The Vissoc Family Mystery

by Anthony Vissoc
(Tipp City, Ohio, USA)

Fred Vissoc Family and the 1910 U.S. Census

Fred Vissoc Family and the 1910 U.S. Census

My family too has an uncommon last name. In fact, I believe it to only exist in the United States and there aren't many of us.


My Grandfather, Robert Louis Vissoc, told the story of his father, Joseph Vissoc, being the first born in the U.S. of Italian Immigrants.

He never gave the name of his Grandparents, or I don't recall them. There is also the possibility of a brother of Joseph being born on the way over.

My Grandfather also said that our last name was modified. His claim was it was something like Vizzachi. I now believe that to not be quite right.

I'd begun my own investigation, believing that there was only one family line of Vissoc's in the U.S.

Imagine my suprise 9 years ago to discover someone else doing research on the Vissoc name. Even more suprising to me was to discover that I am not the only Anthony Vissoc in existence. There are two others. A father and son.

What I am still researching is where our family lines converge and whether this family line started pre or post-immigration.

My research comes to a dead-end at census records. I can find two Vissoc families in records as far back as the 1910 census in Stark County Ohio, which is where most all of the Vissoc family resides... with the exception of my father's decendants. I find two Vissocs, both reported to have immigrated in 1888 from Italy.

Based on what I can discover, our last name was more likely spelled Visocchi. This is the most common likeness that I can find on ellisisland.com.

I've reached a dead-end, however. After researching Visocchi immigrants from that time period, I read a report that there was a fire that destroyed records at Ellis Island, which would have included the time period that my ancestor would have immigrated.

Had my family done better at passing down stories - and accurate ones at that - I wouldn't be at this dead end.

I desperately want to know more about where my family came from. What their occupations were. Why they left Italy. How they came to arrive in Ohio of all places.

I've included a picture of the 1910 census report of the Fred Vissoc family, one of two Vissoc households existing in 1910.

The other family is Frank Vissoc, who also reportedly immigrated in 1888.

I hope to continue my research, but may have to seek the help of those on the other side of the pond.

Comments for The Vissoc Family Mystery

Average Rating starstarstarstarstar

Click here to add your own comments

Dec 29, 2008
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Enjoyed your story
by: Michael Boyter


Hi Anthony,

I appreciate your post and I understand your
need to learn about your family. It is a strong
need.

The side of my family that I described, kept
real good records, but I have other family lines
(names) that did not.

From an ancestor's perspective, it was probably hard to keep records while dealing with crossing
oceans, immigrating, crossing plains and keeping
ones self and family members alive, in general,
etc.

If good family record keeping was thought of, back then, then what would have been thought of
as to the best way to do that?

We are pretty spoiled, nowadays, with so many
ways to preserve family memories.

I thank you again. Keep up the search.

Something will turn up!

Michael




Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Example of Family Stories.






Please Share This Page with Your Friends on Facebook

Site Search






"A 321-Page Downloadable Fill-in-the-Blank Life Story Workbook"

1001 Things about Your Life That Your Kids Will Want to Know Someday, but Won't Think to Ask.

Download it and Start Filling in the Blanks!



Recent Articles

  1. Passed and Present: Keeping Memories of Loved Ones Alive

    Apr 13, 16 03:35 AM

    This book just released today, April 12th, 2016. It sounds like a very good book for "discovering creative and meaningful ways to keep the memory of loved ones alive." I am looking forward to receivin…

    Read More

  2. Preserve Family Memories - 2015 Family Year in Review

    Dec 31, 15 03:59 AM

    Preserving Family Memories. A Year in Review: Preserve memories of you and your family over the past year

    Read More