SCHEDA ANAGRAFICA Name      Louis Mira Born:       August 30, 1879 in Cuggiono, Italy Died:      December 12, 1927 in Herrin, Illinois, U.S.A. Parents:     Anthony Mira                      Carolina Spezia Mira Paternal Grandparents:    ?         Mira                                                  ?             ? Maternal Grandparents:   Prospero Spezia                                                      ?               Calcaterra    Sisters:    Maria (d. young?) - last known info.                  Enrichetta Mira (d.) - never married (? lived in a home run by nuns, ? had a disability Married:   Giovannina Gualdoni, 1908 in  Cuggiono, Italy  b. April 26, 1889 in Cuggiono, Italy;                         d. June 25, 1947 in Herrin, Illinois Children:   Carlo (Charles) Mira, b. July 22, 1909, Cuggiono, Italy; married Virginia Gualdoni, 19 ??  in  Herrin, Illinois;  d. September 6, 1936 in Maunee, Illinois                      Antonietta Rose Mira, b. December 4, 1911, Herrin, Illinois;married Alvin Ray Marshall, August  26, 1942 in Herrin, Illinois                      Mario (Mike) Louis Mira, b. December 19, 1914, Herrin, Illinois; married Jean Fanelli, April 25, 1946, in New Symrna Beach, Florida

The History Luigi (“Gene”) Mira was born in Cuggiono, Italy, August 30, 1879 to Anthony and Carolina (Spezia) Mira.   He was known as “Gene.”   Luigi's mother supposedly worked “for the rich,” which probably meant that she lived and worked in their homes.  Therefore, Luigi likely was raised by his aunt, along with her son and his first cousin, Frank (Check) Spezia.  Thus, this would explain why Gene and Check thought of one another as brothers.  They would eventually raise their families next to one another in Herrin, Illinois.   Luigi Mira first came to the United States before 1900 with his cousin Frank,  and he became a naturalized citizen May 31, 1900 in Williamson County, Illinois.  After arrival in the United States, via New York City, Luigi and his cousin found work in the coal mines around Herrin, Illinois, a town where many Italians eventually settled. Luigi returned to Italy to marry Giovannina Gualdoni in 1908 and had a son Carlo (Charles) Mira, born in Cuggiono, Italy on July 22, 1909.  Luigi made arrangements for his wife and son to stay with Giovannini's mother when he returned to the United States.  The new Mrs. Mira, together with her infant son Carlos, later made the passage across the Atlantic Ocean to join her husband.  The trip was not easy for her;  she was ill the entire trip and depended on others to care for her and her son.   After living at another house for a while in Herrin, Mr. Mira bought a small house for his family at 4l2 North l6th Street around 1912 or 1913.  (This house was later occupied, and still is today, by Luigi's son Mario and his wife Jean.)  The Frank Spezia family lived next door to the Mira's.  Since Frank was also a carpenter, he set up a shop in a building behind his home where he made cabinets, furniture, etc. Luigi worked at the Consolidated Coal Company #7 mine east of Herrin.  He and many other miners walked to and from work each day carrying their lunch pails in hand.    Giovannina and Luigi had two more children, Antonietta (Netta) Rose and Mario (Mike) Louis, both born in Herrin.  Luigi was known to have been ill for several years with an illness caused and aggravated by his work in the mines.  In early 1922, he went to a hospital in St. Louis to see if anything could be done for him.  This is what the doctor wrote to Luigi's doctor in Herrin:      Dr. Arthur E. Strauss      Suite 612-15      Humboldt Building      Saint Louis                                                                             April 22/22 Dr. C. E. Duncan, Herrin, Ill. My dear Dr. Duncan, Just a few lines more about Louis Mira whom you referred to the Washington U. Dispensary.  As you have probably heard by now, he left the hospital against advice a week ago, because of his wife's illness.  He was in the hospital about 2 ½ weeks.  His final diagnoses were: Chronic myocarditis, cardiac hypertrophy and dilatation, pericardial adhesions, sinusitis (rt. maxillary) and ventricular extra-systoles.  He had no attacks of paroxysmal tachycardia while in the hospital.  At the time he left the hospital they were considering the advisability of an operation to sever the pericardial adhesions.  His Wassermann was negative on several examinations in the hospital.  His renal function test (P.S.P.) was 55%.  His maxillary sinus was irrigated.  Fluoroscopic examinations showed the pericardial diaphragmatic adhesions.  Consider his prognosis poor, the indications for treatment being rest, digitalis as needed, with a consideration of the afore-mentioned operation to be kept in mind.  If he returns to St. Louis, we will be glad to continue his treatment and observation. Thanking you for referring the case, I am,Sincerely, Arthur E. Strauss On October 6, 1922 he returned home to Italy since the doctor in Herrin said “returning to his home country might make him feel better.” Giovannina decided she and the children would stay at their home in Herrin.  Unfortunately, Luigi did not find his health any better in Italy.  In fact, he was still a very sick man.  After returning to Herrin, he told his wife that since his health was deteriorating, he would have stayed in Italy if she and the children had been with him.  Luigi did never regained his health and was sick for many years at home. His children, in order to help the family make a living, left school after graduating from the eighth grade at St. Mary's School (now known as Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School).  They all worked doing whatever they could to help their parents.  Carlos worked at a gas station, the Lombard Society Store, and also hunted wild game and mushrooms for the family.  Netta did washing and ironing and worked as a housekeeper, cook, and babysitter in other people's homes.  Netta and her mother also were very adept at needlework, so they made and sold embroidered/cutwork tablecloths, pillowcases, tea towels, etc.  Mario worked at a gas station and at Brewster Motors in Herrin as an apprentice mechanic until he entered the service during World War II. Luigi died at home December 12, 1927; he was 48 years old. Contributions: Netta (Mira) Marshall; Mario and Jean Mira; Charles Spezia; Carolyn Middleton, Author July 2001