The funeral of Antone Valadao on March 14, 1907 on Calpella Street east of the intersection with Williams Street in Mendocino. Structures visible in this image include the Antone Pereira House (10580 Williams), rear center; the Osborne-Jerome House (45150 Calpella) to its right; then the Valadao-Mamie Brown House (45130 Calpella). The small building on the lower right is a shed originally associated with the Joseph Silveria House (45120 Calpella). The large water tower was known as the Silva House Water Tower. (Gift of Nannie Escola, Nannie Escola Collection, Kelley House Photographs)
March 14, 1907 – A funeral was held for Antone Valadao, a 26-year-old mill worker who was struck in the head by a falling log at the Mendocino mill the previous week. The mill had been running less than 3 hours when the accident occurred. He was taken home under a physician’s care, but the wound was fatal, and he died the next day.
Born in Mendocino in December 1880, Antone was the eldest son of Frank and Maquelina Valadao. Frank had come to California in 1876 from the island of Flores, Azores. Maquelina, also born on Flores, arrived in Mendocino 3 years later. They married in Mendocino on December 2, 1879.
Antone’s funeral took place from the family residence, and a requiem high mass was celebrated for the repose of his soul at the Catholic church. “The remains were interred in the Catholic cemetery where the last sad rites of the Catholic faith were conducted by the Rev. Father M. Fiege. There were many beautiful floral pieces, tokens of the kind esteem of his friends and neighbors. Antone was a young man of plain habits, of few words, but candid and outspoken in his opinions. He was well liked by all. By his courteous manners he made many friends and they knew the true worth of his friendship. Young Valadao was a member of the Union Portuguese Estado of California, (U. P. E. C.), No. 6, and that society turned out in uniform in a strong body to do him honor at the funeral. The N. S. G. W. band, of which he was a member, headed the procession to the grave and discoursed appropriate music.”
Besides his parents, he was survived by his wife, the former Joaquinna Silveira, and 4-month-old daughter. Tragically, their child passed away just 6 weeks later. On November 18, 1907, Joaquinna gave birth to Antone’s son, whom she named Antone in his honor.
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