Giovanni Ivol departed the port of Havre France on Aug 17, 1907 on the ship La Touraine. He arrived in New York, USA on Aug 24, 1907. The ships manifest indicates his name as Giov Bta Di Giovanni Ivol. I assume this means Giovanni, son of Giovanni Ivol. He gives his last permanent address as the Country of Luza and the City/Town as Bruzolo or Brugnolo. Birth location is shown as Torino "c socanoti".He lists his closest relative as his wife, Teresa Girardo in Piccolo di Olessandria,Brugnolo. His final destination indicates he was on his way to Spring Valley, IL, USA. He was coming to the "Land of Opportunity" to work in the coal mines. We believe he was traveling with his wife's cousin Girardi, Guisoppe di fu Angelo from Luza, Chiovrodi. Guisoppe lists his wife's name as Rogajji Rossiro in Piccolo d Olessandria.
We can not find any history of Giovanni prior to the 1907 departure to the USA. It is believed that his parents were farmers in Italy and that they died in some sort of accident when he was a small child. He had two sisters, names unknown. He was placed in an orphanage/convent where he was raised. We do not think that he was adopted as the story handed down through time was that he was raised by Nuns at the convent. We do not have any information on his two sisters or any other Ivol relatives.
We are having difficulty finding any US census documents that date prior to 1930 for Giovanni Ivol, other than the birth of his children in the US. Giovanni Ivol b 1910 in Erath,Texas, Marion Evol b 1914 in Erath,Texas, Anton Evol b 1917 Spring Valley, IL,Theresa Evol b 1920 in Clinton, IN, Albina Maria Evol b 1924 in Clinton, IN. His eldest child, Albertine Ivol was born in Italy, Bruzola 1907.
We do have evidence of land purchased in Vermillion Co., IN,USA in 1928 and the documents are signed Giovanni Ivol & Tressa Ivol even though the name Ivol was unofficially changed to Evol as early as 1914.
His wife, Maria Teresa Girardo departed Le Havre on Feb 23 1910 with her two and a half year old daughter Albertine on the ship La Lorraine. Her Country is shown as Italy and City/Town is shown as Bruzolo (Bruizolo?). She lists her Father, Antonio as her closest relative living in Bruzolo. It is believed that Maria "Teresa" and Giovanni had a child prior to Albertine, a female named Delphina who died either at birth or shortly afterwards. She arrived in New York, USA on March 7, 1910. The ships manifest says she was traveling to Erath, TX, USA to meet her husband Edward. We think this is Giovanni's middle name as the name Edwin has been used as a middle name with descendants of Giovanni.
It is possible that Maria's maiden name was actually Girardi vs Girardo as a person they referred to as her cousin was John Girardi. In 1921 John Girardi (a single person)purchased land in Vermillion Co. Indiana next to the property Giovanni & Teresa purchased subsequently in 1928.
If you think you may have information on the Ivol or Girardo/Girardi family, I would appreciate hearing from you. Any guidance on where to search in Italy is also appreciated. I have been searching Italian birth records but have had no luck since you have to search through every commune. The birth date is estimated at about 1879 for Giovanni. Thank you, Kathy