:: La Famiglia di Francesco Paolo BRUNO ::

My great-uncle NICOLO BRUNO was born on February 15, 1892 in Trapani, Sicily in the house located in Via Torre Pali n.42 (Rione S.Pietro).

Nicolo was the third child of my great-grandparents:

Francesco Paolo BRUNO, a shoemaker, and Caterina VIRGILIO.

In 1904 Nicolo follows on his fathers' steps; on October 1st, he embarks on the "SS Patria" (with final destination: Monroe, LA). Nicolo, along with Dionisio SCONTRINO, his uncle (also from Trapani), and Donato BRUNO, brother of Francesco Paolo (Nicolo's father), left the port of Napoli arriving at the Ellis Island-New York port. They joined Francesco Paolo Bruno in Ruston, Louisiana.

In 1905, my great-grandfather, Francesco Paolo, returns to Italy, where he stays until 1906 when he leaves again with his relative Antonino BRUNO. Sometime during this period of time, father and son decide to move to Ruston, Lincoln Parish in Louisiana, USA.

He served in the military service from June 6th, 1912 to August 30th, 1919. When he was finished serving, he decided to go back to Louisiana for good. So, he boarded the "S.S. Patria" in Palermo, on April 24th 1921 and arrived at Ellis Island - New York on May 7th 1921, touching land two days later. I think he travelled in the steerage. At his arrival in the USA, he had $ 35. He declares he is going to visit a friend, Giuseppe LaMonica, in New Orleans. He stated that he was a labourer, was able to read and write in Italian, and that he had no ticket for final destination. He also stated that he had been in the States between 1904 and 1912, and he left his mother Caterina VIRGILIO back in Trapani.

Nicolo & family...

Nicolo married Nellie G. GUERRIERO: October 24, 1924.

In the 1930 census he states that he is 37 years old, that he was married at age 32 to Nellie G. GUERRIERO, was naturalized, and his name is shown as "Nicholas". During this time he is the owner of a progressive store called "Bruno's Electric Shoe Shop", located downtown Monroe, at 106 N. Second Street. Local newspaper articles talk about him, his shoe shop is well known and he is very much respected as a business man.

On November 1930 the couple welcomes their first baby, Martha Jane, but unfortunately she dies in july of 1931. The pain is too much and they decided to adopt a baby girl, Sara Ellen (I have no information about her previous to this event).

Even though the physical distance was so big, "uncle Nicolino", as his relatives used to call him, he always kept in touch with his brothers and sisters back in Trapani. After WWII he sends them all kind of goods to help them and they really appreciated what he did for them because those times were very hard for everyone.

In 1950 his sister Caterina goes to visit him in Monroe. By then, he was already a well known and respected business man.

On 1953 Nicolo helps his nephew Francesco Paolo (my father's brother) to emigrate to U.S. thanks to "Refugee Relief Act", which allows anyone who was a refugee during WWI, to enter the USA. In 1956 Francesco Paolo leaves for America. My father wrote a book about him called "Sulle Ali di un sogno".

After a long illness, Nicolo dies in Monroe at the age of 70. He is buried at St. Matthews Cemetery in Monroe.