The Horse Thief

 

Stephen Benjamin Smith (1881)
The son of "Horse Thief" Stephen R. Smith

In researching family history you can uncover some family mysteries or secrets that as descendents we had no idea occurred.  This story is one of those unexpected family stories that remained hidden.

In February 1938 when Dominic F. Imprescia 20 years old he married 22 year old Pricilla Glen, but 6 months later in October, they filed for divorce.  Then in October 1940, Dominic married Ethel May Smith.  It was second marriage for both, Ethel was married to Charles Fattori and had two daughters, Carol and Judy before they divorced.  Once Ethel married Dom, both daughters were adopted by Dominic and took the Imprescia name.  Together they had two more children, Gale and Dominic Jr.

Dominic was a 1st generation American since both of his parents immigrated to the US in 1908.  But the Smith family goes back much further, I am still working on getting the facts and sources straight, but the Smith's could date back to a 1710 immigration of Germans know as The Palatines that settled in New York near Albany.  What I do know and is verified is listed below.

Ethel May Smith's father was Rudolph Smith, who was born in Gardner, Massachusetts in 1883 and died in 1977.  Rudolph was the son of Stephen B. Smith who made a name for himself in Fitchburg as a Realtor before he died in 1934 at the age of 74.

Fitchburg Sentinel Nov. 26, 1934

Stephen was born in Dannemora, New York in 1860.  Dannemora is a small town that was know for one thing - Clinton Prison.  Stephen B. Smith's father, Stephen R. Smith was very familiar with this facility and his incredible life of crime.  Here is a timeline I have been able to gather.

Pre-1846

Stephen is sentenced a term in Clinton prison.  I have not found the record of what that crime or sentence was, but he had to be in prison BEFORE March 1846, I estimate is was around 1840 due to an 1858 document indicating he spent 18 years in prison.  My guess, horse thief.

1846

Stephen escapes from prison!

1855/56

Sent back to Clinton state prison for Grand Theft following Petty theft. 

1858

In January discharged from Clinton Prison.  

1859

At some point Stephen (age 51) married Arullia Leonard (age 20) and she became pregnant around April 1859.

While in Clinton prison Stephen fabricated molds to create counterfeit coins, months after his release - it was discovered he was using the tools and dies to create bogus coins.  Stephen sentenced on 21 Oct 1859 for counterfeiting coins, so he was in prison before his son Stephen Benjamin was born.  Since Counterfeiting was a Federal Crime, he was sent to Auburn Prison in Auburn NY.

1860

January 29th 1860, Stephen Benjamin was born in Dannemora, NY while his father was serving time in Auburn NY.

1861

Henry L. Smith born on November 27, 1861. But her husband is in prison in Auburn NY, so he is most likely NOT the father.  According to the 1860 Federal Census, Aurilla (age 22) is living in Dannemora, NY with 6 month old Stephen in the house of David Lamarra (which could be misspelled Lamoureaux) age 65 and Alexander Lamarra (Lamoureaux) age 14.  So it may be assumed that 65 year old David is the father, which brings up a lot of question on that relationship, was this consensual or was David taking advantage of a desperate young woman with a young child and husband in prison?  Henry has the Smith name not Lamoureaux - so they were never married.

1863

Mary Jane Smith born, again while Aurilla's husband is in prison.  So it could be assumed that is again  David Lamarra (Lamoureux) child, he would be 67 years old and Aurilla would be 24.  

1865

Stephen R. Smith is still serving time in Auburn prison, but there has been a major change in the US.  President Abraham Lincoln is assassinated and the new President is Andrew Johnson.  As new President and a Southerner he made decisions to issue pardons to Confederates instead of prosecuting them.  In Proclamation 179  there is a section related to amnesty for those who interrupted commerce, so Stephen being a counterfeiter applied for a Presidential Pardon.

1866

Stephen R. Smith received a Presidential pardon from Andrew Johnson on December 28th 1866 as a cost cutting measure after the Civil War.

