Our Riva and the Alaria Ancestors

The first Riva in our family to come to America was Giacomo Riva. He immigrated in 1897. The first Alaria in our family to come to America was Pietro Alaria. He came over in 1885 and he was the father to Josephine Alaria who later married Giacomo in August 19, 1905 bonding these two families together forever. This blog site is an attempt to follow their paper trail across time.

The Riva Family, Circa early 1920s
Margaret J, Giacomo (father), John D, and Peter M

Giacomo Riva was born in Pertusio, Italy, March 26, 1873 to parents Giovanni Riva and Margherita Faletto both of Italy. He died in Kent County, MI, in November of 1944.

Riva Siblings:
-John Dominick Riva
Born Sept. 21, 1906 South Wilmington, IL
Married to Margaret Kane
Died July 14, 1989, Kent County, MI
- Margaret J. Riva - Unmarried (known as Maggie)
Born July 7, 1908
Died June 28, 1994
- Aurelia Riva - Died as infant
- Baby - Died as an infant
(also named Aurelia according to oral history)
- Peter Riva
Born June 5, 1911 Standard, IL (Putman County)
Married to Doris Latimer April 15, 1937
Died Dec. 25, 1999 Kent County, MI

Known Siblings to Giacomo Riva:
- Frank Riva
- Mathew Riva
- Dominick Riva
- Joseph Riva
- Margaret Riva - Married Tony Mandoni

Wife to Giacomo Riva: Josephine Alaria



The Alaria Family, circa 1902-04
Standing: John, Joe, Josephine, Rose; Center: Peter and Rome;
Seated: Peter (the father) Frank, Aurelia (the mother)

Pietro Alaria was born Nov. 1859 in San Giogrio Canavese, Italy, and he married Aurelia Masoero in 1884. He died January 11, 1931, in Kent County, MI.

Aurelia Masoero was born in Italy in January 1862 and died in 1928 in Kent County, MI.

Alaria Siblings:
- Josephine Alaria
Born Dec. 1885 France (near the Italian border)
Married Giacomo Riva on Aug. 19, 1905
Died Feb. 2, 1919, Bureau County, IL
- Romellio Alaria
Born June 8, 1899, Lagrange, IL
Died Sept. 10, 1963
Married Margaret Jane Dyer on Dec. 29, 1926
- John Alaria
Born: Feb. 2, 1891, Coal City, IL
Died May 24, 1965, Kent County, MI
Married Elizabeth Gorden, May 9, 1917
- Joseph Alaria
Born:
Died:
Married Mary Ellen Renn (?)
- Rosa Alaria
Born: Feb. 13, 1895, Coal City, IL
Married August Koepnick, married August Koepnick, Jan. 1913
- Peter Alaria
Married Mabel Marie Harkins
- Frank Alaria
Died: 29 Dec, 1926
Married Laila M. Milthaler


Spelling Variations

Spelling on older records for ancestors don't always match. It happened for several reasons. 1) Immigrants often couldn't read or write and they depended on clerks or others to sound names out. 2) If they did know a name was Americanized or spelled wrong by a clerk they would hesitate to challenge authority. 3) Census records are subject to mistakes in the way the information was gathered word-of-mouth from who ever was home at the time the the census taker called, including guesses from neighbors. Below are the spelling variations I've found in our ancestor's records.

Pietro
Pietre
Peter

Allaria - Used on a passenger list and Josephine's wedding license
Olerio - Used on the 1900 U.S. Census
Alaria - Currently used spelling of the family name

Faletto
Falletti

Josephine
Josie
Jossie

Aurelia
Orelia
Amelia
Ourellia
Eurelia

Masoero - Family used this spelling in later years
Mosvero - Found on older records

James (English)
Giacomo (Italian)

John (English)
Giovanni (Italian)

Margaret (English)
Margherita (Italian)

Romellio
Romer
Rome


J.Riva © 2008

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