Chicago Outfit Places of Origin

[cavita]

Vito Mortellaro/Martellaro was born October 10,1890 in Burgio, Sicily to Mr. and Mrs. Antonio Mortellaro/Martellaro and married Maria Ciaccio of Sambuca, Sicily in Rockford on April 29, 1916. He was an early Rockford bootlegger and was named in the 1930 Wickersham Report as such. The report also stated he carried a sheriff’s star and was cozy with law enforcement. Mortellaro died March 24,1982 in Rockford, Illinois.

Thanks for these, again. Very interesting to see all these Rockford guys from other parts of Agrigento apart from Aragona, especially considering that Burgio, Sambuca, and Villafranca all had many migrants in Chicago. John Fecarotta’s paternal grandmother was a Mortillaro, but it seems that she was from Palermo province.

I should say there was also a Mariano Mortellaro/Martellaro born March 22,1880 in Villafranca, Sicily, married Giuseppa Triolo in Villafranca in 1907 and immigrated to Rockford. He was involved in a card game in Rockford in 1915 which saw the murder of Angelo Gennusa. The papers and some others involved claimed it was a Black Hand matter. Mariano died in Rockford in 1971.

[cavita]

Frank Giardono born December 26,1911 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana to Francesco Giardono of Cefalu, Sicily and Anita Pumilia of Sambuca, Sicily. At some point the Giardono family moved from Louisiana to Springfield, Illinois and in 1914 the family had again moved to Rockford. On March 26,1934 Frank married Nunzia Gullotto in Rockford. Giardono was involved heavily with the Rockford in gambling and robbery and he may have been an early member. Giardono was extremely close to Rockford LCN member Charles Vince and when Giardono died on May 9, 1954 in Rockford, Vince married Giardono’s widow the following year causing an uproar with Rockford boss Tony Musso that Vince was kicked out of the Rockford family. Vince immediately returned to the family in 1958 upon Musso’s death.

[cavita]

George Saladino born September 13,1892 in Roccamena, Sicily to Mr. and Mrs. Salvatore Saladino and he immigrated to the U.S. settling in Rockford in 1913. On October 13,1924 Saladino married Giuseppa Patti in Rockford and she was born in Siculiana, Sicily. Saladino was an early Rockford LCN member possibly being a capo as FBI files stated he bossed a gang of men involved in hijacking in the 1930s. Saladino was involved in bootlegging, gambling and he was questioned in the 1926 attempted murder of the Dotz brothers and the 1937 murder of bookie Charles Kalb. Saladino made at least two documented trips back to Sicily- one in 1933 and one in 1950. Saladino died June 7,1964 and among others his funeral was attended by Peter Balistrieri, Harry D’Angelo, Augie Maniaci, Steve DiSalvo and Mike Albano, all of the Milwaukee LCN.

[cavita]

Charles Vince (Vinci) was born August 18, 1907 in Union, Louisiana to Angelo Vinci and Giuseppa Vaccaro of Camporeale, Sicily. Around 1915 the family moved to Rockford where Charles took numerous arrests for robbery, gambling and hijacking. In 1949 Charles married Marie LaRocca of Springfield, Illinois- she was related to the Zito family in Springfield. In 1954 Charles divorced his wife and the following year he married Nunzia Gullotto Giardono who was the widow of Frank Giardono. The divorce of Marie and subsequent marriage to Nunzia caused boss Tony Musso to kick Charles out of the Rockford family but immediately after Musso died in 1958 Charles returned to the family. Charles attained the position of capodecina in 1966 and by 1981 he was it was reported he was acting boss in the absence of Joe Zammuto who would vacation in Florida for the winter months. Charles Vince died in Rockford.

[B.]

Roccamena and Camporeale... didn't know those showed up in Rockford. Never heard of a Schiro/Bonanno connection to Rockford but San Giuseppe Jato was closely affiliated with those towns and the Bonannos, and as you've mentioned it played a role in Rockford.

[cavita]

Roccamena and Camporeale... didn't know those showed up in Rockford. Never heard of a Schiro/Bonanno connection to Rockford but San Giuseppe Jato was closely affiliated with those towns and the Bonannos, and as you've mentioned it played a role in Rockford.

