Sonoma County Biography
Fillip Bettinelli
In the vicinity of Petaluma, on Rural Route No. 3, Mr. Bettinelli is giving expression to his ability as an agriculturist on seven hundred acres of land which he leases from the owner, Mrs. Anna W. White. As the name might suggest, Mr. Bettinelli is of Swiss origin, and he was born in the canton of Ticino in the year 1863, the son of Lawrence and Giovannina (Casarotti) Bettinelli, who were born in Switzerland in 1840 and 1842 respectively. Five children were born to these parents, three sons and two daughters, Joseph, Fillip, Anton, Mary and Angelina. The eldest of the sons, Joseph, married Maggie Molendik, and they have one child, Mary. The two daughters, Mary and Angelina, are also married and established in homes of their own.
Fillip Bettinelli endeavored to be content with the future prospects in his native country, for it was not until he was twenty-one years old that he made up his mind to come to the United States. Coming directly to California, he located first in Marin county, where he sought arid obtained work as a ranch hand, and while working in the employ of others he was gaining valuable experience which he intended to put to use in his own interests as soon as circumstances made it possible. Some years later he leased land and began dairying, following this in Marin and Sonoma counties. In 1908 he leased the property upon which he now resides. In undertaking the dairy business he was practically assured of success from the beginning, for no nationality understands that business as thoroughly and follows it with such success as do the natives of Switzerland. Here Mr. Bettinelli has a herd of one hundred cows of good breed, besides which he has seven head of horses and he also raises hogs. He ships his cream to the Gilt Edge creamery in San Francisco.
In his wife Mr. Bettinelli chose one of his country women in Miss Marguerite Pedrelli, who was born in the canton of Ticino in 1870, the daughter of Dominic Pedrelli, who died in Switzerland. Three children have been born to Mr. Bettinelli and his wife, two sons and one daughter, Silvio, Dora and Egidio. The children are being reared in the faith of the Catholic Church, in which their parents before them were reared from childhood, being members of St. Vincents' Church in Petaluma. Politically Mr. Bettinelli is a Republican.
History of Sonoma County, California
History by Tom Gregory : Historic Record Company, 1891
Los Angeles, Ca. 1911
Transcribed by Julie Appletoft
April 2008
Pages 672-673
Sonoma County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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