Bio- Sawyers
SURNAMES: CORTIMEGLIA, CANZONERI,

Among the many desirable citizens whom Italy has contributed to California is Joseph C. Provenzano, who dates his residence in San Jose from 1907. He has built up a large business as a plasterer contractor during the intervening period of fourteen years, owing to his thorough knowledge of the trade and known reliability. His birth occurred at Corleone, in the province of Palermo, Italy, on December 9, 1880, his parents being Mariano and Frances Pauline (Cortimeglia) Provenzano, the former a contractor.

In the grammar and high schools of Corleone, Joseph C. Provenzano pursued his education, later completing an engineering course, but he has never followed that profession. When seventeen years of age he left his native land, arriving in New York City with one Italian penny in his pocket. He possessed the confidence in the future characteristic of those who are just starting out on life's journey, and, after serving an apprenticeship to the plasterer's trade. had no difficulty in securing work along that line. For five years he remained in New York City and in 1902 made his way to California, first locating at Los Angeles, where he secured work as a plasterer with a prominent building contractor of that city. His employer was much pleased with the work done by Mr. Provenzano, who had received thorough instruction in his trade under Gustave Lucchesi, a leading contractor of New York City.

While a resident of Los Angeles he worked on the Bank of Italy Building and many other large structures of that city, but in 1907 he came to San Jose, where he has since made his home. He entered business circles here as a plasterer contractor and has been very successful in the undertaking, having done the work on the Hippodrome Theater, the Catholic Church of East San Jose, and many other large buildings in the city, in addition to a number of homes, and his excellent work and straightforward dealing have won for him the confidence and support of the public. His business has now reached large proportions and he ranks with the leading plasterer contractors of the city.

In Los Angeles, Cal., on July 31, 1905, Mr. Provenzano was united in marriage to Miss Rosa Canzoneri, a native of that city and a daughter of Girolamo and Leoluchina Canzoneri, the former a prominent fruit merchant of Los Angeles. To this union six children have been born: Frances Pauline, Mariano, Bessie, Mary Antoinette, Jennie Lillian and Girolamo. Mr. Provenzano gives his political allegiance to the Republican party and fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Masonic Lodge at San Jose. His fellow townsmen attest his sterling qualities and personal worth, as well as his business ability, and he has gained a wide circle of friends during the period of his residence in San Jose.

Sawyer, Eugene T, History of Santa Clara County, California : Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic Record Co., 1922, 1776 pgs. 

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