William Bertolero Biography


	This biography appears on pages 551-552 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				WILLIAM BERTOLERO. 

	William Bertolero, of Lead, has by dint of intense and well 
directed activity and wise investment accumulated enough capital to 
enable him to devote almost his entire time to the management of his 
financial interests. He was born in the city of Borgiallo, province of 
Torino, Italy, in 1859. His parents, John and Veronica Bertolero, are 
both deceased, the mother passing away in Lead The father was a laborer 
and was known as a steady and efficient worker. 

	William Bertolero attended school in his native land and at the 
age of thirteen years began working upon a railroad. He was employed on 
the famous tunnel between Como and Switzerland, packing tools for one 
year. At the age of fourteen he went to the island of Sardinia, where 
he was employed in the silver mines for four years, and next worked in 
the iron mines of France for a time. He also engaged in railroad work 
in France and was employed in the silver mines, spending in all about a 
year in that country. He then went to Algiers, in northern Africa, 
where he was engaged in railroad work but after four years was recalled 
to Italy to do military service. At the age of twenty-one years he was 
mustered in, January 3, 1880, but on his way to the barracks his leg 
was broken and he spent six months in a hospital, being then discharged 
from the service because of physical disability due to the before 
mentioned accident. On the 2d of August, 1881, he sailed for America, 
and on the 21st of that month landed in New York city. He went to 
Collinsville, Illinois, where he was employed in the coal mines for 
some time. He worked in various mines in southern Illinois until 
February 25, 1883, when he removed to the Black Hills, arriving in 
Deadwood on the 3d of March, 1883. Three days later he became an 
employee of the Homestake Mining Company and remained connected with 
that concern for twenty-six years. In 1907 he was appointed Italian 
consul and held that office for four years, resigning in 1911. During 
the time that he was working in the Homestake Mine he and his wife 
conducted a boarding house but in 1912 discontinued it. He is now 
director and vice president of the Miners & Merchants Bank of Lead and 
gives the greater part of his time to the supervision of his 
investments as by economy and careful management he has accumulated a 
considerable fortune. He is financially interested in several mining 
projects of a promising character and is one of the most prosperous 
residents of Lead. In 1900 he returned for a visit to his old home in 
Italy and again in 1912 visited his native land. 

	Mr. Bertolero was married in 1889 to Miss Rosa Caffaro, who was 
born in Italy, where her parents passed their entire lives. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Bertolero have been born two children: Leo, a resident of Lead; 
and John, who is a student in the State University of South Dakota. 

	Mr. Bertolero is a republican and has taken quite an active part 
in local polities although he has never been a candidate for office. 
His fraternal associations include membership in Lodge No. 747, B. P. 
O. E.; Universal Liberty Lodge, No. 342, A. F. & U. R., an Italian 
lodge, of which he is past master; Chapter No. 43, R. A. M., of Red 
Lodge, Montana; the local lodge of the Society of Christopher Columbus, 
being the first president of the local lodge; the encampment of Odd 
Fellows; the knights of Pythias; and the Ancient Order of United 
Workmen. He is also a member of the Homestake Veterans Association, an 
organization composed of those who have been for many years in the 
service of the Homestake Mining Company. For some time he was a 
volunteer fireman, belonging to Hose Company No. 2, and he has ever 
been willing to do anything within his power to increase the prosperity 
and add to the prestige of his adopted city. He is very progressive in 
his views and believes that the best is none too good and that the old 
order should give way to the new whenever it is apparent that a change 
would be conducive to real advancement.