Aurilla (age 27) is now located in Vermont and has a new husband Augusta LaWare (age 50) a 2nd marriage for both.  She has a son with Augusta names Simeon.

1870

Stephen R. Smith is listed in 1870 Federal Census as living in Clinton Prison.  So it seems between 1867 when released from Federal prison in Auburn NY, he committed another crime and was sentenced to Clinton State Prison.

1871

Aurilla has daughter Josephine with husband Augusta in Vermont.

1872

Aurilla has another son Gustay with husband Augusta in Vermont.

1875

Shortly after Stephen's release from Clinton in 1875, he went down to New Scotland New York, where he was from, visited family, and stole one of his brother's horses and got into a gun fight with police.  He was 64 years old at this time.

1876

Aurilla has another daughter Julia with husband Augusta in Vermont.

1877

Aurilla has another daughter Lucy with husband Augusta in Vermont.

1880

Stephen R. Smith is listed as resident of Clinton State Prison in 1880 Federal Census.  He is 73 years old.  This is the last record I can find for Stephen so his must have died sometime after 1880 but before 1890 when the next Federal Census was performed.

1894

Aurilla's husband Augusta dies in Vermont at the age of 84

1900

Aurilla marries for a 3rd time to widower Moses LaBell of Duxbury, Vermont.  He is 65 years old and she is 60 years old.

1912

Aurilla dies July 2, 1912 in Fitchburg, ironically of her eight children five of them now live in Fitchburg.

To summarize the family link to the infamous Stephen R. Smith, career criminal:  Stephen's son with Aurilla was Stephen B. Smith.  He was the father of Rudolph Smith, who was the father of Ethel May Smith.  And of course, Ethel was the wife on Dominic F. Imprescia.  So her Great-Grandfather was a "Noted Horse Thief" and Dominic and Ethel were noted thoroughbred owners and trainers.

Ethel (in black coat and sunglasses) and Dominic (in blue sport coat) with one of their horses

 

Big Night and Louie Prima

 

There is a movie from 1996 called Big Night, you may have missed it - but it is a gem.  The story is of two restaurants in NJ, one has great food but no customers, the other has "Americanized" Italian food and is popular, the kind of place with signed photos on the wall from famous people.  So in a devious plot to shut down the place with the great food, the owner of the popular restaurant convinces them to spend all their money to make the best dinner they can and for his part he will invite Louis Prima to the "Big Night".  With a celebrity of Louis Prima level at their restaurant they hoped it would help establish them and save their business.

So younger people may say "Who is Louis Prima?"  He was an Italian band leader famous from the 1940's through the 1960's.  He sings a couple of classics like "Che le Luna", "Just a Gigolo", and the song from Disney Jungle Book "I Wanna Be Like You" (as well as playing the orangutan character).

So why does this matter?

Carbone's Restaurant had a REAL BIG NIGHT!

Carbone's restaurant from my previous post was located near Whalom Park which also had the Whalom Playhouse which hosted plays and bands.  In May 1950, Louis Prima's Orchestra was playing in town and where did they eat? 

Monday May 15, 1950 Fitchburg Sentinel Ad

 Carbone's Restaurant.  Now at this point, the restaurant was only open for about a month and I am not sure if they already had a guest book - or if they ran out and got one when Louis Prima arrived - but it holds the proof to his visit.

Very first signature in the Guest Book for Carbone's
May 15, 1950: Louis Prima - New York City 

 

Female vocalist and later wife of Louis Prima, "Keeley" Smith

So an amazing parallel to movie Big Night - Carbone's did host Louis Prima for dinner!

But there is MORE to the story.

There was some type of mix up and there were not enough rooms booked for the band to sleep that night - not sure how that discussion came up at the restaurant - but Palma (Imprescia) Russo had a solution.  She and her husband's family owned an apartment building on Daniels Street in Fitchburg with a vacant room, so she offered it to the displaced band members.  And supposedly  - Louis Prima and three band members took her up on the offer!  

The next morning Palma even made them breakfast before they left.  And as the story goes - the room was free of charge.

Free night in "Cleghorn" section of Fitchburg