Bio of COLIANNI, Joseph (b.1880), Hennepin Co., MN
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EXTRACTED FROM: History of Minneapolis, Gateway to the Northwest; 
Chicago-Minneapolis, The S J Clarke Publishing Co, 1923; Edited by: Rev. 
Marion Daniel Shutter, D.D., LL.D.; Volume I - Shutter (Historical); 
volume II - Biographical; volume III - Biographical
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JOSEPH COLIANNI - Vol III, pg 463-464
One of the most successful contractors of the Northwest is Joseph Colianni of
Minneapolis. A native of Italy, his birth occurred at San Pietro Avellana on the
21st of February, 1880, a son of Gennaro and Gaetana Colianni. Joseph Colianni
received his education in the schools of Italy and in early life determined to
come to America, to seek his fortune in the new world. In 1895, when but fifteen
years of age, he landed in New York city. His first job was as water boy for a
contracting crew and after a time he came to Minnesota to work in a mine at Iron
Range. He remained there four years and then moved to Denver, Colorado. There he
worked for Jack Zarlengo, a contractor, for three years, taking every
opportunity offered him to learn the business. At the termination of that time
he entered the contracting business on his own account and was successful from
the start. He handled the fuel for the Colorado Midland Railroad for three years
and left Colorado in 1909 to do contract work for the Northern Pacific Railroad
at Livingston, Montana. He had been active in that connection for three years
when he was underbid by the firm of Gates & Castillini, and came to Minneapolis.
Here he secured a contract with the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad and he has
enjoyed an extensive business since, which he conducts under the name of Joseph
Colianni & Brothers and he is sole owner. Mr. Colianni carries contracts for the
Soo Line, the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, the Great Northern
Railroad, the Northwestern Railroad and the Minnesota Transfer Railroad of St.
Paul. He maintains offices at Bloomington, Illinois, and has a suite of offices
in Minneapolis, in Temple Court. Mr. Colianni is readily conceded to be one of
the leading business men of the day. The success he has achieved is well
merited, for it is the result of hard work, close application to the thing at
hand, determination and laudable ambition. He conducts his business on the
highest and most honorable principles and is held in high esteem by his fellow
citizens.
While working in the west Mr. Colianni was united in marriage to Miss Maria
Pasqua Giangola. The ceremony was performed in Pueblo, Colorado. Mrs. Colianni
was born in Italy, and is a woman of culture and refinement. Since attaining his
majority Mr. Colianni has given his stanch support to the republican party and
the principles for which it stands. He is essentially a public-spirited citizen
and his influence is ever on the side of advancement and improvement. He is a
con­sistent communicant of St. Clemens church, Twenty-fourth and Central avenue,
and he holds membership in the St. Anthony Society of St. Paul, the Minneapolis
Traffic Association and in the Christopher Columbus Society, in which latter
or-he has taken a very prominent part.