Grandpa's Youth in San Marco

Grandpa's father, Angelo, was a shepherd who owned a flock of 400 sheep and land. Grandpa and his brothers were also shepherds. Grandpa's older brother Phillip taught grandpa how to read and write while they tended the sheep. After his father's unfortunate departure, the brothers kept the business going. However, all the sheep died while eating some poisonous grass and that was the end of the business. These were rough times for Rosalia Soccio Limosani and her children. Grandpa hated school and stopped going. He worked at various odd jobs but did not learn a trade which may have been instrumental in his decision to come to America.