Antonino La Barbera and Family Immigration

On June 2, 1894, Bartolomeo La Barbera  traveled on the Britannia from Naples at age 36; his occupation was listed as Barber; his destination was Chicago. He could not read or write but traveled with paesani named Rizzo, Copia, Finella and Lavoruno.

Here is the arrival manifest from Ellis Island:

On Apr 30, 1896, Antonino La Barbera was 24 when he first traveled to the US. On this first visit he immigrated alone and listed Chicago as his destination; he didn't specify his occupation.

Here is the arrival manifest from Ellis Island:

He must have liked what he saw as he returned to Nicosia within a few weeks as he re-entered Ellis Island again on July 11, 1896; this time on the California, again departing from Naples, Italy. However, this time he travelled with his brother Giuseppi La Barbera (age 21). Antonino listed pastry chef as his occupation. Interestingly, he did not specify Chicago as his destination but New York. They both carried one item of baggage.

Here is the arrival manifest from Ellis Island:


About three years later on September 27, 1899, Anna Giunta (Anna "Santa" Guinta) arrived at the age of 19. She travelled alone on the Trojan Prince departing from Naples.

Is the Invergo Family Name is Really Inverg-a?

Michael Invergo, my great grandfather came from Nicosia, Sicilia to the United States on April 19, 1897 at the age of 36 on the ship Oregon departing from Naples.

The Oregon: Built by Charles Connell & Company, Glasgow, Scotland, 1883. 3,672 gross tons; 360 (bp) feet long; 40 feet wide. Compound engine, single screw.  Service speed 12.5 knots.  1,340 passengers (80 first class, 60 second class, 1,200 third class).Iron hull, four decks, 1 ladies and four gentlemen's bathrooms. Built for Dominion Line, British flag, in 1883 and named Oregon. Liverpool-Montreal service. Sold to Furness Withy, British flag, in 1896. Naples and Genoa to New York 1896-1897 service. Scrapped in Italy in 1897.

His occupation was listed as Merchant. As it turns out, his actual name on the ship's manifest was Michele Inverga (see row #6). Oddly, there are no people named Invergo in the phonebook in Italy but there are many Inverga.

It is probable that the family name is Inverga all these years and that it somehow got spelled incorrectly as Invergo.Here he is in Chicago (c. 1900) working on the railroad with a coworker.

More on Michele:

• Born July 4, 1868 in Nicosia, Sicilia
• Died January 8, 1936 in Chicago; buried at St. Mary's cemetery in Evergreen Park
• Red-headed and a good story-teller
• Lived in Chicago's Bridgeport neighborhood
• Married to Giusseppa Balcone who was thought to be adopted; she immigrated May 9, 1899 with Cataldo, Domenica and Luigi on the Tartar Prince
• Other Invergo brothers emigrated to Agrentina
• Had several children born in Chicago
• Benjamin
• Luigi
• Phillip
• Anthonio
• Domenica "Maime" (married Passifume)
• Cataldo"Frank"