Frank Silva 1
| My Santa Maria Memories |
| 1912- At the request of his wife, Mary, Frank Silva brought to the United States Joe and Mary Dias and another couple, Mr and Mrs Quersma, from the Azores Islands. All four had been left homeless by a series of storms. The four were friends of Mary Silva, who had lived in the same village with her. Joe and Mary Dias had one child, Frank Dias- my father. Frank Dias married Mabel Silva, the only child of Frank and Mary Silva. Frank Silva set up Joe Dias in Farming on East Betteravia Rd, East of Rosemary Farms. 1914-1915- Frank Silva brought from the Azores Joe and Mary Souza and Joe and Mary Teixeira, friends of Mary from the village she used to live in. Both couples were set up in farming & houses on West Main Street by Frank Silva. More to come later on children and grandchildren. Minetti and Maretti were brought to the United States from Italy and set up in farming by Frank Silva and living on West Main, near Guadalupe.. Minetti wound up on a horse ranch north-east of Cayucos. Maretti did a variety of businesses- a thousand of them if I believed him half of the time!. Son of each operated the Far Western Tavern in Guadalupe. More later on children. Date Later- R.F. Donovan and wife, brought to United States from Germany and set up in farming by Frank Silva. And set up in farming again by Frank Silva. Finally, R.F. Donovan succeeded on what is now East Donovan. More on family later. 1938- Paul and Leona Adam were brought to the United States by Frank Silva from France, where they were running from Germany,s anti- Jewish extermination. Frank Silva believed the Germans were killing the Jews;so, he asked for 5 Jewish families from a Jewish re-location organization, who gave them only one- Paul and Leona Adam. From that organization to Frank Silva: " We are giving you only one Jewish family because you are not Jewish yourself." Paul and Leona were set up in farming on West Main and in a house on East Main, next to Frank Silva's property, by Frank Silva. Leona gave birth to Bill and David Jack, who later started farming on West Main. 1952- Tognazzini and family- Brought to the United States from Italy and set up in farming and house near Oceano by Frank Silva. More about the family later. 1951- Nick Ardantz and wife brought to the United States, from Germany, by Frank Silva and set up in employment (R.F. Donovan Packing Co. on Artic Avenue. Frank Silva later arranged the first meeting of Nick Ardantz and Milo Ferini, Sr, 2 days after Milo Ferini, Sr arrived in the United States,being brought here from Italy. Henri Ardantz was not brought here by Frank Silva. I heard Henri Ardantz say that he had forged a letter to Immigation and Naturalization saying that Frank Silva had mistakenly left his name off the application to bring his mother and father here. Henri had to do something like that because the United States of America had revoked his citizenship in the United States 0f America for his work on the side of Germany during World War II. Frank Silva refused to have anything to do with Henri Ardantz, naturally. Nearly all the people I know have refused to even talk to Henri Ardantz. Many, including his own father have wanted to kill Henri Ardantz. 1951-Milo, Sr Ferini and wife and Larry and Patrick brought to the United States from Italy by Frank Silva and set up in farming and housing near Guadalupe. , Milo, jr not asked for by Frank Silva- who did the forging or whatever is not known to me. Milo, Sr was introduced to Nick Ardantz by Frank Silva- Nick Ardantz saying to Milo , Sr: "You must be Milo". They were close friends from that point on, never having met before. Nick and Milo, sr formed a partnership that year and formally incorporated their partnership in 1952. Milo, Sr sneaked a look at the first Santa Maria Valley cooler( on West Main, south side) and copied it for their own cooler in Guadalupe, enlarging the Bonita (Bonipak) building in Guadalupe- in 1953. The Nick Ardantz & Milo, Sr partnership bought the Bonita(Bonipak) building from George Aratani in 1954, with help from Frank Silva.George Aratani had previously sold his name brands(including Bonita and Bonipak ) to Nick Ardantz and Milo Ferini, Sr for $1. The partnership of Nick Ardantz and Milo Ferini, Sr later formally formed the businesses Bonita Packing and Bonipak (George Aratani was too sentimental about his father owning the previous businesses that included Bonita Packing and Bonipak that he never sold them to anyone)- I signed on as a witness to their signatures on those documents, forming these brand new businesses in 1954(not sooner and not later-so stick your lies in your rear Henri Ardantz!) Tom Parks- Brought to the United States by Frank Silva from Germany. Set up in farming in Lompoc(Big-E Produce). Like a kid in a candy store- Parks farmed the whole valley by 1960. Photo of Tom Parks click Here |
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Frank Silva