History of Merced County, California
Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic Record Co., 1925, 903 pgs.
page 882
JOSEPH WILLIAM
SPAGNOLI
photo
contributed by Dave Smeds-from the collection of Mary Eliza Simmons
Branson, Aunt of Joseph Spagnoli
SURNAMES: Simmons, Peard, Branson, Parsons
Distinguished as the son\e of a pioneer family of worth, Joseph
William Spagnoli is well deserving of representation in this
volume. He is now actively engaged in the contracting and
building business in Merced, an occupation which so readily marks the
wealth and proseperity of the community. His birth occurred in
a mining camp in Mariposa county, on September 13, 1875, a son of
Joseph and Elizabeth Jane (Simmons) Spagnoli. Joseph Spagnoli,
the father, came by boat from his native county of Switzerland to
California in the early fifties, and mined in the mountains of Mariposa
County, where he became a successful mine owner and was one of the
pioneers of Mariposa county. Miss Elizabeth Jane Simmons was born in
England and when a small child accompanied her parent to Australia, and
was still a young girl when her parents came to California. She
was married to Joseph Spagnoli at Hornitos, Mariposa County, and is
still living, having reached an advanced age. The father
passed away in 1915.
Joseph William Spagnoli recveived a grammar school education in
Mariposa County. Following in his father's footsteps he turned to
mining pursuits and for seventeen years was thus occupied, the greater
part of which was spent as a hoisting engineer in the mines. He ahd
also learned the carpenter's trade, and, when he located in Merced, in
1909, he turned his attenion to this line of occupation, and for
the past five years he has been successfully engaged in the contracting
and building business.
Mr. Spagnoli was united in marriage with Mriss Rose May Peard, also
born in Mariposa Couonty , Cal. Her parents were also pioneers of
California, her mother, Martha Branson, crossing the plains with
ox-teams inearly days, while Mr. Peard came from England. Mr. and
Mrs. Spagnoli have two children: Iva, Mrs. Shirley Parsons, and
Donald. In politics, Mr. Spagnoli is a Democrat, and fraternally
belongs to the Lodge, Encampment, canton and Rebekahs of the Odd
Fellows. For the past six years he has served as a trustee of the
grammar school in Merced.
transcribed by Carolyn Feroben
MARIPOSA COUNTY FAMILY CHRONICLES
MARIPOSA COUNTY HISTORY AND GENEALOGY
,CALIFORNIA