More interesting people you find......

So, one of the last posts on here was about Stanley Foreman Reed, a former Supreme Court Justice, who is a cousin of my father in law.

Now, we take a small trip over to my Sicilian side of the family. Now, I realize that some of you out there who read this blog might not know anything about California politics, especially history earlier than our current Governator, but this post deals with a cousin of mine by marriage. His name was Joseph Laurence Alioto. Joe's family married into the Cardona's with the marriage between my great great Aunt Tessie Incardona and her husband Thomas Caito (which I have since learned is pronounced in the old country as Kai--eeee----toe). Thomas Caito's mom Agatha had a brother named Lorenzo Lazio. Lorenzo's grandson was the above mentioned Joe Alioto. Therefore my great great Aunt Tessie's husband Tom Caito was first cousins (one removed as they are one generation apart) with the former Mayor of San Francisco.

For information on Joseph Alioto's daughter, Angela Alioto Veronese click here.




Here is Joe in his younger days:



And here is Joe's biography found at "Reference.com"

Joseph Lawrence Alioto (b. February 12, 1916, San Francisco, California , d. January 29, 1998, San Francisco, California) was the mayor of San Francisco from 1968 to 1976. He was born to Sicilian immigrants (his father was a fisherman; his parents met on a fishing boat while escaping the 1906 San Francisco earthquake). Alioto graduated from St. Mary's College in Moraga, California in 1937 and from The Catholic University of America in 1940. Alioto worked for the Antitrust Division of the Justice Department and then for the Board of Economic Warfare. He returned to San Francisco after World War II and started an antitrust practice, representing Walt Disney and Samuel Goldwyn, among others, eventually becoming a millionaire.

Alioto served on the San Francisco Board of Education from 1948 to 1954, and in the 1960s, served as the chair of the city's Redevelopment Agency. He entered the mayoral race in 1967 when John Shelley, the incumbent, bowed out of the race, allegedly because of poor health but probably because Alioto was more pro-development than Shelley (Shelley, whose rival Eugene McAteer was being backed by Alioto, was also expected to lose against a Republican opponent, Harold Dobbs, after McAteer collapsed and died while playing a game of handball).

Alioto was inaugurated on January 8, 1968, served a term, and was handily re-elected in 1971. Alioto delivered the speech nominating Hubert Humphrey at the Democratic National Convention in 1968. There were rumors that Humphrey would select Alioto as his running mate, but Humphrey selected Edmund Muskie. In July 1969, an article in Look Magazine claimed that Alioto had ties to the Mafioso Aladena Fratianno. Alioto sued the magazine for libel and won a $450,000 judgment. In the course of the litigation, Alioto proved that Look Magazine, desperate and on the verge of bankruptcy, simply conjured up (with no proof) an alleged mob meeting in Vacaville, California at the Nut Tree Restaurant. He later claimed that he had documents that showed that the Nixon Administration leaked disinformation to the magazine in order to stall his career.

Alioto was also indicted by the federal government on bribery charges after he was accused in 1969 by the State of Washington of splitting a $2.3 million fee in an antitrust case with Washington State Attorney General John O'Connell. These charges were pressed by one of Nixon's top men in the State of Washington, then Assistant U.S Attorney and subsequently a U.S. Senator, Slade Gorton. A jury unanimously acquitted Alioto, finding the charges politically motivated. Alioto's focus on fighting these charges led him to reluctantly put aside plans to run for the California governorship against Ronald Reagan in 1970.

Alioto presided over a time of turmoil and change in San Francisco. He ran on a platform of reducing taxes and fighting crime. Alioto put his energy behind the development of three major building projects, the Bay Area Rapid Transit System (BART), the Transamerica Pyramid and the Embarcadero Center. These efforts engendered opposition in the development stage but were eventually built and transformed the quality of life and skyline of San Francisco. Alioto helped to bring more minorities into city politics, launched a reform of the city charter, and mediated protracted police and fire department strikes in 1975. Alioto's tenure also saw a strike at San Francisco City College during 1968-1969, strife in the Haight-Ashbury, anti-Vietnam War demonstrations, and the Zebra murders and Zodiac killings. In 1971, Alioto's wife Angelina vanished, reappearing after 18 days to say that she had taken off to "punish" her husband for neglect. During the time Angelina was missing, she toured the missions of California as part of a religious pilgrimage. Angelina filed divorce proceedings against him in 1975. He remarried in 1978.

