He was born Giovanni Battista (John the Baptist) Tua, and was the son of Italian immigrants. He was educated in France and Italy and learned to speak both languages. In July 1891 he moved to the United States, settling in Osage City, Kansas, and lived with his two sisters. Tua became an American citizen in 1892. He did odd jobs and eventually moved to Hartshorne, Indian Territory, in 1896. In 1898 he relocated to McAlester and labored in the Fassino brothers macaroni plant. In 1900 Tua and William Morgan started "Bill and John's Place," a restaurant and confectionery. In 1902 Tua married Netta Rose Silott. Tua's ability to learn languages led to a job as the official interpreter for Judge William H. H. Clayton's court in Indian Territory. He also developed a steamship and travel agency to assist people, mainly Italians to travel to and from Italy, especially for the purpose of bringing brides back to Oklahoma. He became a U.S. Citizen in 1900. With the thousands of Italian miners locating in and around Pittsburg County, and not trusting American banks, they relied on John Tua to be their banker. The miners expected him to be able to produce their money on demand, so he was often forced to carry as much as $20,000 in his pockets and had to be able to lay his hands on a quarter of a million dollars within 24 hours. He worked in the Italian Consulate for more than 30 years until the United States severed diplomatic relations with Italy during World War II. Survivors include his widow; two sons, Bert S. Tua and John B. Tua; two sisters, Vodano of Buffalo, N.Y. and Mrs. Anna Clerico of Osage City; three granddaughters, Mrs. Bernard Smith of Stillwater and Judith Ann and Susan Tua of McAlester.
He was born Giovanni Battista (John the Baptist) Tua, and was the son of Italian immigrants. He was educated in France and Italy and learned to speak both languages. In July 1891 he moved to the United States, settling in Osage City, Kansas, and lived with his two sisters. Tua became an American citizen in 1892. He did odd jobs and eventually moved to Hartshorne, Indian Territory, in 1896. In 1898 he relocated to McAlester and labored in the Fassino brothers macaroni plant. In 1900 Tua and William Morgan started "Bill and John's Place," a restaurant and confectionery. In 1902 Tua married Netta Rose Silott. Tua's ability to learn languages led to a job as the official interpreter for Judge William H. H. Clayton's court in Indian Territory. He also developed a steamship and travel agency to assist people, mainly Italians to travel to and from Italy, especially for the purpose of bringing brides back to Oklahoma. He became a U.S. Citizen in 1900. With the thousands of Italian miners locating in and around Pittsburg County, and not trusting American banks, they relied on John Tua to be their banker. The miners expected him to be able to produce their money on demand, so he was often forced to carry as much as $20,000 in his pockets and had to be able to lay his hands on a quarter of a million dollars within 24 hours. He worked in the Italian Consulate for more than 30 years until the United States severed diplomatic relations with Italy during World War II. Survivors include his widow; two sons, Bert S. Tua and John B. Tua; two sisters, Vodano of Buffalo, N.Y. and Mrs. Anna Clerico of Osage City; three granddaughters, Mrs. Bernard Smith of Stillwater and Judith Ann and Susan Tua of McAlester.
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