Gottardo Barsetti
Gottardo Barsetti was born in Valle in the Canton of Ticino
Switzerland, near the beautiful town of Airolo on October 3, 1883.
He was the son of Giuseppe Barsetti of Bagni di Lucca, Italy and
Sofia Dotta of Valle, Switzerland. Gottardo was one of twelve
children. Other than Gottardo there was Leopaldo, Daniele, Maria,
Clementina, Elisabeth, Teresa, Emilia, Giuseppe, Edmondo,
Clementina (second), and an unnamed child. Three children died
at birth and two others died after one year. Gottardo’s father,
Giuseppe, was a hard working teamster who was killed tragically
while driving his team of horses and wagon loaded with lumber
back to Airolo in 1896. Gottardo was only 13 years old at the
time. Gottardo attended Swiss schools; and remained at home with
his mother until he and his sister, Elisabeth, left for America in
1903.
After landing at Ellis Island, the Barsetti siblings proceeded to
Healdsburg, California in Sonoma County. There, Gottardo
worked on a dairy farm and on fruit farms for 6 six years. He also
spent time working in San Bruno, San Mateo, and Marin County.
On August 8, 1912, Gottardo became a naturalized citizen of the
United States. Eighteen days later, he married Maria Tonella, a
fellow Ticinese, who had traveled to America by herself in 1909.
After their marriage, the Barsetti’s bought 45 acres east of Herald;
and set up their dairy operation. On September 20, 1917, it was
reported that Gottardo Barsetti was the first dairyman to ship his
milk to the new Sego Milk plant in Galt. By 1923, he expanded
his dairy operation. He leased out his 45 acres to others and
moved his dairy to a 400 acre piece of property in the Elliot
Township off of Liberty Rd.
Gottardo and Maria were blessed with three children: Emily,
Henry, and Lillian. All three children went to the Elliot School;
and eventually, what is now, Oak View Elementary School. All
attended Galt High School.
In 1941, Henry persuaded his parents to purchase 280 acres
southeast of Galt on Cherokee Lane and Liberty Rd. While his
parents were apprehensive at their age to take on this new
adventure, Henry was successful in convincing them. Henry
would milk the cows morning and night, as well as doing the
chores on their farm. At night, Henry would disk for other farmers
to help pay for this new land.
Henry’s other great love besides farming was baseball. When he
was in high school, he excelled in the sport. He was a member of
the 1933 Championship Baseball team. He also played on the
American Legion teams; and in later years, he played softball for
The Galt Pharmacy team, sponsored by Ray Arlin the owner of the
pharmacy. Henry was offered a contract from a major league
team, but decided to stay on the farm to help his parents.
Henry married Delia Teolomani from Stockton in 1946. They had
three children, Janis, Jeffrey, and Timothy. Maria passed away in
1949, Gottardo in 1961, Henry in 1993, and Delia in 2001. As for
Henry and Delia’s children, they all still live on Cherokee Lane.
Janis and her husband, Richard own some of the original property
purchased in 1941. Today, it is the home of Barsetti Vineyards.
Jeff and Tim farm, raise cattle, and raise and sell game birds on
their ranch, Barsetti Farms, on Cherokee Lane north of the original
property.
The next generation of Barsetti’s is Tim’s children, Matthew and
Allison. They have followed in the footsteps of their grandfather,
father, and aunt and uncle by attending Oak View School and Galt
High School. They, too, have a love and respect for the land that is
their heritage.
It has been almost 106 years since Gottardo Barsetti set foot on
American soil; and 97 years since he came to Galt. The Barsetti’s
have continued to be a stronghold in the Galt community.