Giuseppe Antonio Luisi

Giuseppe Antonio Luisi was as the second child of Antonio Domenico Luisi (1816 – ?) and Rosantonia Maria Visco (1816 – ?). He was born 27 July 1846 in the village of Petina, Salerno, Campania, Italy.

We know little about him when he lived in Italy except that he married Maria Filomena Zito of Petina on 6 October 1877. Their first child Rosina was born in Petina in 1877. In 1880 they came to America and were residing in New York City at the time of their second child, Anthony Joseph’s birth in 1881.

We do know that they changed their name to Lewis from Luisi. It was quite common in those days to “Americanize” their foreign name when entering the United States.

They moved to Denver Colorado before March of 1882, when their third child, Pietn (Peter), was born.

What took them to Denver, we do not know. In the late 1800’s, Denver was booming with of the discovery of silver in the mountains west of Denver and they may have been following mining opportunities.

Also, during this period of time, Denver saw more corruption as underworld bosses worked side-by-side with city officials and police to profit from gambling and other criminal enterprises. Denver’s vice district ranked only sightly behind San Francisco’s Barbary Coast. Sin was good business; visitors spent lavishly, then left town.

Giuseppe Antonio Luisi resided in Denver until his death on 21 August 1927.

Maria Filomena Zito

Maria Filomena Zito was born to Pietro Antonio Zito (1806 – 1881), and Anna Mastrangelo (1819-?) on 30 January 1859 in the village of Petina, Salerno, Campania, Italy.

She resided in Petina until she, her husband and baby, Rosina, came to the United States.

Marie Filomena and Giuseppe had 8 children…4 girls and 4 boys.

Record from LDS New Family Search

Maria and Giuseppe Luisi (Lewis)

Marie died in Denver, Adams, Colorado, on 1 January 1931.