BENKOVICH-GROSSETA CLAN IN THE WEST

 

Adam S. Eterovich

www.croatians.com

 

 

VIRGINIA SALOON-1st in Virginia City, Nevada-1860

 

Martin Grosseta from Dubrovnik, Dalmatia, Croatia was proprietor of the Virginia Saloon in Virginia City, Nevada in 1860. This was one of the first of approximately fifty businesses in Virginia City at the time. The Virginia Saloon was included in a prominent panorama of Virginia City. Martin had been in Mobile, Alabama in 1849 and had voted in that city prior to coming to the Pacific Coast to seek his fortune. He was one of many who had been established in the South prior to coming West. In 1859 Martin had a coffee stand in San Francisco at the corner of Sacramento and East Streets. He was in many business ventures during his lifetime in Virginia City and San Francisco. Martin was a citizen in 1849 at Mobile, Alabama and had voted in 1870 in San Francisco. He was Godfather to a child of Vulicevich in 1876 at St. Mary's Church in San Francisco. He was also a member of the Slavonic Illyric Society of San Francisco. Martin appeared on the Census in 1880 in San Francisco with a wife named Maria, also from Dalmatia. It is not known whether he had a family. Martin was typical of the hearty Dalmatian pioneers who ventured into the gold and silver mining boom towns as saloonkeepers or merchants. Martin had either brothers or relatives inSan Francisco at the time because a John Grossetta with a large family in the early 1860's and later a prominent commission merchant had a business on Kearny Street in 1858. Another A. Grossetta had a fruit store at 311 Dupont Street in San Francisco in 18S9. This A. Grossetta became a very prominent citizen of Arizona.

 

Ranch-Capitalist-Councilman

 

Anthony Grosseta: Tucson could boast of no more public spirited citizen than Anthony Vincent Grossetta who had lived in Tucson, Arizona since 1880 and had been foremost in many undertakings which had materially helped its growth as a tourist center, and as a place to live. In political and social circles, the world of commerce, the Grossetta family originated in Croatia. Some of that name crossed the Atlantic. Matthew, the grandfather of A. V. Grossetta was a former stock raiser of Dalmatia, Croatia, and Vincent, the father of the subject was born near Dubrovnik-Ragusa where he was a shoe merchant. The only son who came to America was A. V. Grossetta. Native of Dubrovnik, Croatia, born April 27, 1856, was trained in public school, he learned German, Croatian and the Italian languages. When he was 12 years old he shipped aboard a sailing vessel, and for six years cruised the high seas. He crossed the Atlantic and worked on both English and American Ships. In 1874 A. V. Grossetta came to America. He worked one year for the New York Central Railroad. He went to Montreal, Canada, and connected himself with the Italian consulate for two years. In 1877 he went to San Francisco, Los Angeles, and drifted to Tucson in 1880. He worked for a grocer, then started his own business in 1882. He had a small store near the railroad station which was carried on until 1893. He was interested in the Tucson Grocery Company and the Tucson Hardware Company. Grossetta was identified- with the Tucson Building and Loan Association. He built several homes there. He owned much local property and a well irrigated ranch 123 miles north of the city plus a thriving orchard. He built the Tucson Electrical Light Power Company. He was influential in organization of the Hall Association of the Ancient Order of the United Workmen. He belonged to the Masons, Tucson Lodge'No. 4 F. & A. M. Tucson, Shp. No. 3 R. A. M. Arizona Commandery No. 1 K.T. Also belonged to El Zaribah Temple, N. M. S. at Phoenix. Both he his wife were members of the Eastern Star. Grossetta was a leader in the Republican Party. He was a member of the County Central Committee, and was a delegate to the territorial party convention. In 1900 he was the Republican nominee for the legislature, but he was defeated. He was in the City Council,  and represented the first ward. He was an influential member of the Board of Trade. He was approved by Governor Murphy a member of Board of Regents of the University of Arizona.

 

Benkovich-Groseta Clan-Restaurant-Hotel

 

In about1895 the brothers Nikola and Andrija Benkovich-Groseta came to America from Babino PoIje, Island of Mljet, Croatia. On his departure to America Andrija left his wife and son in Mljet. He first lived and worked in Oakland, California and later moved to Monterey where he worked as a cook in a restaurant. Later he became the coowner of a restaurant in Monterey. His brother Nikola also lived in Oakland for some time and then moved to Watsonville where he was with S. Strazicich, a co-owner of the hotel "Morning Star" (Danica). When they sold the hotel, he moved to Monterey where he worked in a restaurant as a cook like his brother Andrija. There he married Maria who was of Portugese origin. They had no children.

 

Peter Groseta Cattle Ranch

 

He was born October 22, 1917, in Jerome, Arizona, to Croatian immigrants Peter and Antonia Groseta. His family moved from Jerome to a ranch in Middle Verde in 1922, where he attended school and graduated from Camp Verde High School in 1935. He was a member of the Croatian Fraternal Union Lodge 978 in Cottonwood and former member of CFU Lodge 138 in Jerome, Arizona where he served as vice president for several years. In 1936 his family moved to a ranch in Bridgeport and he started to work in Phelps Dodge Smelter until it shut down in 1953, where he was shift boss and "pulled the plug" on the last pound of ore that went through the concentrator. On September 18, 1946, he married Katherine Maglich in St. Cecelia's Catholic Church in Clarkdale. His father raised alfalfa hay and sold it to the local dairies, which provided milk to the entire Verde Valley, including the miners in Jerome. They also did a lot of custom hay bailing on farms and ranches throughout the Verde Valley. In addition, they raised cattle, sheep, chickens, turkeys, fruits and vegetables, of which they sold to neighbors and to families in Jerome, Clarkdale and Cottonwood. In 1948 he purchased the W Dart cow outfit where they raised commercial cattle. Four generations of the Groseta family have raised cattle in the Verde Valley from Tapco, above Clarkdale, to Camp Verde. Also, during the time that he ranched, he worked for Yavapai County Roads Department for several years Dad served on the school board of Willard School in Bridgeport. In addition, he has served on the board of directors of the Cottonwood Ditch Association where he was ditch boss, vice president, and secretary/treasurer. Also, he served on the board of directors of several agricultural organizations, including Farmers Home Administration (FHA) and the Yavapai Cattle Growers Association.  He was a member of the Arizona Cattle Growers Association and served on the Grazing Advisory Committee, representing the grazing permittees on the Prescott National Forest. He was involved in the origination of the Verde Valley Fair in 1964 where he has supported 4-H and Future Farmers of America youth for decades. He was also a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, where he served on the Parish Council. Also, he was a member of the Knights of Columbus. Peter Groseta Jr., 82, died May 4, 2000. Surviving are his wife Katherine, of 53 years, and a sister, Anne Mongini of Rohnert Park, California. He was preceded in death by brother Frank of Phoenix. He is also survived by his son, Peter Andrew "Andy" and wife Mary Beth and three grandchildren, Paul, Katy and Anna; George Stephen Groseta and wife Bernadette and four nephews and two nieces.

 

Biographic Record of Arizona. Biographic Record of Arizona. Arizona, 1880. Excellent biography on Anthony V. Groseta.

 

Groseta, Andy. “Peter Groseta Jr.” Zajednicar, June 21, 2000.

 

Lyman, George D. Saga of the Comstock Lode. NY: CHarles Scribner Sons, 1934. Has picture of Virginia Saloon Martin Groseta-1860.

 

Zajednicar. “Antonia Groseta Obituary.” Zajednicar, July 29, 1981.