Joseph Oddenino's wife was Celina (Italian pronunciation - Chay-leena) Carlotta Paracca, who was born in the year 1832 in Genoa, Italy. Her father was Paolo Lorenzo Paracca, and her mother was Rosa Long. We're not sure where Paolo Paracca was born, but he did live in Chieri near Torino, Italy. Reports suggest he was at one time the mayor of Chieri and a colonel in the Italian army. Rosa Long is reported to have been born in Lyon, France, and attended the Street of Good Neighbor School in Lyon, France.
A view of the Alps from Torino:
Reports are that she and Paolo had a silk and linen factory in Chieri. Since Lyon was famous for its silk manufacture, this is entirely possible, but to date, we have no hard evidence of this.
We know she had a brother who was a priest, Monsignor Felix Paracca, who was the one who married Celina and Joseph in the Church of Santa Maria del Scala in Chieri. Here is some interesting information on this Church in the Piedmont region of northern Italy:
At the end of the Strada Panoramica, turn left for the town of Chieri or, alternatively, turn right in the direction of the Colle della Maddalena (Maddalena Hill).
Choosing the first option, the visitor passes through Pino Torinese, a small urban center that once played an important role in the defensive strategy of the city, especially in the 1600s. The original nucleus of the old town is present only in the vicinity of the XVII C. Parish Church. The Observatory is worth mentioning (1912), as it is one of the most important in Italy.
The small town of Chieri, industrial and agricultural-commercial, offers visitors aspects of notable artistic and historical interest.
The center of this Roman town of Carrea Potentia is compact in structure with medieval houses, above all in the vicinity of the Church of San Giorgio. The Cathedral of Santa Maria della Scala, one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in Piedmont, was built between 1405 and 1436 on the ruins of an X C. church.
The beautiful terracotta facade with its Roman and Gothic elements is subdivided into five sections by robust buttresses overlapped by pinnacles; there are three portals, of which the central one, having wooden shutters designed by Vittone, used to house a marble statue of the Virgin Mary and Child, of the early 1400s, which is now inside. On the right of the church stand the bell tower and the octagonal baptistery, with frescoes depicting the Passion of Christ (circa 1430).
The inside is in the shape of a Latin cross, with a nave and two aisles divided alternately by columns and cross-shaped pillars, from which the cross vaults begin. The right transept opens up into the beautiful frescoed chapel, said to be the work of the Gallieri (XV C.). The high altar has a wooden crucifix of 1400; in the apse, of notable interest, is the gothic choir carved with elaborate floral decorations; the fourth chapel on the left is the work of Bernardo Antonio Vittone (1757-1759).
Here is a photo of the church taken in 1973 by Jane Oddenino, great-granddaughter of Joseph and Celina, who made the trip to Chieri with Teresa Oddenino Eaheart, another great-granddaughter of Joseph and Celina:
Celina also had a brother who was a doctor in the army, but we have no data at this time on this brother.
Louis was Joseph & Celina's only surviving child, as a daughter born before Louis died in infancy. Like Joseph, Celina is also reported to have been an artist.
Celina and her son Louis sailed from Havre, France, on the ship La Normandie under Captain Rilba, which arrived in Pennsylvania on September 6, 1887. Celina was 56, and Louis was 26. Louis remained in America, but Celina eventually returned to Italy. Family stories indicate that Celina wanted Joseph to build her a nice brick home in Virginia before she would permanently move from Italy. This never happened.
There are reports that Celina made a second trip to Virginia, but I have not been able to find documentation for that. The records of the 1887 trip reflect that Celina and Louis traveled in steerage, suggesting that their financial situation was not as good as it once had been, or else they were very frugal. Marriage records in Torino demonstrate that the dowry Joseph received from Celina's family was quite significant for that time.
Copies of the dowry records in Torino, Italy, were obtained by Catherine Oddenino, 3X great-granddaughter of Joseph and Celina, during a trip she made to Torino. A translation of each page into English by Italo Pinto is found below the Italian copy:
Many thanks to Italo Pinto in Rome, Italy, who has so graciously translated this document:
CONTRATTO 1859
Contract of Marriage between Mr.Giuseppe Oddenino and Miss Damigella
Paracca and Settlement of a Dowry.
