Rocco Cerniglia (last name Americanized to Cheneler) was born in Cefalu, Sicily in 1851. He was an officer in the Italian army. His brothers and sisters (Checcina - the bossy one, Nicholas, and Antony) owned a shop that sold grain, olive oil, wine and produce to workers. The property had not been split evenly, and Rocco decided to go to America to seek his fortune. He arrived in America in 1894 at the age of 43, leaving his wife Rosa in San Stefano, Sicily with their children. He came through the port of New Orleans, Louisiana. He worked in the sugar fields there and then moved to Galesburg, Illinois and owned a grocery store. After seven years (1901) in America, he sent for his son Giovanni, who was 19 at the time. Until then, his family in Sicily did not hear from him. The rest of the family came in 1902.
Rocco Cerniglia (last name Americanized to Cheneler) was born in Cefalu, Sicily in 1851. He was an officer in the Italian army. His brothers and sisters (Checcina - the bossy one, Nicholas, and Antony) owned a shop that sold grain, olive oil, wine and produce to workers. The property had not been split evenly, and Rocco decided to go to America to seek his fortune. He arrived in America in 1894 at the age of 43, leaving his wife Rosa in San Stefano, Sicily with their children. He came through the port of New Orleans, Louisiana. He worked in the sugar fields there and then moved to Galesburg, Illinois and owned a grocery store. After seven years (1901) in America, he sent for his son Giovanni, who was 19 at the time. Until then, his family in Sicily did not hear from him. The rest of the family came in 1902.