Alioto ran in the 1974 Democratic primary for the governor's office, losing to Bob Moretti and Jerry Brown. After he left office, Alioto went back into private practice, but he and his son Joseph Jr. lost a major malpractice case in 1980. In 1991, he and his son went to battle in court against one another over legal fees in another case. Alioto died of prostate cancer in 1998.
Members of Alioto's family are still deeply involved in San Francisco politics. Angela Alioto, a daughter from his first marriage, served eight years as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, two as its President. One of his granddaughters, Michela Alioto-Pier, was appointed to the Board of Supervisors in 2003 by San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom and won reelection to the Board in 2004. Several of his sons are prominent attorneys and businessmen in the San Francisco Bay Area.

After posting this information on here, I also found information on Joe's second wife Kathleen Sullivan who was the daughter of Billy Sullivan Jr, who back in 1960 (I believe) started and owned a football team in what once was the American Football League. That team at the time was named the Boston Patriots. Now they are the New England Patriots.

Aunt Velma Cardona

I remember growing up and spending alot of time at my grandparents house in San Jose. At least once a week, my grandparents and I would walk around the block to Aunt Velma's house and sit and visit for a while. For the longest time, I never knew that "Aunt Thelma" as my grandfather had called her was an actual Aunt, but she was. She had married my grandfathers brother Charlie on September 7th, 1968. The thing was, Uncle Charlie passed away in 1975 and I don't really remember him. His death shocked the family and it was never really talked about. I guess.....no, I know it was much too painful for my grandfather to remember it even up until the time of my grandfather's death in 1999. Charlie's children pretty much kept to themselves and again, I don't remember meeting any of them either, with the exception of his son Charlie Jr.

Anyway, I always loved visiting "Aunt Thelma" when I was younger as did my cousins. She was such a sweet lady and loosing Charlie was extremely rough on her. The last time I remember seeing Velma was the early 1990's . I tried to find her when we were expecting our first child, but by then, she had moved out of the house on Matson Dr. and I couldn't find her. She would have loved to meet Cierra. I would have loved that also.

My daughter is what got me closer to alot of my family that I hadn't seen or talked to in a while. I wanted her to know the people I grew up around because they were beautiful people. Because of that, I had a chance to reconnect with Aunt Marie in San Francisco, Aunt Carm in Campbell and other cousins I haven't talked to in years. That re-connection with these people meant alot to me. I now wish I had tried harder to find Aunt Velma years ago.

Aunt Velma passed away about 6 months ago at the ripe old age of 89. As soon as I get my scanner working, I will put up her picture on here.

Here is her obituary that I found in the San Jose Mercury News:


"Velma Kopanica Cardona passed away peacefully on April 14. She was surrounded by her family and the caring staff of Palo Alto Commons where she had lived for 10 years. She was born on July 16, 1917 to Tom and Flora Kopanica. She worked for the staff of the San Jose Police Department for 20 years, retiring in 1972. She loved to travel, dance, and in retirement, she learned to paint. She was loved by her sisters Mary Voelke of Vallejo, California, and Pauline Kemper, who preceded her in death. She enjoyed joining and being a part of the Cardona family. Her husband Charles Cardona, preceded her in death.

Velma is survived by her sister, Mary Voelke, her nieces and nephews, and the family of Charles Cardona.

A memorial mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 20th, at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 751 Waverley St., Palo Alto. Interment in Santa Clara Mission Cemetery will be private. Arrangements by Oak Hill Funeral Home, San Jose.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Palo Alto Commons Employees Christmas Fund, 4075 El Camino Way, Palo Alto, CA 94306, or any favorite charity."

Rest in Peace Aunt Velma

Merritt H. Tatman

Merritt H. Tatman was my father in law's Great Grandfather. Here is some info I found on him.

