William Felix Gigliotti was born on October 7th, 1893 in Naples, Italy to Nicola and Delfina Gigliotti. The family immigrated to the United States sometime the following year. The 1900 census shows the Gigliotti’s living in New York City with William born in New York in June 1894 (1). The family moved to Erie, PA by 1910. William, now 16 and a college student, lived at home with his parents and his two younger siblings, Louisa and Franklin. Gigliotti married Helen Freeman in 1915 and resided with her family in Bedford, Ohio, working as a traveling salesman. The couple had daughter named Flora in 1918. Helen died in 1929 and the 1930 Census shows William and Flora still living with their in-laws in Ohio. By 1940, Gigliotti had remarried to a woman named Penelope in Houston, Texas. The 1950 Census shows William and Penelope still residing in Houston and William employed as a salesman at Wholesale Furniture Office Co. (2). Gigliotti got married a third time to Veda Briery on April 17th, 1952. Deed and tax records show them living in Nacogdoches by 1955. William served as a leading layman of Christ Episcopal Church and a member of the Rotary Club during his time in Nacogdoches. He died on April 7th, 1958 after being struck by a train in St. Louis, MO. William and Veda (1907-1998) are buried at Sunset Memorial Park in Nacogdoches.

(1) Gigliotti’s headstone has his birth as October 7th, 1893. The Gigliotti’s may have lied about William’s birthdate to the census enumerators in 1900 so that their son appeared to be born in the United States and was not an immigrant.

(2) How Gigliotti’s second marriage ended is unclear. If you have more information please contact the ETRC.