Sonoma County Biography

Albino A. Lafranchi



Probably one of the youngest ranchers in the country around Petaluma is Mr. Lafranchi, but it would be hard to find one more devoted to the work which he has in hand or one whose prospects for future success hold forth greater promise. As the name might suggest, Mr. Lafranchi is a native of Switzerland, his birth occurring in the village of Coglio, Canton of Ticino, March 17, 1880. He remained with his parents apparently contented with his surroundings until he was sixteen years of age, and although then little more than a lad, he left the land of his birth and all that was familiar and dear to him to search for his fortune upon the Pacific coast of the United States. Time has proven that his venture was prompted by a kindly Fate and he has never ceased to be thankful that he lent an attentive ear to her guiding voice.

Besides Albino A. Lafranchi the parental family included five children, three sons and two daughters, Massimino, Sylvio, Saraphino, Angiolina and Melania. The eldest son, Massimino, married Anna Nicklu, and they with their one child make their home in Alexander valley. Angiolina is also married, being the wife of Henry Delponte and the mother of four children. The parents were Peter and Madalina Lafranchi, born in Switzerland respectively in 1838 and 1851. For a number of years after his son located in Sonoma county the father also was a resident here, from 1898 until 1905, in the latter year returning to his native land. On a tract of two hundred acres of land near Petaluma which he leases from James Beffa, Mr. Lafranchi is giving expression to his knowledge of dairying and general farming, an undertaking which is proving satisfactory from every standpoint. Here he has a small but nevertheless flourishing dairy of thirty cows, besides six head of young dairy stock, four head of horses and six hundred chickens of the White Leghorn variety. With the progress which he has made in the comparatively short time that he has been in this country is proven conclusively that Mr. Lafranchi is a man who is bound to win under all circumstances, and by those who are associated with him as fellow ranchers his progress is watched with interest. In his political belief he is a Republican, and like his parents before him he is a believer in the teachings of the Roman Catholic faith.

History of Sonoma County, California
History by Tom Gregory : Historic Record Company, 1891
Los Angeles, Ca. 1911
Transcribed by Roberta Hester Leatherwood
February 2010 Pages 1049-1050


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