"MERRITT H. TATMAN, farmer. This gentleman is the youngest of thirteen children, born to Joseph and Rebecca Tatman ; the former being a native of Virginia, and the latter a native of North Carolina. The father was born July 16, 1770; the mother in 1772. They came to Ohio in 1798, and settled in what is now Brown County, where they remained three years, or until 1801, when they came to Bethel Township. At that time, this beautiful and highly improved country was but a wilderness. Mr. T. was in early days in the affairs of the State-being a member of the Legislature for a number of years. After the organization of Clark County, he was appointed Associate Judge of the new county, holding that office until about the time of his death, which occurred Jan. 27, 1827. His wife survived him many years, but on the 6th of December, 1864, she peacefully left this life to join him in that brighter and better land, where they would be parted no more forever. During life they were blessed with the following children, viz.: Mary, born March 15, 1793, died Sept. 19, 1878; Sarah, born Oct. 13, 1794; and Nancy, June 29, 1796, both deceased; Rebecca, born March 26, 1798; Joseph, Feb. 14, 1800.; Morgan B., March 29, 1802 ; John, Oct. 26, 1804; Cyrus, Dec. 23, 1806. These four latter are now with their parents in the land to which they made their last long pilgrimage. Milton was born Dec. 13, 1808; William M. K., July 21, 1811; Fletcher P., Sept. 18, 1813, supposed now to be dead; Mandana, born Feb. 11, 1816; and Merritt H., the subject of this sketch, born May 28, 1818. He now resides on a farm adjoining the old homestead, which is still in the hands of the heirs-being one sister and a brother all living together. Merritt H. married Miss Emma C. Newcomer, April 7, 1878; they now have two children-John M., born Feb. 15, 1879, and James G., July 9, 1880."

Joseph L. Tatman and Rebecca Bryan

As I stated in the previous post, Joseph L. Tatman was my father in law's Great Great Grandfather. What follows is a little of what I found online about the man:

"At this point in time, it is unconfirmed as to whether Joseph was born in Virginia, Pennsylvania or what would eventually become Maryland. The Tatmans however, were part of those who signed a petition in 1782 to the governor of Virginia explaining their plight. They were inhabitants of the Yohogania and Monongalia areas that extended into southwestern Pennsylvania and possibly part of Maryland. They had been paying taxes to Virginia, but the governor of Pennsylvania said they were in the actual territory of his state and therefore owed Pennsylvania taxes.

Since Joseph did not want to pay taxes he felt he did not owe, they eventually left Pennsylvania and emmigrated to Kentucky. Joseph Tatman and his wife Rebecca Bryan (who was 1st cousin to the Rebecca Bryan who married Daniel Boone) lived in Paris KY for a while after they were married.

They lived first in Brown County, then moved to Green County, and when that county was divided, they resided in the part that became Clark County. Apparently Joseph and Rebecca received a homestead grant in this area which was later to be the property of their youngest son, Merritt H. Tatman. In total, Joseph and Rebecca had 13 children.

Joseph was an earnest and devout minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and had charge of the congregation of the first organization in that township. He was later a Representative in the General Assembly of Ohio, and is remembered as a man of strict probity and large common sense, combined with Christian benevolence.

It is related that, when driving his team to Cincinnati with his neighbor, John Hacker, while passing the cabin of a poor widow, he was called upon to sell her a little flour because she didn’t have the means to purchase a full barrell.

In the condition of the roads in those days, a trip to the city and back took eight to ten days, and it was on a Sunday when the widow's request was made.
Joseph Tatman however, rolled out a barrel and received what little the widow could spare in full payment for it.

On their return, Hacker, who was a member of Tatman’s church, reported him for violating the Sabbath in selling flour on the Lord's Day!

Joseph died on January 27th, 1827 and his wife followed in 1864. At the time, his coffin cost a grand total of $5.00"

The Tatmans

In case you missed the previous post concerning the Tatman family, you can find it here.

The Tatmans, and their descendants came from the Virginia Colonies and spread out across the United States to California and everywhere in between. However, the vast majority of them remained in Ohio, Kansas, and Kentucky.

