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Family Stories: The Anselmis Family Stories: The Anselmis y father, Felice Anselmi, was born 1891 inthe lovely village of Arsio-Brez in the Valdi Non, in what was then the AustrianEmpire in the Palazzo di Arsio-Brez and

hence, had probably some noble lineage. For sure, he wasalways special to me. Like so many Nonesi, he immigrat-ed along with his special friends from his village, thebrothers Joe and Mike Rauzi to Rock Springs, Wyomingin 1910 to work There he found some of his brothersfamily and fellow paesani that had preceded him. Like somany of the Tyrolean immigrants, my father boarded fora time at the home of Peter and Angela Menghini onRugby Ave. He sent money to his mother regularly. Hisfellow paesani found him work with an area employer,the Union Pacific Coal Company who was notorious fortheir dangerous mines and working conditions. In fact,my father started to write in a ledger in 1912 about themany problems facing the coal miners. They receivedvery low wages, suffered unsafe working conditions, andhad no health benefits. He recalled in his ledger that theTyrolean miners were sent into depths of the mine shaftsfor coal exposing them to the danger of methane gasexplosions. He witnessed his friend John Corazza getkilled, trying to stop a runaway coal car with a spike barinto the tracks, but the car came faster and he was killed.

In 1920, he returned to Arsio-Brez to see his sick moth-er. He met for the first time Maria Cologna, my mother,from Castelfondo of the Val di Non. They fell in loveand were married in the church St. Nicolo, Castelfondo,Austria in1921. They returned to the USA to RockSprings, Wyoming. After some time, my father went towork in the coal mines in Reliance, Wyoming.

For years after my father sought to inspire his fellowworkers to strive to become part of a union to obtainproper working conditions and health care for his fellowminers. Having witnessed the tragic death of his friend,John Corazza, my father and mother decided to leaveReliance and took a trip through California, to Idaho andUtah only to settle in Ogden Utah with paesani. In 1931,my father with his family and Zio Fortunato Colognabought a farm in Weber County, Ogden, Utah with pae-sani.Leno Anselmi was born in 1922 and I, MaryAnselmi in 1924. We enjoyed a very loving comfortablehome. My mother was a very special person to us as wellas to all her friends. She left a very special legacy. Wewere inspired to read and to pursue education. Returning

to the Val di Non, my father was to be given a special giftfor my mother, Maria, from Angela Marchetti Menghini,a sister to my nonna, my mother Marias mother. Sheasked if Felice would take a gift of a gold locket on achain to me in the USA, her niece Maria in. He didandI wear this locket today. Yet more precious and specialare the memories of our family life, our traditionalTyrolean values and the wonderful memories of our ori-gins.

My mother learned to speak English and when my fatherdied at the age of 59, she became the farmer amazing allthe neighborhood farmers. She managed to buy and sellcattle at the local auction.

Felix Anselmi was a Sachem of the order of the RedmenOrganization formed to help families in need. My fatherwas instrumental in forming the Friendly Club in 1937.In 1987, the children of the Tyroleans had a goldenanniversary, honoring our heritage. Leno Anselmi withour Tyrolean paesani later formed the Trentini Italians ofUtah. He was the founder and First President. I ,MaryAnselmi Ravarino, graduated from the University ofUtah. I received the American Association ofUniversitys Distinguished Women award in 2010. LenoAnselmi graduated from Utah State University with hon-ors and a scholarship to Cornell. I am very proud of myfamily and my Tyrolean Heritage.

Written by Mary Anselmi Ravarino

MM

Felice Anselmi Maria Cologna Anselmi