Notes for Gregorio PARELLA: The following paragraph was provided by Parella family members, some of which is factual and some is anecdotal. Additional factual data was provided by Marie Taylor Palladino.
Gregorio arrived at New York (probably Castle Gardens) while in his twenties. He settled in Jersey City New Jersey, married his first wife Antonia Grieco and they had five children. Their first child, Nick, was born in Jersey City on July 1, 1885. The family moved by covered wagon to Chicago where their next three children were born. They continued by covered wagon to Missouri (possibly St. Louis) where Margaret was born. From there the family journeyed to Krebs Oklahoma where they settled. At that time this was Indian Territory. They attended St. Joseph's Roman Catholic church. Both Nick and Frank had been born deaf. Gregorio blamed his wife and "sent her back to New Jersey". He then took a second wife, Angela Grieco, sister of Antonia. (Some family members think that his second wife was possibly a Choctaw Indian, there is not evidence of that at this point). They then had three children who were born and raised on the reservation. The children attended a school at St. Joseph's Church. Between 1897 and 1899 the family moved back to Newark New Jersey where Gregorio operated a small "mom and pop" store. Two more children, Louisa and Guilia were born in Newark. Louisa, like her brothers Nick and Frank was also born deaf. Without DNA it would be impossible to determine whether Gregorio or the Grieco sisters carried the deafness gene. Gregorio was stabbed in Newark on February 16, 1904. His son Nick who was a deaf mute and worked as a lamp lighter on the streets of Newark was approached at work by a stranger. For some reason probably related to his disability they got into a scuffle. When the stranger followed Nick home and confronted him, Gregorio stepped in front of his son and was stabbed. He died two days later, o/a February 16, 1904, in the hospital of septic peritonitis. His killer, Dante Ponnello (?) was found and prosecuted. Reference the Newark Evening News?, March 12, 1904.
The 1900 U.S. Census lists his name as George. He is shown as having been married 25 years, having come from Italy about 1880 and was naturalized. He worked as a day laborer and could read, write and speak English. His street address is listed as 509 Market Street, Newark City, Essex County, New Jersey. Other document show his address as 505 Market Street.
He was buried o/a February 18, 1904 in Grave 2, Lot 465, (section 522?) Block R, Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, East Orange, Essex County, New Jersey. His last address was 20 Monroe Street, Newark, New Jersey. His age as listed on the cemetery card is 49 years old.
July 1 - August 23, 1885 - 12 RR Ave, Jersey City NJ (Place of birth of Nicholas) January 1898 - 21 Lombardy Street, Newark, NJ (NJ School for Deaf for Frank) July 11, 1899 - 21 Lombardy Street, Newark NJ (Place of birth of Luisa) June 1, 1900 - 509 Market Street, Newark, NJ (1900 US Census and home of Maria Michela Paraviso) February 16, 1904 - 20 Monroe Street, Newark NJ ( Place of death for Giulia and Gregorio in record) (After death) June 15/6 1904, 505 or 509 South Market Street, Newark NJ
More About Gregorio PARELLA: Burial: Feb 18, 1904, Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, East Orange, Essex Co. NJ.1548
Children of Gregorio PARELLA and Antonia Grieco are:
Nicholas Parella, b. Jul 01, 1885, Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey1549, 1550, d. Aug 17, 1963, Newark, Essex County, New Jersey1551, 1552, 1553.
+Rosina Parella, b. Aug 11, 1886, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois1554, 1555, d. Sep 10, 1950, Newark, Essex County, New Jersey1555.
+Francesco John Parella, b. Oct 19, 1888, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois1556, 1557, d. Feb 19, 1969, Cliffside Park, Bergen County, New Jersey1558, 1559.
+Frances Parella, b. Apr 03, 1889, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois1560, d. Feb 03, 1947, Newark, Essex County, New Jersey1561.
Gregorio PARELLA (b. Oct 1853, d. Feb 16, 1904)
Notes for Gregorio PARELLA: