Broadly representative of the Italian-American business men of progressive ideas and high ideals, who have played so significant a part in the recent development of Northern New Jersey, Joseph Messineo, of Garfield, holds a position of dignity in the community, and is considered one of the leading men of the day in this section in the world of construction.
Mr. Messineo is a son of Joseph and Mary (Riggio) Messineo, natives of Italy, but long residents of Garfield, New Jersey, now living at No. 179 Passaic avenue. The elder Messineo was at one time a prominent mason and contractor in Palermo, Italy, but for more than thirty years has lived in this country. He was engaged as a contractor until 1900, when he entered the retail fruit business, which he followed until 1921. He then retired from all active business interests, and has since lived quietly, enjoying the well-earned emoluments of success.
Joseph Messineo, son of the above, was born in Palermo, Province of Castellano, Italy [sic], February 13, 1874. In the schools of his native town Mr. Messineo received a throughly [sic] practical education, and in 1888, at the age of fourteen years, eager to get out into the world of men and affairs, and keenly interested in his father's business, he left school and entered his father's employ. The business being that of mason contracting, he served a regular apprentive-ship, but rapidly gained skill, through his great interest in his work, and when the father came to America, in 1891, the young lad was left in charge of a large and incomplete structure. This contract he finished with a high degree of perfection, and continued at the head of the business left in his hands. In 1893 he entered the Italian army, and went to Civito Vacchia and Rome as a part of the Engineering Corps. He was made corporal major, and served for two years, after which he returned to Castellano, and was again actively engaged at his trade as mason for about a year. In 1896 Mr. Messineo came to America, where he joined his parents in Passaic, and his first care was to gain a working knowledge of the language and customs of the new country. To this end he secured a position with Antonio Federice, a mason contractor of Paterson, with whom he remained for two years. In 1898 Mr. Messineo established his own business in Paterson, but in December of 1899 he removed to Garfield, where he became permanently settled, his first place of business here being located at No. 31 Commerce street, where he had just completed his new residence. His marriage took place shortly afterwards, and for a number of years sickness in the family gave him an added burden, but he kept his face forward, never permitting himself to become discouraged, and eventually his business became very extensive and profitable. He is now located at No. 160 Palisades avenue, Garfield, his handsome residence adjoining his business office. He has built some of the important structures of Garfiel and vicinity, among which may be enumerated, the Mark Twain School, at the corner of Harrison and Clark streets, Garfield, the Baptist church on Sherman street, near Hope avenue, Passaic, and the St. Nicholas Ukrainian School, on President street, near Lexington avenue, Garfield, this last one of his most recently completed contracts.
In various lines of organized endeavor Mr. Messineo is active. During the World War he did much to advance the home activities in support of the Allied forces, and was a large subscriber to the Red Cross and Liberty Loans. His own army service having been in the period of the Abyssinian-Italian War, although he saw no action, gave him a clear insight into the needs of those at the front. Fraternally he is a member of the Passaic Council, No. 542, Loyal Order of Moose, and he was formerly a member of Corti Oglario Council, Foresters of America, of Garfield. He was one of the organizers and is now vice-president of the Humbert Club of Passaic, and was a former chairman and is now a member of the Sons of Italy, of Garfield. He and his family also are members of the Holy Name Roman Catholic Church, of Garfield. Politically Mr. Messsineo [sic] supports the Republican party, but the commands of business preclude his active participation in public affairs.
Mr. Messineo married, January 7, 1900, Mary Quadaro, daughter of Dominick and Louisa (Locandre) Quadaro. The father is still living, in Italy, but the mother is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Messineo are the parents of six children, all living, as follows: Joseph H., born December 18, 1900, a graduate of Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York, where he studied architecture, and now engaged in a post-graduate course at Columbia University; Mary, born February 13, 1903, a graduate of Abraham Lincoln School, Garfield, now at home; Dominick, born November 18, 1905, a graduate of the same school, and now an apprentice at the trade of mason; Richard born April 18, 1908, now attending Abraham Lincoln School, Garfield; Louisa, born November 2, 1910, now attending the same school; and Emil, born September 29, 1913, attending public school, No. 1, of Garfield.
From: History of Passaic and its environs: historical, biographical. By Scott, William W. Published 1922.