Rockford had many Italian social clubs that represented different areas of Italy and Sicily. Camporeale didn't have one but Roccamena had the St. Joseph Society. Aragona Club had one back in the day as well. Today there are four in operation still in Rockford - the Lombardi Club, the Verdi Club, the Venetian Club and the St. Ambrogio Club.

[PolackTony]

Roccamena and Camporeale... didn't know those showed up in Rockford. Never heard of a Schiro/Bonanno connection to Rockford but San Giuseppe Jato was closely affiliated with those towns and the Bonannos, and as you've mentioned it played a role in Rockford.

Rockford had many Italian social clubs that represented different areas of Italy and Sicily. Camporeale didn't have one but Roccamena had the St. Joseph Society. Aragona Club had one back in the day as well. Today there are four in operation still in Rockford - the Lombardi Club, the Verdi Club, the Venetian Club and the St. Ambrogio Club.

These are all mainly Northerner clubs? When did the Aragona club shut down? From what I understand, Rockford still has feasts for Sant'Antonio and Santa Lucia, but these seem to be sponsored by St Anthony of Padua Parish rather than a compaesani Society. Given that there seems to have been post-WW2 migration from Sambuca (as well as Aragona and likely other Agrigento comuni), I wonder if any of the Rockford Sambucesi participated in the Chicago Sambuca Society.

[cavita]

Roccamena and Camporeale... didn't know those showed up in Rockford. Never heard of a Schiro/Bonanno connection to Rockford but San Giuseppe Jato was closely affiliated with those towns and the Bonannos, and as you've mentioned it played a role in Rockford.

Rockford had many Italian social clubs that represented different areas of Italy and Sicily. Camporeale didn't have one but Roccamena had the St. Joseph Society. Aragona Club had one back in the day as well. Today there are four in operation still in Rockford - the Lombardi Club, the Verdi Club, the Venetian Club and the St. Ambrogio Club.

These are all mainly Northerner clubs? When did the Aragona club shut down? From what I understand, Rockford still has feasts for Sant'Antonio and Santa Lucia, but these seem to be sponsored by St Anthony of Padua Parish rather than a compaesani Society. Given that there seems to have been post-WW2 migration from Sambuca (as well as Aragona and likely other Agrigento comuni), I wonder if any of the Rockford Sambucesi participated in the Chicago Sambuca Society.

Yeah, all northerner clubs, but the Sicilian members outnumber the others for the most part. FBI files mention the Lombardi Club and the St. Ambrogio Society and the St. Ambrogio Society in particular seemed to be a meeting place for LCN members at some point in the 1990s. I believe the Aragona Club shut down in the late 1980s.

[cavita]

Giuseppe Stassi was born January 1, 1892 in San Giuseppe Iato, Sicily to Paolo Stassi and Benedetta Russo. Stassi immigrated to Rockford from Sicily in 1916 and on June 16, 1918 he married Giuseppa Provenzano in Rockford. Giuseppa was from Roccamena, Sicily and her sister Maria married Rockford LCN member Filippo Caltagerone. Stassi was an early Rockford LCN member and was arrested for bootlegging and kidnapping. Stassi made at least one confirmed trip back to Sicily in 1947 and on August 7, 1963 Stassi died in Rockford, Illinois.

[cavita]

Filippo Vella was born February 19, 1895 in Siculiana, Sicily to Antonio and Genolfa Vella and immigrated to Rockford in 1909. On December 18, 1916 in Rockford, Vella married Giovanna Calacurcio- her family was from Santo Stefano Del Sole, Italy. Vella was most likely an early Rockford LCN member and he was heavily involved in bootlegging. Vella died February 9, 1958 in Rockford.

