Massa Home in Jerome from Rear - February 1965
Dominic R. Massa was born 24 August 1889 in Mathi, Turin, Italy, son of Frank Massa and Frances Gagliano, died 7 February 1970 [SSDI] at the Golden Age Manor in Centerville, Iowa, and was buried in the Jerome Cemetery following funeral services at the Johnson Funeral Home with Father Richard Steinemann officiating. Dominic married 1 September 1912 in Italy Anna Giacomelli who was born 28 February 1892 in Italy, daughter of Joe Giacomelli and Catterina Tiancometta, died in October 1977 [SSDI] at Illini Hospital Silvis, Rock Island County, Illinois, and was buried in the Jerome Cemetery.He came to the United States and Appanoose County in 1913 and became a naturalized citizen [Appanoose County, Iowa, Naturalization Records, Book 8, Page 85]. On 8 June 1917 he completed his World War I Draft Registration in Centerville.
Left to Right: Joe, Frank & Anna Massa holding Barney
Probably Taken Late 1918
Five children were born in this family:[1] Frank Joking "Chesco" Massa was born 19 June 1913 in Mathi, Italy, died 13 August 2000 at Mercy Hospital, Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, [SSDI] and was buried in the Jerome Cemetery. Frank married 26 January 1936, in Numa, Appanoose County, Iowa, Jessie Margaret Clark who was born 21 June 1916, daughter of John Clark and Suzie Barker, died 12 June 1979, [SSDI] and was buried in the Jerome Cemetery.
Three daughters were born of this marriage: (a) Margaret Massa who married Kenneth Hagan, (b) Irene Massa who married Billy Main, and (c) Helen Massa who married Paul Tharp. At the time of his death, he had 10 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.
Frank received his education in the Jerome school. He worked for forty-two years as a coal miner, the majority of the time at the New Gladstone Coal Company seven miles west of Centerville as one of the owner-operators until it closed in July 1971. He also worked at the Rathbun Fish Hatchery and for the city of Centerville mowing the Centerville City Park. He was an active member of the 18-80 Club in Centerville.
[2] Joeking J. Massa was born 14 January 1916 in Jerome, Appanoose County, Iowa, died 17 May 1991 at Illini Hospital, Silvis, Rock Island County, Illinois, [SSDI] and was buried in Roselawn Memorial Estates, East Moline, Illinois. He married 9 August 1941 in Unionville, Missouri, Florence Bernice Rhodes who was born 9 April 1914 in Plano, Appanoose County, Iowa, daughter of Charles Rhodes and Ella Blanche Swan, died 17 July 2009 at Rosewood Care Center, Moline, Rock Island County, Illinois, [SSDI] and was buried in Roselawn Memorial Estates in Moline, Illinois.
Four children were born of this marriage: (a) Charles D. Massa who married Mary Lou, (b) Ellagene Massa who married Mr. Rosenberry; (c) Joan Massa who married Don Strunk; and (d) Connie Massa who married Robert Jacobs. At the time of Bernice's death, she had ten grandchildren and twenty-one great-grandchildren.
Joe received his education in the Jerome School and graduated in the Class of 1931-1932. Joe was a member of International Harvester Retirees and was a board member of the Silvis Heights Water Corporation for twenty-five years. He enjoyed gardening and taking his grandsons fishing.
Bernice was a member of the First Baptist Church of East Moline. Her faith was quiet, but constant and strong. She was an accomplished seamstress. Along with sewing and altering for her children and grandchildren, she did altering for friends. Her other hobbies included crocheting, embroidering and reading poetry from her many poetry books. She had been a 4-H leader when her children were young and was in a Bunco club with neighbors for over forty years. Bernice was a wonderful cook and had favorites of her children. Her special candy bowl was always nearby for all visitors to her home.
[3] Barney Massa was born 24 March 1918 in Jerome, Appanoose County, Iowa, and died 15 February 1982 in Silvis, Rock Island County, Illinois [SSDI]. He married in 1942 in Missouri Anna Victoria Wiemers who was born 14 June 1919 in Moline, Illinois, and died 23 March 1983 in East Moline, Illinois [SSDI].
Four children were born of this marriage: (a) James Massa, (b) Judith Ann Massa, (c) Jerry Alan Massa and (d) David Michael Massa.
While living in Rock Island County, Illinois, he enlisted 12 February 1942 at Camp Grant in Illinois into the Warrant Officers, United States Navy. After his military service he became developed his own business as a concrete mason in the Quad Cities.
Dominick Massa holding Joe,
Frank standing in back, Barney standing in front,
and Anna Massa
Probably taken in Summer of 1919
[4] Edward Eugene Massa was born in 27 January 1921 in Jerome, Appanoose County, Iowa; he received his basic education in the Jerome School from which he graduated in the Class of 1938. After graduation he entered the U. S. Navy, became a Seaman First Class, was awarded the Purple Heart, and died on 11 October 1943 when the U.S.S. Wahoo, the submarine on which he was serving, was sunk in the La Perouse Strait in Northern Japan by a combination of air attack and depth charging. [5] Frances Massa was born in 1926 in Jerome, Appanoose County, Iowa, and was married 2 August 1947 to Edward C. Jacobs. [Both are living.] One son was born of this marriage: William Edward Jacobs.
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The Massa family was enumerated in the 1920 U.S. Federal Census, the 1930 U.S. Federal Census and the 1925 Iowa State Census -- pages 46-47-48 -- for Lincoln Township, Appanoose County, Iowa. Appanoose County, Iowa, Massa Probate Records: (1) Dominic Massa, Estate, Frank Massa - Administrator, Filed 17 March 1970, Book 31, Page 233, Probate #9733.0, Roll #188, Frame #2732, Box #380; and (2) Jessie Margaret Massa, Estate, Frank J. Massa - Administrator, Filed 2 April 1985, Book 40, Page 51, Probate #12411.0, Roll #219, Frame #1211, Box #480.
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The Editor sincerely appreciates the contribution of the three photographs above to The Jerome Journal by Ella Gene Massa Rosenberry of Indiana.
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