Amador County Biographies

ENRICO GINOCCHIO

Submitted by Kathy Sedler

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	One of the progressive, successful and well known men who have 
honored Amador county by their residence was the late Enrico Ginocchio, who 
during his life owned the largest and most important commercial enterprise in 
Jackson.  He was born in Italy, where he was reared to the age of sixteen years, 
receiving his elementary education in the public schools.  In the hope of 
finding better opportunities for individual advancement than existed in his own 
country, Mr. Ginocchio came to the United States, arriving at Mariposa county, 
California, in 1853.  He engaged in mining, but, because of his youth, was 
allowed only half as much ground for his placer claim as a full grown man.  He 
mined there until 1857, meeting with only moderate success.  Later he came to 
Jackson, where his uncle, E. Bruno, and C. Curotto, were in business together.  
He bought Mr. Curotto’s interest and subsequently became the sole owner of the 
business.  In 1866, when his brother Alphonse came to this country from Italy, 
he took him into partnership, and by their unified efforts, diligence and good 
management, they built up the largest mercantile business in Amador county.  
Their store and warehouse occupied a space more than a block long, and their 
stock of merchandise included everything required in the local trade.  They also 
became the owners of extensive mining interests.  Mr. Ginocchio continued his 
active connection with the business to the time of his death, which occurred in 
1903, occasioned by grief over the loss of his son Joseph, who died in 1899.  He 
was a remarkable man in some respects, having an uncommon capacity for business 
details, splendid executive ability and the faculty of inspiring confidence on 
the part of all who had dealings with him.  He was a liberal supporter of all 
worthy benevolent causes and was foremost in advocating progress along all lines 
of civic effort.
	In 1871 Mr. Ginocchio was united in marriage to Mrs. Julia Curotto, 
a widow, with a son, Charles.  The latter married Miss Nellie Dwyer and two 
daughters were born to them.  Charles Ginocchio was killed in an automobile 
accident in 1914.  To Mr. and Mrs. Enrico Ginocchio were born four daughters and 
a son.  The eldest daughter Rose, is the wife of Frank Padesta; Lena, who is now 
the wife of H. Lorenson, has two sons by a former marriage, Alphonse and Enrico 
Burgin; Enrico married a daughter of E. Zumbiel, secretary of the Argonaut mine. 
 Henrietta Ginocchio is the wife of Fred Eudey, who was private secretary to 
Congressman Caminetti during his stay in Washington.  Later he entered his 
father’s bank as cashier and eventually administered the business of the old 
Ginocchio store, which he later disposed of, after a continuous record of fifty 
years’ existence.  He is now with the Bank of  America at Jackson.  Mrs. Eudey 
is now serving as county librarian and is, by her uniform courtesy and 
efficiency, greatly respected by the patrons of the library.  The other member 
of the family is Mrs. George Vela of Jackson.  The old stone store building at 
Butte City has been preserved by the family for sentimental reasons.  Mr. 
Ginocchio is remembered as a man of earnest purpose, high business ideals and 
definite accomplishments and during his active years here was a leader in 
business circles, commanding the genuine regard of his fellowmen.
 
History of the Sacramento Valley, California By Mj. Jesse Walton Wooldridge 
Page 49-50.The Pioneer Historical Publishing Co., Chicago (1931)