[cavita]

Phil Priola was born April 11, 1907 in Chicago, Illinois to Giuseppe Priola and Maria Ventimiglia of Ficarazzi, Sicily. In 1934 Priola married Margherita Sciortino in Chicago, Illinois of Siculiana, Sicily. Priola was kicked out of Rockford around 1936 or so for being too “mean and vicious” according to Rockford boss Tony Musso and he moved to Chicago. Priola was welcomed back to Rockford around 1952 and was made a member around 1956. Priola was especially close to the Sicilian immigrants that began arriving in Rockford in the 1960s and 1970s. Priola died July 6, 1987 in Rockford, Illinois.

[PolackTony]

List I put together (still working on it) of significant Chicago politicians connected with the Outfit in all its stages. Further suggestions and corrections appreciated.

These are awersome, really appreciate it.

I agree that Adduci was likely a member. Interested to know why you'd put him with Grand Ave and not Taylor, given that he was a Taylor St guy.

Hadn't realized that Granady was Thomian, but it makes sense (Granady sure didn't sound like it came from Mississippi).

Robert "Happy" Petrone was born in Chicago in 1898 and baptized as Rocco Petrone. His parents Francesco Petrone and Carmella Vignola were "Trivies", immigrants from the town of Trivigno, Potenza province, who were an influential group like the Riciglianesi in Chicago (and the Potentini sure do love their Roccos). Patrick Pasquale "Patsy" Petrone was born 1916 in Chicago to Rocco Luigi Petrone and Rosa Vignola. Some authors have mistakenly written that Happy and Patsy were brothers, but as you note, they were cousins (and apparently cousins on both sides).

I'd very much doubt that Prignano's father was Toscano, as Prignano is a Campanian surname. It could be that he was from Caserta province (Terra di Lavoro), but there were a bunch of Prignanos from Ricigliano who settled in Chicago. Albert Prignano's mother Faustina Laurino was from Ricigliano (her mother was a Serritella), and married Pasquale Prignano in Chicago. The Riciglianesi in Chicago were extremely clannish and largely married other Riciglianesi, often even into the American-born generations. For example, Albert's Chicago-born sister Frances Prignano married another Chicago-born Ricglianes', Giuseppe Ferrone (obviously Albert broke custom by marrying a 'Medigan).

The Virruso/Cutaia/LoPiccolo stuff is very interesting. There were two Vincenzo Cutaias. One Vincenzo Cutaia was born in Campofelice di Fitalia and married Caterina Battaglia of Lercara Friddi in 1904 at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Parish. The marriage record states that his mother's surname was LoPiccolo. The WW1 draft card for him (wife Catherine) states that he was born in 1878, lived at 872 N Milton and owned a pool room, while another draft card for another Vincenzo Cutaia stated that this guy lived at 827 N Milton, was married to a Giuseppa and was a coal dealer. There were a bunch of Cutaias on this block of Milton, who were probably all cousins and using some of the same addresses. In 1914, the Mayor sent word that a number of saloon and pool hall owners accused of harboring malefactors in Little Sicily were to clean up their act or have their licenses pulled; Vincenzo Cutaia of 827 was listed as a saloon-keeper while Charles Cutaia of 872 and Tony Cutaia of 870 were listed as a pool hall operators. The Tribune also claimed that Vincenzo Cutaia was a cousin of Rosario Dispenza (1878 Vincenzo's son did later marry a daughter with parents from Ciminna). When Joseph Cutaia was found wounded in his cousin Vincenzo's home at 827, police stated that he was well-known to them as a suspected "Black Hand" leader and that the Cutaias had a feud with the Barone brothers. It seems that Joe Cutaia survived that attack (per the Trib), but then met his fate at the end of another shotgun blast in 1917 (there was a Joseph Cutaia, born 1888, who died in 1917. No record for someone by that name for 1915, so it should be the same guy). When police searched his home at 834 N Milton, they found a couple of bombs, one of which they described as containing "enough dynamite to destroy a skyscraper", and evidence of "Black Hand" extortion operations. Another Giuseppe Cutaia, born in 1890 in Campofelice di Fitalia, died in 1937 and was Vincenzo's brother (same parents, Leonardo Cutaia and Cecilia LoPiccolo). In 1919, Frank Cutaia of 872 N Milton (born 1896 in CdF) was arrested with James Scardina for a 1918 "Black Hand" bombing. In 1922, Luigi Cutaia of 1156 Townsend was murdered in front of his home. Him and his wife Andreana Canzoneri were both from Campofelice di Fitalia, and his 1921 naturalization was witnessed by a Santo LoVerde. in 1923, the 1881 Vincenzo Cutaia, described as a "wealthy resident of the north side Italian colony", then living at 350 W Chicago Ave, was charged with murder due to his moonshine killing a woman. In 1928, CPD raided a building at 470 W Chicago Ave with a large still in the basement. Frank Occhipinti (who was married to Anna Cutaia and lived at 870 Milton. I believe that the Tony Cutaia who was a pool hall owner at that address may have been her father, an Antonio Cutaia born ~1864) and Joe Camieschiano [sic] were arrested and alleged to have been working for Vincenzo Cutaia of 827 N Milton. Cutaia, however, apparently told police that the still actually belonged to a guy named "Joe Culo" (try going through public school with that name). Vincenzo Cutaia was described at the time as "one of the Sicilian district rulers who levies tribute on his subjects".

Following the 1935 Prignano murder, the Tribune stated that a notary public named Charles Cutaia had approved Sam LaPicola's license, and further stated that they were also cousins. He was the Ciro "Charles" Cutaia who was born in CdF in 1888, who was working as a postal telegrapher in 1917, and in 1940 lived at the same address at Division and Wells given by the Trib. He died in Chicago in 1971. The Vincenzo Cutaia born ~1881 died in Chicago in 1943 (death record states 1880), while the one born in 1878 died in Chicago in 1951.

Interesting that in 1935, guys like Virrusso and D'Angelo were apparently using a business network centered around guys who were clearly linked to an earlier phase of the mafia in Chicago. I think this goes back to my suspicion that even if some of these older Sicilian members were no longer necessarily very active in street rackets, they still had businesses and connections and could still be useful and important in the post-Capone era. These guys were still around after Capone was off the street and still plugged into the network. Frank Occhipinti, who I believe was from Camporeale, married to Anna Cutaia, died in 1959.

[cavita]

List I put together (still working on it) of significant Chicago politicians connected with the Outfit in all its stages. Further suggestions and corrections appreciated.

These are awersome, really appreciate it.

I agree that Adduci was likely a member. Interested to know why you'd put him with Grand Ave and not Taylor, given that he was a Taylor St guy.

Hadn't realized that Granady was Thomian, but it makes sense (Granady sure didn't sound like it came from Mississippi).

Robert "Happy" Petrone was born in Chicago in 1898 and baptized as Rocco Petrone. His parents Francesco Petrone and Carmella Vignola were "Trivies", immigrants from the town of Trivigno, Potenza province, who were an influential group like the Riciglianesi in Chicago (and the Potentini sure do love their Roccos). Patrick Pasquale "Patsy" Petrone was born 1916 in Chicago to Rocco Luigi Petrone and Rosa Vignola. Some authors have mistakenly written that Happy and Patsy were brothers, but as you note, they were cousins (and apparently cousins on both sides).

I'd very much doubt that Prignano's father was Toscano, as Prignano is a Campanian surname. It could be that he was from Caserta province (Terra di Lavoro), but there were a bunch of Prignanos from Ricigliano who settled in Chicago. Albert Prignano's mother Faustina Laurino was from Ricigliano (her mother was a Serritella), and married Pasquale Prignano in Chicago. The Riciglianesi in Chicago were extremely clannish and largely married other Riciglianesi, often even into the American-born generations. For example, Albert's Chicago-born sister Frances Prignano married another Chicago-born Ricglianes', Giuseppe Ferrone (obviously Albert broke custom by marrying a 'Medigan).

