San Joaquin County Biographies
Ref: Page 1634-1635
Transcribed by: Linda Diane Jackson 12/31/2009
CHESTER GALGANI
A native son of California who has been identified in a practical and successful manner with agricultural pursuits for many years, is Chester Galgani, located on a seventeen acre ranch on the Lodi-Lockeford road two miles east of Lodi. He was born in Sacramento, Cal., on July 2, 1883, a son of Peter A. and Mary (Ferretti) Galgani, the former a native of the province of Lucca, Italy, and the mother of Philadelphia, Pa. When the father, Peter A. Galgani, was about twenty years of age he settled at Sacramento, Cal., where he engaged in the merchandise business; he also tried his hand at farming for a short time in the county. Chester Galgani is one of a family of six children, as follows: Clara is Mrs. Albert Burbridge of San Pedro, Cal.; Alba is Mrs. T.O. Daly of San Francisco; Ella is Mrs. Holmberg of San Pedro; Chester is the subject of this sketch; Louis is a marine engineer on the S.S. Santa Barbara; Patrick is deceased. The father passed away at the age of forty-seven years, the mother is still living at the age of sixty-five and resides in Los Angeles. The mother was married the second time to Harry Sexton, a native of Ireland, and they are the parents of one daughter, Shirley, now Mrs. Laurendeau of Santa Monica.
Chester Galgani obtained his education in the grammar schools of Sacramento and Watsonville and when he was sixteen years old was thrown on his own resources; he first worked on the docks at Port Los Angeles; then worked as a fireman for one year on a coastwise vessel; then for three years in his old position on the docks at Port Los Angeles; then we find him at San Pedro where he worked for five years as a teamster. About this time he homesteaded eighty acres in the Santa Monica hills which he proved up on and still owns and today it is very valuable land. He next was employed by the Santa Monica Park Company as a forest ranger, which occupied him for the next five years. During this time he was also a deputy sheriff of Los Angeles County, a state fire warden and a special Los Angeles policeman.
The marriage of Mr. Galgani occurred at Santa Monica on July 4, 1909, and united him with Miss Edna A. Matteoni, a native of San Diego, Cal., a daughter of Attillio and Josephine (Ferretti) Matteoni, who were farmers on the rich island lands of Sacramento County; later the father ran a hotel in Stockton until he purchased his ranch near Lodi. On December 18, 1917, they removed to Lodi and Mr. Galgani took charge of the Matteoni ranch of 17½ acres on the Lodi-Lockeford road; fourteen acres of which is in vineyard and the balance in cherries with ample space left for a house and outbuildings. They are the parents of three children, Gladys, Harry, and Gemma, deceased.
Mr. Galgani is proud of the service that his brothers rendered to their country during the World War. Patrick A. enlisted about two weeks after war was declared and became a member of the Grizzlies and was first sent to Camp Tanforan, then to Camp Kearny where he was in a special allotment that was immediately sent overseas. He worked at bridge construction work and just before the armistice he was severely gassed and was sent back to New York, where he died shortly after arriving on home soil. Louis Galgani joined the Naval Reserves and was put on the cruiser St. Louis and remained for 26 months. He entered the service as a second class fireman and was promoted to first class fireman and later to first class engineer; later he received his certificate as a first class engineer and he is now a marine engineer on the Santa Barbara. Mr. Galgani is a Republican in politics and fraternally is a member of the K. of C. of Lodi.
History of
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY
CALIFORNIA
With A
Biographical Review
of
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been
Identified with Its Growth and Development
from the Early Days to the Present
HISTORY BY
George H. Tinkham
HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
1923
San Joaquin County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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