The year eighteen-hundred-fifty-nine, the fourth day of February in Chieri, and
in a room of the home of Messrs.Paracca Heirs, Bosio House, Nr.11 via
S.Domenico______
Before me, Carlo Gilardi Notary Public of the Kingdom and in the presence of
the undermentioned gentlemen as witnesses.
Personally appeared Damigella Cellina Paracca of the late Mr. Knight Lorenzo,
born in Genoa, Giuseppe Oddenino of the late Francesco, born in this city
where both of them reside, who demand of me to make proved by public deed
what follows, that is:
_________1st_________
Mr. Giuseppe Oddenino and Miss Damigella Cellina Paracca, he with the
consent of his own mother, Angela Racca, widow of Francesco Oddenino, born
and living in this city, attending this meeting for the sole purpose of the
consent, and she, with the full acceptance of her own brother Luigi, born in
Villanova d’Asti and residing in Genoa, Emilio born in Alessandria and
domiciled in Acqui, Don Felice born in Nizza Marittima and living in Casale, all
of them being present here, promise to get legally married according to the
rites of the Catholic Church.
NOTES IN THE MARGIN
From the father’s will, he bequeathed to his daughter Cellina the
the sum of Lire 2,500 and from the succession of the inheritance left by the
behind mentioned sister Vittoria, resulting in the mother, Long Rosa, dying ab
intestate, therefore Cellina was only entitled to be paid the aforementioned
sum.
Translation again by Italo Pinto:
General Power of Attorney
transferred by Messrs. Luigi, Emilio e Gioanni fratelli Paracca to the
charge of their brother, Mr. Don Felice Paracca
____________________________
The year eighteen-hundred-fifty-nine, the fourth of February in Chieri
and in a room of the dwelling house of the Paracca Heirs, Bosio
House Via S. Domenico, street Nr.11.
Before me, Carlo Gilardi, Notary Public of the Kingdom, to this
residence and in the presence of the undermentioned witnesses.
Personally appeared Messrs. Luigi, Emilio, and Gioanni, brothers
Paracca of the late Sir Knight Paolo Lorenzo, the first of whom was born in
Villanova d’Asti and residing in Genoa, the second born in
Alessandria and living in Acqui and the third born in Genoa and living
in Casale, who all declare that they want to appoint and to make, as
they, in fact, appoint and make as their General Attorney their brother
Mr. Don Felice Paracca was born in Nizza Marittima and resides there,
who is here present and accepting, to whom they confer the power to
administer all of their properties in their name.
Translation of this page by Italo Pinto:
undivided with the same, and so to grant all or part of their
properties on commitment or farm-out to those people and with
those agreements, prices, clauses, and conditions, and by that
terms which he will hold as mostly convenient to them, to rescind
such contracts to sell the same in full or in part to those who will be
most pleasing to him and at those prices and conditions that he
will find of most interest to them either by cash or by
installments, to take and give money on pledges both by private
agreement or promissory notes and by instrument with or without
loan, to consent to loans or to cancellation of those taken in their
favor or really simple restrictions, to consent to sublet, to
prosecute debtors in the lawsuit and support their reasons before
whatever Judge, Tribunal, or Court of Appeal to accept credits
either deferred or deferrable, both in simplicity and with the favor
of inventory checking, otherwise, to repudiate them, ask for
inventories to be made, fix the shares due to each of the
participants and come to a division to pay the participants the
quota shares due to them and expedite the proper liberation to
collect whatever credit, settle whatever controversy, and give a
receipt, to appoint surveyors and arbitrators, to compromise, to
assign attorneys ad negotia (commercial agreements ) and to
lawsuits with all or part
of the faculties granted to himself by the present deed, as far as the
first are concerned, to revoke same, in short, to do all the above or
what the appointing persons themselves would do since they want
their warranty to be given the largest possible power and faculty
so that no lack of mandate may be opposed to him, even if things
were involved that are not expressed here, which they intend to be
held as told and expressed here and that he is to be considered as
an alter ego (second self) of them with the promise that they will
have his whole action as confirmed, agreeable, and valid under the
law provisions of punishment.
And upon request, I the Notary Public of the Kingdom, receive, read
and make public and explain this deed with a clear, loud and
intelligible voice to the appearing people in the presence of
Messrs. Don Lodovico Vaj and Bosco Giovanni, born the latter in
Anzedeno and the first in this city where both of them reside, as
witnesses appropriate or requested, known to the parties, who
have undersigned together with me.
For the insertion into the Tariff.
