Antonio Frasca was born in Calascio, Italy, 12 February 1887, the oldest son of Giovanni Battista Frasca and Angela Vespa. He grew up in the hills of Calascio tending sheep and later recalled being stuck in the hills for days watching over herds with little to eat except for a loaf of bread and some wine. Around 1905, he left Calascio to visit Windber, PA, a town that had Calascio residents. During this initial visit to the United States Antonio located work in the coal mines of the U.S. He returned to Calascio and married Maria Dominica Taranta in October 1910.

On 20 March 1911, Antonio accompanied his sister, Teresa and a group of residents from Calascio and emigrated, via Naples, to the United States. They arrived at New York on the 5th of April 1911 aboard the passenger ship Principe Di Piedmonte. Antonio, his sister and the other companions headed to Springfield, Illinois. From Antonio's immigration papers it is most likely that many in his group were headed to Riverton, Illinois-an enclave of Abruzzese immigrants located in Central Illinois' coal mine region. He stayed in Riverton for a brief period before heading to the coal mining town of Toluca, about 85 miles south of Chicago.  His wife, Maria and their first child Angela immigrated in 1912 aboard the passenger ship, Princess Irene, headed for America to meet Antonio.

The family lived in a small wood-frame home off from the main street of the city of Toluca. As a coal miner, Antonio worked from autumn to winter and during the summer he would take small jobs to earn extra pay. Maria stayed at home raising their family that now included: Ida Bambina a.k.a. Edith, Giovanni Raiomondo a.k.a. John, Claudio Fiorello a.k.a. Plute, Gilda and Maria. They resided in Toluca until Maria suffered an attack of pneumonia in 1923. Their daughter, Edith once recalled that the doctor told them to have her mother stay in bed with water bottles under her mattress so that she would stay warm. Not having enough money for hot water bottles, the children heated ceramic plates from the kitchen and set them under the mattress.  After suffering from the pneumonia for 3 days, Maria died on November 9.

Maria's death left Antonio with a heavy burden during an era where most single men did not have the practical resources to raise children. The family headed back to Riverton. Antonio had to give several of his children to other families and relatives in Springfield so that he could continue to work in the mines. In, 1924 there was a mine shutdown and Antonio was out of work. He had to quickly to find himself a wife to provide for his children. He met Diletta Antonacci in Riverton who had been widowed from Nicola Frasca.  Antonio and Diletta married around 1925 and took back the other children who had been living in Springfield since 1923. Some families did not want to return Antonio's children because they had raised the children as their own. This undoubtedly created tension between Antonio and the families.

In 1928, Antonio, Diletta and all their children moved to Springfield, Illinois. During the first three years, they shared a duplex with the Cicciarelli family, also natives of Calascio. In the summer of 1931, Antonio and Diletta found a house that would accommodate their large family. They borrowed $3,000 from Nunzia Roscetti of Riverton to place a mortgage on the home. Over the years, their children married or left home, and by the 1950's, Antonio and Diletta moved into a smaller house where they spent their retirement.

The couple had an active retirement. Antonio cut neighborhood lawns with a push mower walking from house to house for miles each day. He grew walnuts and would crack and shell them during the holiday season for his relatives and friends. Diletta spent her days with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The writer of this biography recalls fond memories of riding bicycles with my cousins to visit "great-grandma and grandpa" at their home every Sunday afternoon where Diletta would make pastries and cookies and have you eat candy as soon as you walked in the door.  In December 1978 Diletta suffered a stroke and died at the age of 90. 

Over the years the Frasca name reflected a spelling with the "o" ending. Many families in Illinois thus spell the name "Frasco".  

Antonio lived out his final days less active but sharp minded and strongly opinionated. He was not alone after the death of his wife as his children took care of him daily. He died on March 10, 1982 at the age of 95.

Submitted by William Cellini, Jr.,  great grandson of Antonio Frasca and grandson of Edith (Frasco) Cellini.

If you would like to share information about this family, contact Bill Cellini at calascio@aol.com