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.