Colleen’s great, great grandmother Giaele (Jean) Bottomly was born in Rivarolo Mantovano, Italy on December 28, 1870.   Rivarolo Mantovano is a commune (municipality) in the Province of Mantua in the northern Italian region Lombardy, located about 110 km southeast of Milan and about 30 km southwest of Mantua.

A= Rivarolo Mantovano, Italy     B = Lugano, Switzerland
c= Le Havre, France

Giaele married  Angelo Baroni around 1896 and had three children; Michael A (b. Mar 1897), Marie (b. 14 May 1898) and Jean B. (b. 7 May 1900).  At some point, the Baroni family moved from Italy  to Lugano, Switzerland, which is just over the Italian border, north of Milano, Italy.

Giaele and Angelo soon immigrated to the United States.  On October 11, 1902, they arrived in New York harbor on board the SS La Lorraine.  It appears that they came alone, leaving the children with their grandmother Lucy back in Switzerland.

In 1903, Angelo’s mother, Lucy, came to the United States bringing Michael, Marie and Jean with her.

In June of 1910, we find the Baroni family, with two additions, living at 277 6th Avenue in Paterson, New Jersey.  Stephanie I. (b. 24 May 1903 in Paterson, NJ) and Yolanda (b. 7 July 1905), aka Wylda, have joined the family. Angelo is listed as a commercial trade of Wines and Liquors. Today, 277 6th Avenue is home to Blessed Sacrament School.

In October of 1913, Angelo passed away, leaving his wife and five children. With the death of her husband, Giaele Baroni prepared to take her family to the bustling streets of Brooklyn, NY.

By February 1920, the family name has changed to Baron along with a couple of first names.  Giaele is now Jean and Yolanda is now Wylda.  Jean, Michael, Marie, Stephanie, and Wylda are now living at 2246 81st Street in Brooklyn, NY.   Recently married daughter Jean Louise and her husband, Frank Smith, are also living with them.  So is Angelo’s 76-year-old mother, Lucy.  In April of 1920, Marie Baron married Jacob Schick in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Jacob Schick was the inventor of “the not yet invented Schick Razor”.  With this marriage, Marie became a naturalized citizen of the United States.

On March 5, 1923, Michael A Baron married Minerva (Vera) Meyer in Manhattan, New York.  Within a few years, they had two children; Eugene and Harvey.

By 1930, the 56-year-old, 5′ 2″ grey haired Jean Baron, immigrant from Italy, had filed a Declaration of Intention for Citizenship.  She was living at 4127 Westmoreland Road in Little Neck, Long Island with her daughter Wylda Nimidoff.  Marie divorced Jacob and is living in Manhattan by herself on University Place.  Marie Smith, daughter Jean Baron’s oldest daughter, was living with her Aunt Wylda and Grandma Jean in Queens, NY.

On April 21, 1931, Jean Baron swore an Oath of Allegiance and become a Naturalized Citizen of the United States of America.  With this Oath, she joins the ranks as one of the few women to obtain Naturalization.  As of today, we do not know why she seeked Citizenship at such a late stage of her life.

On January 17, 1941, Michael Alexis (Buck) Baron passed away.  He left behind a wife; Vera and two children; Eugene and Harvey.

Petition For Citizenship

Declaration of Intention

Oath of Allegiance

Sometime between 1930 and her 1941, Frank E Smith abandoned Jean Louise and their three daughters.  He was never seen again. Jean died on July 3, 1941 in Stamford, CT.  Patricia was 18 and Irene was just 14 when their mom passed away.  Shortly after her Mom’s death, eldest daughter Marie Smith married Nels Hallstrom and had their first child.

Then, on September 14, 1952, Jean Baron died while living with her Daughter Stephanie (Stevie) Sessions.