As in the original.
Luigi Paracca
E. Paracca
G. Paracca
Felice Paracca
D. Lodovico Vaj, witness.
Bosco Giovanni, witness.
This deed, written by my own hand, contains three pages of a sheet of
stamped paper and five lines of the fourth.
Faithfully and manually.
Carlo Gilardi Notary Public
Drafted in the presence of Mr. Ferdinando Gallina, Notary Public and
compared with the original in agreement.
Faithfully, Chieri, 15th February 1859.
Carlo Gilardi Notary Public
______________________________________ 2nd ______________________________
The bride settles as her dowry everything coming to her by the
inheritance from her parents, Gentleman Paolo Lorenzo Paracca and Rosa
Long and from her sister Vittorina Paracca, deceased in this town in April,
Eighteen-hundred-fifty-six that she declares to consist of five-thousand
lire of which two-thousand lire she pays in currency in the sight and
presence of me, the Notary Public, and of witnesses for the bridegroom,
who, after recognition and remuneration of it, withdraws and withholds and
receives it, while the remaining three thousand lire is included in the
patrimonies left by the same mentioned will be paid by her brothers
during the current year, together with the related interest up to a total
fulfillment of her intentions, as she expressly declares, to the
aforementioned inheritances.
______________________________________ 3rd ______________________________
The same settles as her bundle of the objects described in a separate list
that she reserves to submit, duly signed by herself and the bridegroom, to
be inserted into this deed as an integrating part of the same, which objects
were estimated to be worth one thousand lire, with the statement that the
estimate does not produce the sale of them.
___________________ 4th ____________________
As far as the bridal lucres are concerned, the wedding parties refer to the
provisions of Article Fifteen-hundred-twenty-nine of the Civil Code.
________________ 5th ________________
The bridegroom makes the bride’s dowries and reasons secured upon the
following estate that he owns in this territory that he declares to be more
than sufficient to protect them, on which the same consent to legal
mortgage relating to her restricted. _____________________________________
Field located in the Gionchetto region with border associates Luigi
Oddenino, Carlo and Luigi Montefamerio brothers, countess Luigia Maffei
and Gentleman Vasco, measuring about one hundred-fourteen ares,
subject to usufruct in favor of the mother by rights belonging to her on the
inheritance of the respective father and husband, Francesco Oddenino.
House located in this town in the site Contrada San Domenico, two levels
high, with the court in association with Messrs. Chiesa brothers, the Contrada
by two sides and the Tepica river. And Messrs. Paracca brothers to
protect the three-thousand lire still due by the bride and settled to dowry
by the same, mortgage a part of the field at the end of Villanuova d’Asti,
region of Corno Basso borgata dei Savi, bordering the Marquis La
Marmora, Gianolio Vincenzo, and consortium road measuring about
two-hundred acres. _________________________________________________
And upon request, I, the Notary Public of the Kingdom, receive, read,
publicize and explain this deed with a clear, loud, and intelligible voice to
the parties in the presence of Messrs. Lodovico Vaj born and residing
in this town, and Bosco Giovanni was born in Andezeno and resides in this
town, who are witnesses appropriate and requested and known to the
parties, and so all of them have undersigned together with me.
Faithfully and manually undersigned = Carlo Gilardi Notary Public.
........................................ Insertion .......................................
List of the objects composing the bundle of Ms. Cellina Paracca, bride of
Mr.Giuseppe Oddenino to be inserted in the Contract of marriage drawn
up by Gilardi on February 4 last.
_____
Total lire one thousand L. 1.000
____
Chieri the first of March, Eighteen-hundred-fifty-nine.
Undersigning: Giuseppe Oddenino
Cellina Paracca Oddenino
The undersigned Notary Public certifies that the afore-drawn list of objects
put into the bundle of Mrs.Cellina Paracca, the bride of Mr. Giuseppe
Oddenino, by the deed of February four last, that was submitted to him by
the same persons to be inserted into the said dee of marriage and
settlement of dowry and is contained within two pages of a sheet of
stamped paper besides the remainder of the third one.
Faithfully. Chieri, the first of March, Eighteen-hundred-fifty-nine.
Undersigned to the original: Carlo Gilardi Notary Public
Cellina Paracca …..
Written by the hand of Mr.Giacomo Marchisio and compared with the original
which agrees.
Faithfully, Carlo Gilardi, Notary Public