Tognetti Facts & Fiction

Tognetti name

The surname Tognetti is a derivative of the name Antonio. And a dialect form of Antonio is Togn. The suffix etti signifies "little ones". So, Tognetti signifies "Little Anonios".

Francesco Tognetti in America

In 1911, Francesco Tognetti decided to go to California in search of work. He found work on a farm and soon was able to start a side business with his brother-in-law. In 1919, his brother-in-law died young of an illness. Francesco returned to Italy a few years later with money to give to his widowed sister. While in Italy, he met and married Attilia in 1925. If not for his marriage, he would have returned to live permanently in America.

World War II

After returning from America, Francesco had a substantial amount of cash that he invested in property. At the time of the war, he had one of the largest homes in Porcari. The invading Germans decided that they would set up headquarters in the Tognetti house. For this reason, the Tognetti family was fortunate, as the Germans provided them with basic staples that were unavailable at the time. After the war, Francesco sold the home and purchased a large parcel on the outskirts of Porcari where the home exists to this day. The home on the old property was purchased by the municipality which converted it to Collegio Cavanis, a middle-school.

Event of 1958

Antonio and Dina wanted to buy a house but did not have enough money, as bank loans were not possible in those days. They asked Francesco for a loan and he agreed. However, there are 2 conflicting stories about why the loan was never made. The first had to do with Dina’s sister, Luigina. Her husband objected to lending money to one child and not the others, so Francesco did not lend the money. The second story states that instead of giving the money to Antonio and Dina, he gave the money to his eldest son, Romolo, to build an apartment next door. In either case, Antonio and Dina did not receive the money and decided to emigrate to America instead.