will, at the very least, provide further insights into the timeframe when the mafia was imported by these factions. Before last night I didn't know anything about Rockford and its members. Still don't so this is all interesting.

[Angelo Santino]

Is this the correct Antonino Musso?

mussoNat1942.PNG

OkIf so, this is interesting, Antonino Musso, of Partinico first arrived in 1912 and went to Detroit, Michigan. I cannot read the address or who he was going to see beyond listing his brother-in-law.

MussoAntonino_1912.PNG

I can't find any other Mussos that came from Partinico, nor what Tony's parents names were.

In 1917 he married Maria Piro of New Orleans who's parents Vincenzo Piro and Angela Tumminello were from Monreale.

1920 he lived in West Marion, IL, listed occupation coal miner.

1930 he is the first time he shows up in the census in Rockford, now a grocery store owner.

[cavita]

Is this the correct Antonino Musso?
mussoNat1942.PNG

OkIf so, this is interesting, Antonino Musso, of Partinico first arrived in 1912 and went to Detroit, Michigan. I cannot read the address or who he was going to see beyond listing his brother-in-law.
MussoAntonino_1912.PNG
I can't find any other Mussos that came from Partinico, nor what Tony's parents names were.

In 1917 he married Maria Piro of New Orleans who's parents Vincenzo Piro and Angela Tumminello were from Monreale.

1920 he lived in West Marion, IL, listed occupation coal miner.

1930 he is the first time he shows up in the census in Rockford, now a grocery store owner.

Yes, the same Musso. He listed a cousin Vincenzo Finazzo in Detroit as his destination before going to Illinois. I believe his father was Agostino and mother was a Corona/Caronna. He lived in southern Illinois for a time before settling in Madison, Wisconsin and then Rockford in 1926.

[Angelo Santino]

You're on it! Good I couldn't read the name for Detroit. Finazzo does ring a bell in Detroit oc history.

Looking up Joe Tarantella who I think is Giuseppe Tarantola, who looks to have come from Camporeale. Born in Jan of 1897 of Domenico Tarantola and Angela Pipitone... The only Gius. Tarantola I'm seeing arriving that fits arrived in 1913 and went to Flushing Ave with a Girolamo Tarantola from Camporeale as well as a Leonardo Tarantola, age 37, born in Brooklyn. However this Gius. Taranto's father is Rosario not Domenico so this might not be the right guy.

[cavita]

You're on it! Good I couldn't read the name for Detroit. Finazzo does ring a bell in Detroit oc history.

Looking up Joe Tarantella who I think is Giuseppe Tarantola, who looks to have come from Camporeale. Born in Jan of 1897 of Domenico Tarantola and Angela Pipitone... The only Gius. Tarantola I'm seeing arriving that fits arrived in 1913 and went to Flushing Ave with a Girolamo Tarantola from Camporeale as well as a Leonardo Tarantola, age 37, born in Brooklyn. However this Gius. Taranto's father is Rosario not Domenico so this might not be the right guy.

I believe Tarantola came from Iowa before Rockford but I'll check. There was a large Camporeale contingent in Rockford and LCN capo Charles Vince's family was from there as his real last name was Vinci. I also forgot about Rosario Chiarelli, an early Aragona immigrant who was very criminally active. The newspapers said early on he was a rival of boss Tony Musso.