Biagio and three of his cousins also from the Mother Country posed for this photograph in approximately 1910.
Myths make for great stories. In our family, the notion that Biagio Magelli fled Italy to avoid being sent to the priesthood appears to be just such a myth.
Here’s how Aunt Teresa (Magelli ) Swanson tells it: “One of grandpa’s cousins – he had a pot full – was sent to a seminary when he was quite young, about 14 or 15.
“He was only there 4 to 6 weeks when he came back home. The story (my mother) “Grandma” Magelli told me was that one of the priests was messing with him. All the cousins were going to go to the seminary and beat him up.
” I don’t believe the last part but I do believe the first. Grandpa had no use for the church or priests and I think that’s why – besides he said ‘they cheated at cards.’
“Actually he came to this country with four of his cousins. I have a picture of them, I’ll have Harry scan it and send it. One of them died. Uncle Steve thought that he’d been buried in either the Ladd or Cherry Cemetery, both in Illinois.
“One cousin’s name was Stangone, which is the pole part of the harness thing on a team of horses. Supposedly he was very tall and thin.
” I guess the other one was Paulo who went to Californa. Stangone moved to Hillsboro and ran a tavern there.”
The myth is romantic, we must admit. And as my dad, Pete Magelli, used to jokingly say: “Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.”