Our Ancestors From Trentino Arrive in the United States

During the mid to late 1800's, many areas of Trentino experienced sickness, hardship, and severe economic conditions.  In the 1850's, disease struck and wiped out the potato crops.  Disease also struck the mulberry bushes, which were a food source for silkworms.  This, in turn, led to the destruction of the silk worms, which were the heart of a centuries old silk industry.  In 1882 and 1885, Trentino experienced heavy rains which caused flooding and landslides, destroying crops and trees. 

As a result, in the late 1800's people from Trentino began seeking a better life elsewhere.  A common departure point was the city of Trento, from which an emigrant was able to travel to the ports of France (Le Havre, Cherbourg) and England (Southhampton).  Since, at this time, Trentino was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, they generally travelled with Austrian passports, which helped them avoid much of the discrimination suffered by Italians.  In many instances, where an emigrant was married, he travelled first and planned to send for his family when he got settled with a job and a place to live.  Onboard, the emigrants were usually housed in steerage class located in the lower portions of the ship not far from the ship engines and steering mechanisms.  Crowding meant lack of privacy and exposure to illnesses of fellow travelers.

Upon arrival in New York, steerage and third-class passengers were ferried to Ellis Island for medical inspection and procesing. There are many sources detailing the inspection process for anyone interested in reading about it.  Suffice it to say, many immigrants were detained, isolated for quanantine, or sent back home due to the presence of disease or infection.  Assuming the emigrant was healthy enough to be granted admission and had some money and a job waiting for him, he was then able to continue on to his final destination.

Where They Settled

Colorado coal mines at Trinidad, Hastings, Leadville, Central City, and Silverton. Emigrants bore names such as Iob (Job, Yob), Eccher, Dalpiaz, Menapace, Ruffini, Zadra, Zanon, and many others.

Pennsylvania (Mt. Carmel, Hazleton, Pottsville, Shamokin) -- the anthracite coal mining areas surrounding Hazleton attracted Trentini from Val di Non and Val di Sole.  They bore names such as Aliprandini, Bridi, Chini, Fellin, Iob (Yob), and Menapace.  Many later moved to Vineland, New Jersey.

Kansas (Pittsburg) -- mostly emigrants from Val di Primiero such as Mattivi and Scalet

Michigan (Iron Mountain, Norway, Vulcan)

New York (Solvay) -- especially from the Val Giudicarie villages of Bolgeno, Castello, Prezzo, and Tione.

Ohio (Alliance, Bellaire, Bridgeport, Dennison, Flushing, Lafferty, Lansing).  Many from Val di Non settled here either temporarily or permanently, such as Chini, Menapace, Pancheri, Pedrotti, Visintainer, and Zucal.

Wisconsin -- our ancestors home here working in the iron mines.  However, later strikes and lack of jobs resulted in many settling in Milwaukee.  They originated from village is Val di Non such as Spormaggiore and Cis, bearing names such as Decaminada, Giuliani, Malfatti, Micheli, Noldin, Paternoster, Ravinelli, Recla, Toller, and Zadra.

Wyoming -- emigrants from Val di Non and Valsugana settled at Cambria, Rocksprings, Reliance, and Superior.  After work at the mines became scarse, many of them emigrated to northern Utah (Castle Gate and Ogden), where factory jobs were available.

Databases for Researching Trentino Ancestry

I have transcribed a few records which list information about Trentini emigrants who arrived in the US in the late 1800's and early 1900's.  Perhaps your grandparents are listed here?

Draft registration listings -- during World War I, many men were required to register for the military draft.  This is a listing of some of the men from Trentino  who registered in parts of Colorado, Nevada, and Idaho.

1910 Census listings -- information about specific families that emigrated from Trentino in the late 1800's and early 1900's to work in the areas surrounding the Colorado mines.

1900 Census listings -- information about specific families that emigrated from Trentino in the late 1800's to towns and mines in Las Animas County, Colorado.

Sample census image -- The image linked here is a portion of an actual census page for the year 1900, and shows information about a few emigrants from Trentino living in Las Animas County, Colorado..

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