The Virruso/Cutaia/LoPiccolo stuff is very interesting. There were two Vincenzo Cutaias. One Vincenzo Cutaia was born in Campofelice di Fitalia and married Caterina Battaglia of Lercara Friddi in 1904 at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Parish. The marriage record states that his mother's surname was LoPiccolo. The WW1 draft card for him (wife Catherine) states that he was born in 1878, lived at 872 N Milton and owned a pool room, while another draft card for another Vincenzo Cutaia stated that this guy lived at 827 N Milton, was married to a Giuseppa and was a coal dealer. There were a bunch of Cutaias on this block of Milton, who were probably all cousins and using some of the same addresses. In 1914, the Mayor sent word that a number of saloon and pool hall owners accused of harboring malefactors in Little Sicily were to clean up their act or have their licenses pulled; Vincenzo Cutaia of 827 was listed as a saloon-keeper while Charles Cutaia of 872 and Tony Cutaia of 870 were listed as a pool hall operators. The Tribune also claimed that Vincenzo Cutaia was a cousin of Rosario Dispenza (1878 Vincenzo's son did later marry a daughter with parents from Ciminna). When Joseph Cutaia was found wounded in his cousin Vincenzo's home at 827, police stated that he was well-known to them as a suspected "Black Hand" leader and that the Cutaias had a feud with the Barone brothers. It seems that Joe Cutaia survived that attack (per the Trib), but then met his fate at the end of another shotgun blast in 1917 (there was a Joseph Cutaia, born 1888, who died in 1917. No record for someone by that name for 1915, so it should be the same guy). When police searched his home at 834 N Milton, they found a couple of bombs, one of which they described as containing "enough dynamite to destroy a skyscraper", and evidence of "Black Hand" extortion operations. Another Giuseppe Cutaia, born in 1890 in Campofelice di Fitalia, died in 1937 and was Vincenzo's brother (same parents, Leonardo Cutaia and Cecilia LoPiccolo). In 1919, Frank Cutaia of 872 N Milton (born 1896 in CdF) was arrested with James Scardina for a 1918 "Black Hand" bombing. In 1922, Luigi Cutaia of 1156 Townsend was murdered in front of his home. Him and his wife Andreana Canzoneri were both from Campofelice di Fitalia, and his 1921 naturalization was witnessed by a Santo LoVerde. in 1923, the 1881 Vincenzo Cutaia, described as a "wealthy resident of the north side Italian colony", then living at 350 W Chicago Ave, was charged with murder due to his moonshine killing a woman. In 1928, CPD raided a building at 470 W Chicago Ave with a large still in the basement. Frank Occhipinti (who was married to Anna Cutaia and lived at 870 Milton. I believe that the Tony Cutaia who was a pool hall owner at that address may have been her father, an Antonio Cutaia born ~1864) and Joe Camieschiano [sic] were arrested and alleged to have been working for Vincenzo Cutaia of 827 N Milton. Cutaia, however, apparently told police that the still actually belonged to a guy named "Joe Culo" (try going through public school with that name). Vincenzo Cutaia was described at the time as "one of the Sicilian district rulers who levies tribute on his subjects".

Following the 1935 Prignano murder, the Tribune stated that a notary public named Charles Cutaia had approved Sam LaPicola's license, and further stated that they were also cousins. He was the Ciro "Charles" Cutaia who was born in CdF in 1888, who was working as a postal telegrapher in 1917, and in 1940 lived at the same address at Division and Wells given by the Trib. He died in Chicago in 1971. The Vincenzo Cutaia born ~1881 died in Chicago in 1943 (death record states 1880), while the one born in 1878 died in Chicago in 1951.

Interesting that in 1935, guys like Virrusso and D'Angelo were apparently using a business network centered around guys who were clearly linked to an earlier phase of the mafia in Chicago. I think this goes back to my suspicion that even if some of these older Sicilian members were no longer necessarily very active in street rackets, they still had businesses and connections and could still be useful and important in the post-Capone era. These guys were still around after Capone was off the street and still plugged into the network. Frank Occhipinti, who I believe was from Camporeale, married to Anna Cutaia, died in 1959.

Kind of off topic but your comment about James Scardina caught my eye. In my Rockford research I found a Girolamo "James" Scardina/Scardino who was born June 8, 1880 in Sicily and was arrested for bootlegging in Rockford at his property in June 1930. He had an elaborate still set up with a tunnel running from the garage to the basement. Just the month before authorities arrested Roy Fasullo for operating a still at the same property. Now I never found this Scardina character again in Rockford and I suspect he is the same Chicago guy.

