Humboldt County
Biographies
MARTIN AMBROSINI
For many years Martin Ambrosini has been a resident of the state of California, whether he was attracted by the good reports he had heard of the opportunities for farming and dairying in Humboldt County, numerous of his countrymen having already come to this part of the United States to seek their fortunes.
Switzerland is the native land of Mr. Ambrosini, and his birth occurred on December 11, 1855, in the town of Lodrino, in the Canton of Ticino, where his father, Peter, was a farmer and dairyman. The father, and also the mother, who was formerly Petronella Martinolli, are now both dead, and of their five children, Martin, the youngest, is the only one now living. His boyhood was spent on his father’s farm in the Alps region and he received his education in the local public schools.
At the age of twenty years, responding to the law of his county, he entered the infantry regiment where he served his time until honorable discharged after which he continued to assist his father upon the home farm, until the determination to try his luck in the new country led him to leave his home for California, a change which he has never found cause to regret.
May 1, 1882 saw him in Eureka, Humboldt County, California and he commenced his career with humble employment in dairies on Bear River Ridge and near Ferndale. When he had accumulated considerable means by faithful work and wise economy, Mr. Ambrosini looked about for an investment and in 1895 purchased twenty acres on the Island, two and one-half miles from the town on Ferndale.
This he improved to a great extent, and has engaged in the dairy business there since that time, owning a heard of fifteen cows. The land consisting of rich soil, he is enabled to raise large crops of hay and green feed, so that all the fodder for his cattle is supplied by his own ranch. At a later date he added to his property by the purchase of thirty additional acres on the county road, but this he does not make use of individually, but has rented it for dairy purposes to another party.
Among the oldest Swiss citizens of the country, Mr. Ambrosini is well known here as a man of integrity and steady purpose, one whose residence here is a benefit to the community where both he and his wife are known for their geniality and hospitality. Mr. Ambrosini’s marriage took place in Ferndale, on November 3, 1894, his wife formerly Miss Filomina Giulieri, having been born in Cognisco, in the same canton in Switzerland as Mr. Ambrosini, and having lived in Humboldt County since February, 1893.
Mr. And Mr. Ambrosini are the parents of three children, Lillian, now Mrs. Biondini of Ferndale; and Ida and Sadie who make their home with their parents in Ferndale. In his political interests, Mr. Ambrosini is an Independent.
SOURCE: History of Humboldt County, California - Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic Record Co., 1915
Pg. 977-978
Transcribed by: Carole Barker
JOSEPH CASACCA
From the canton of Ticino, in Switzerland, Joseph Casacca came to make his home in California, having heard there were great opportunities for young men in this new country. Brought up on his father’s dairy farm in the Alps, Joseph Casacca was already well initiated in the dairy business, which he has followed industriously and with marked success since coming to America.
Born in Gordola, Switzerland, March 19, 1872, Mr. Casacca was the son of John and Carmilla (Scaroni) Casacca, both of whom are now deceased, and of their family of eight children five are now living, namely: Joseph, a dairyman in Humboldt County, California; Albert, residing in San Francisco; Celeste, also living in San Francisco; Marion, in the employ of the elder brother Joseph; and Louis, who remains on the old home farm in the Alps.
At the age of twenty-one years, having received his education in the local public schools and spent some time assisting his father upon the farm, Joseph Casacca determined to come to California and in May, 1893, arrived in Sonoma County, where for fourteen months he was employed on a dairy at Lakeville, in July of the next year removing to Humboldt County where he was employed on different dairies in the neighborhood of Waddington for about nine years.
By that time, having saved sufficient money to enable his starting in business independently, Mr. Casacca in 1903 leased the Pleasant Point Ranch of sixty acres near Waddington, where for a period of five years he conducted a dairy of twenty cows. Removing hence to the Eel River Island he there leased the Sam Fulmore place of sixty-two acres of bottom land, where he raises large crops of hay, grain, clover, corn, carrots and beets and milks a herd of thirty-four cows, all fed upon the estate.
Besides being a stockholder in the Valley Flower Creamery Company, Mr. Casacca is a member of the Woodmen of the World, his wife being a member of the Women of Woodcraft. His marriage took place in Ferndale, his wife having formerly been Miss Cora Mead, a native of Oregon and daughter of Alfred Mead, a pioneer of Oregon and California now residing at Bridgeville, this county. Mr. And Mrs. Casacca are the parents of three children, by name Mable, Florence and Floyd.
SOURCE: History of Humboldt County, California - Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic Record Co., 1915
Pg. 977
Transcribed by: Carole Barker