Retired from active labor, and now enjoying the fruits of his many years of toil, Francisco Passantino makes his home at his ranch near Coyote. He was born in the province of Palermo, Italy, on May 24, 1851. His father died when Francisco was but eleven years old, and as the eldest son of the family he was obliged to go to work early in life to help support the mother and younger children. For many years he worked at any employment he could get, and then determined to cross the water where he could find a chance to become independent. Arriving at San Jose, Cal., in 1882, Mr. Passantino worked out on fruit farms in this vicinity, meanwhile saving his money, so that in 1889 he was able to send for his wife and four children and a brother to join him. He later sent for his mother who came to California. She lived to the ripe old age of ninety-nine years and six months, passing away at his home in Coyote. IN 1898 Mr. Passantino purchased a ranch of ten acres at Mountain View, and on selling that at a good advantage in 1914, he removed to Coyote, where he purchased fifty-three and one-half acres of fine land. There were no improvements on the place at the time, but he has built it up into a comfortable home place, considerable of the acreage being devoted to fruit, cherries, peaches, apricots and prunes.
While still a resident of Italy, Mr. Passantino was married to Miss Antonia Balestreri, and nine children were born to them: Frank resides at Sunnyvale with his wife and nine children' Lena married S. Tarantino and they reside at San Francisco with their seven children; Ignacius, who owns thirty-nine acres near Coyote, resides at San Francisco with his wife and six children; Jensy, married P. Arito and died, survived by a son, Muzio Arito; Joseph resides at Coyote with his wife and seven children, he is the owner of a twenty-acre ranch and also manages his father's place; Antonitta, Mrs. I. Balistreri, has one child and resides at San Francisco; Charles lives at Coyote; Rosie is the wife of N. Alioto, and they reside at San Francisco with their two children; Catherine married Antonio Balistreri, they live at San Francisco and have one child. Mrs. Passantino passed away July 13, 1912, deeply mourned by her family, to whom she had been a devoted wife and mother. Mr. Passantino received his citizenship papers at San Jose in 1891, and he have [sic] ever been a loyal citizen of his adopted land, appreciating the prosperity he has attained since coming here, which has come through his years of perserverance and industry. He has for many years been an adherent of the Republican party, and takes an interest in all that will aid in the community's upbuilding.
From: History of Santa Clara County, California : with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth, by Sawyer, Eugene T. Published 1922.