[Antiliar]

List I put together (still working on it) of significant Chicago politicians connected with the Outfit in all its stages. Further suggestions and corrections appreciated.

These are awersome, really appreciate it.

I'd very much doubt that Prignano's father was Toscano, as Prignano is a Campanian surname. It could be that he was from Caserta province (Terra di Lavoro), but there were a bunch of Prignanos from Ricigliano who settled in Chicago. Albert Prignano's mother Faustina Laurino was from Ricigliano (her mother was a Serritella), and married Pasquale Prignano in Chicago. The Riciglianesi in Chicago were extremely clannish and largely married other Riciglianesi, often even into the American-born generations. For example, Albert's Chicago-born sister Frances Prignano married another Chicago-born Ricglianes', Giuseppe Ferrone (obviously Albert broke custom by marrying a 'Medigan).

For me at this point just take it as a given that your comments are awesome. Even when we disagree you give thoughtful replies.

As for Prignano's father, that came from an Ancestry.com suggested link to a passenger manifest to someone with the same name and a similar age, but it's probably a different guy. The place of origin for this Pasquale Prignano says something like "Lavoro" or "Laroro." Turns out that the death record for the one known to be the father of A. J. Prignano is in fact Ricigliano, so thanks for catching that. He was born in 1860 and immigrated in 1885 per the 1910 census, whereas the Prignano from "Lavoro" was born in 1865 and arrived in 1878.

I'm glad you found the Cutaias as interesting as I did. I think they're one of several clans that were probably overrepresented in the early Chicago Mafia.

Kind of off topic but your comment about James Scardina caught my eye. In my Rockford research I found a Girolamo "James" Scardina/Scardino who was born June 8, 1880 in Sicily and was arrested for bootlegging in Rockford at his property in June 1930. He had an elaborate still set up with a tunnel running from the garage to the basement. Just the month before authorities arrested Roy Fasullo for operating a still at the same property. Now I never found this Scardina character again in Rockford and I suspect he is the same Chicago guy.

No, your comment is very much on topic. Thanks for the added information. These guys moved around and we often miss their activities in other areas and important connections, so every little bit helps to fill the picture. All of your contributions have been greatly appreciated.

[PolackTony]

List I put together (still working on it) of significant Chicago politicians connected with the Outfit in all its stages. Further suggestions and corrections appreciated.

These are awersome, really appreciate it.

I'd very much doubt that Prignano's father was Toscano, as Prignano is a Campanian surname. It could be that he was from Caserta province (Terra di Lavoro), but there were a bunch of Prignanos from Ricigliano who settled in Chicago. Albert Prignano's mother Faustina Laurino was from Ricigliano (her mother was a Serritella), and married Pasquale Prignano in Chicago. The Riciglianesi in Chicago were extremely clannish and largely married other Riciglianesi, often even into the American-born generations. For example, Albert's Chicago-born sister Frances Prignano married another Chicago-born Ricglianes', Giuseppe Ferrone (obviously Albert broke custom by marrying a 'Medigan).

For me at this point just take it as a given that your comments are awesome. Even when we disagree you give thoughtful replies.

Thanks, man, and right back at you!

As for Prignano's father, that came from an Ancestry.com suggested link to a passenger manifest to someone with the same name and a similar age, but it's probably a different guy. The place of origin for this Pasquale Prignano says something like "Lavoro" or "Laroro." Turns out that the death record for the one known to be the father of A. J. Prignano is in fact Ricigliano, so thanks for catching that. He was born in 1860 and immigrated in 1885 per the 1910 census, whereas the Prignano from "Lavoro" was born in 1865 and arrived in 1878.

I'm glad you found the Cutaias as interesting as I did. I think they're one of several clans that were probably overrepresented in the early Chicago Mafia.

Thanks for the confirmation on Pasquale Prignano. Worth noting that on your list of politicians, Serritella, the Pacellis, and Prignano were "Richies", going to show how influential this group of paesani were in Ital-Chicago.

