Giovanni Cusmano Jr. AKA John Cusmano was born in Terrasini, Palermo Sicily. As previously mentioned his Parents are Giovanni Cusumano Sr and Antonina Lena Mazzola. He has a younger brother named Chris born around the year 1899 and Chris was born in either Terrasini or Mazzara Sicily where the Mazzola’s were from.

Giovanni Jr. Came to the US originally in 1903 with his Uncle Graziano to meet up with Giovanni Sr in Detroit. However they were listed as Gusmano in the ship manifest. Misspellings were common on the ship manifest because they were transcribed by workers at the island taking people in and they often spelled the names phonetically or incorrect. Cusmano sounds an aweful lot like “Gusmano” when spoken with an Italian accent, so it is very likely that the worker just spelled it phonetically, we will never know for sure though. Below is a transcription by Lee of the ship manifest, part of which I have in the photo gallery above.

1903 May 7 - Nord America - Napoli - New York

Gusmano, Graziano 38 male, single, baker reads/writes-Yes, From Italy South, Last Residence Mazzara Italy, going to Detroit MI, no ticket, money $10, never before in US - going to brother Giovanni 136 Lain st Detroit

Gusmano, Giovanni 7 male, single, doesn’t read/write, From Italy south going to Detroit MI - no ticket - money $5 - ditto (going to brother Giovanni)