Joseph Tatman was born in the Virginia Colonies in 1744 and married Sarah Murdock. Together they had at least 10 children. For the purposes of this blog, I will only put the ancestors and their siblings of my father in law down to his grandfather.

Joseph and Sarah's son, Joseph Tatman was born in the Virgina colonies in 1770 and eventually married a woman by the name of Rebecca Bryan. Rebecca is of note because she is first cousin to another Rebecca Bryan who married Daniel Boone. Anyway, here is how the genealogy plays out.


Children of Joseph Tatman and Sarah Murdock:

..... 2 James Tatman b: 1769 in Virginia
..... 2 Joseph L. Tatman b: 16 Jul 1770 in Virginia Colonies d: 24 Jan 1827 in Bethel Township,
Joseph was my father in law's Great Great Grandfather
..... 2 Jesse Tatman b: 1771 in Virginia d: 14 Oct 1829
..... 2 Susannah Tatman b: 23 Aug 1772 in Virginia
..... 2 Martha Tatman b: 1774 in Virginia
..... 2 John Tatman b: 1775 in Virginia d: 29 Oct 1829 in Mason County, Kentucky
..... 2 Samuel Tatman b: 20 Dec 1776 in Virginia d: 20 Jul 1850 in Brown County, Ohio
..... 2 Benjamin Tatman b: 1779 in Virginia d: 1821 in Claremont County, Ohio
..... 2 Nathan Tatman b: 1780 in Virginia d: 1828 in Washington County, Illinois
..... 2 Hannah Tatman b: 1781 in Virginia


Children of Joseph L Tatman and Rebecca Bryan:


..... 2 Mary Tatman b: 15 Mar 1793 in Bourbon County, Kentucky d: 19 Sep 1878 in Ohio
..... 2 Sarah Tatman b: 13 Oct 1794 in Bourbon County, Kentucky d: 24 Dec 1878
..... 2 Nancy Tatman b: 29 Jun 1796 in Bourbon County, Kentucky
..... 2 Rebecca Tatman b: 26 Mar 1798 in Brown County, Ohio d: 11 Aug 1881 in Kentucky
..... 2 Joseph Milton Tatman b: 14 Feb 1800 in Brown County, Ohio
..... 2 Morgan Bryan Tatman b: 29 Mar 1802 in Brown County, Ohio d: 30 Jul 1837 in Indiana
..... 2 John Tatman b: 26 Oct 1804 in Greene County, Ohio
..... 2 Cyrus Tatman b: 23 Dec 1806 in Greene County, Ohio d: 17 Apr 1870 in Michigan
..... 2 Milton Tatman b: 13 Dec 1808 in Greene County, Ohio d: 01 Aug 1889 in Bethel, Ohio
..... 2 William Tatman b: 21 Jul 1811 in Greene County, Ohio d: 30 Jun 1892 in Indiana
..... 2 Fletcher P. Tatman b: 18 Sep 1813 in Greene County, Ohio
..... 2 Miranda Tatman b: 11 Feb 1816 in Greene County, Ohio d: 21 Jun 1851
..... 2 Merritt H. Tatman b: 28 May 1818 in Bethel Township, Ohio d: 26 Apr 1888 in Ohio
Merrit H. Tatman was his Great Grandfather

Children of Merritt H. Tatman and Emma Newcomer:


Descendants of Merritt H. Tatman
..... 2 Joseph Merritt Tatman b: 15 Feb 1879 in Bethel, Ohio d: 28 Sep 1950 in Sacramento, Ca
Joseph Merritt Tatman was his Grandfather
..... 2 Jennie Garfield Tatman b: 09 Jul 1880 in Medway, Ohio d: 30 Sep 1958 in Eureka, Ca.
..... 2 Lucretia Tatman b: 1883 in Medway, Ohio d: 12 Aug 1888 in Medway, Ohio

In total, there are about 1,000 descendants of Joseph Tatman and Sarah Murdock.

I will also post a little about each of my father in law's direct ancestors coming up.

In the meantime, I will be starting work on the Incardona/Cardona family as well as their surrounding families.