Kind of off topic but your comment about James Scardina caught my eye. In my Rockford research I found a Girolamo "James" Scardina/Scardino who was born June 8, 1880 in Sicily and was arrested for bootlegging in Rockford at his property in June 1930. He had an elaborate still set up with a tunnel running from the garage to the basement. Just the month before authorities arrested Roy Fasullo for operating a still at the same property. Now I never found this Scardina character again in Rockford and I suspect he is the same Chicago guy.

No, your comment is very much on topic. Thanks for the added information. These guys moved around and we often miss their activities in other areas and important connections, so every little bit helps to fill the picture. All of your contributions have been greatly appreciated.

Just to second Antiliar, this comment is absolutely relevant. There are going to be more early links between Rockford and Chicago (as well as Downstate IL, STL, Milwaukee) than we've discovered thus far. Good find on Girolamo Scardina. I don't think that he was the same guy as the James Scardina that was with the Cutaias. In 1919, that guy's address was given at Grand Ave and Desplaines. In 1917, there was a James Scardina, born 1888 in "San Nicola" who was living a couple blocks away near Grand and Green (which was where Giuseppe Morici and Pietro Misuraca were based), so I think that was the same guy. "San Nicola" in this case should be San Nicola L'Arena, a village within the municipality of Trabia, as the Scardina surname is very strongly clustered around Bagheria/Santa Flavia and Trabia, and there were other Scardinas from Trabia in Chicago. He gave his occupation as "wholesale peddler". In later documents, as James Vincent Scardina, he has a birth-year of 1886, with an occupation listed as "fruit and vegetable dealer". His wife was Grace, which matches a 1912 marriage in Chicago between Vincenzo Scardina and Grazia Corona. By 1940, he had moved out of the Grand Ave Patch and was living on the NW side near Belmont and Central. He died in Chicago in 1970.

Now, I think it's likely that Vincenzo "James" Scardina was the younger brother of the bootlegger John Scardina who was killed by his wife in 1925 after a domestic incident in their home on Milwaukee Ave and Grand. He was born ~1877 in Trabia and in 1913 married Blanche Vanier in St Joseph, MI (yet another connection to Berrien County). Back in 1902, he had married Antonina Cortese, who was born in Buenos Aires to Bagheresi parents. In 1910, he was living near Grand and Peoria with his parents, Salvatore Scardina and Giuseppa Sansone, and had a little brother named Jim born about 1888 (both working as fruit peddlers). In 1905, an ~18-year-old Vincenzo Scardina from Trabia arrived in NYC bound for Chicago where his brother Giovanni was already living.

I don't think that this Giovanni Scardina was the Giovanni Battista Scardina, born ~1882, who was said to have been a "Black Hander" partner of the Bagheria Moricis and married to a "Rose" in 1908.

Then there was Mariano Scardina, born ~1885, who was stabbed to death in 1907 in a tavern on Oak St owned by his father Antonio Scardina and partner Constantino Manzella. according to the Trib, Antonio told the police that his son had been in Buffalo for the past few years until he was forced to leave by a "secret society". the police apparently forced a confession out of Giuseppe Trogno, who claimed that he stabbed Mariano after an insult, but police believed that there was more to the story. Mariano's friend Gentilo Pacifico, who had also recently fled Buffalo due to the same "society", was living on Erie St (by Grand Ave) when he disappeared. Police suspected foul play, claiming that Pacifico was a "member of the same society" as Mariano (if his name was actually Pacifico or Pasifici, he was likely a mainlander, which could be a big deal that early if he was connected to the mafia already). The father here may have been the Antonino Scardina, born in Bagheria in the 1860s, who died in Chicago in 1941 (his wife was Vincenza Balstrieri of Santa Flavia). Partner Constantino Manzella I believe was also born in Bagheria ~1863 and died in Chicago in 1920.

I don't see a record for a Girolamo Scardina born ~1880 in Chicago, but if the guy in Rockford had any connection to any of these people, that would be great to know. From what I have, there was a Jim Scardina born ~1880 already living in Rockford in 1917, so that may be him.