Vito Guardalabene
First Milwaukee Mafia boss on record: 1918–1921
Overview
Guardalabene was from Santa Flavia, Sicily, and came to Milwaukee in 1903. Nicknamed the “King of Italy”, his “palace” was on Detroit Street in Milwaukee’s Third Ward. While already middle-aged when in Milwaukee, he set up a small underworld dynasty consisting of his children and grandchildren. His son, Pete, succeeded him as the boss of the Milwaukee Mafia.
- 26 Sep 1845
- Santa Flavia, Palermo, Sicily, Italy
- 6 Feb 1921
- Milwaukee, WI
- Buried: Holy Cross Cemetery and Mausoleum
- Giuseppa “Josephine” Alioto
- Married December 14, 1878
- Additional Notes:
- Daughter of Angelo Alioto and Santa Crisci
- Born on 26 Apr 1849 in Palermo, Sicily, Italy
- Died on 10 Dec 1911 at the age of 62 in Milwaukee, WI
- Antonia Guardalabene
- Born: 25 Sep 1875, Santa Flavia, Palermo, Sicily, Italy
- Died: 15 May 1943, Milwaukee, WI
- Giuseppa “Josephine” Guardalabene
- Born: 14 Sep 1877, Santa Flavia, Palermo, Sicily, Italy
- Died: 13 May 1908, Milwaukee, WI
- Marie Guardalabene
- Born: 1878, Santa Flavia, Palermo, Sicily, Italy
- Died: Aug 1927, Kokomo, IN
- Giovanni Battista “Pete” Guardalabene
- Born: 14 Jun 1881, Santa Flavia, Palermo, Sicily, Italy
- Died: 14 Jun 1949, Milwaukee, WI
- Angelo Guardalabene
- Born: 10 Jan 1891, Santa Flavia, Palermo, Sicily, Italy
- Death: 3 Oct 1936, Milwaukee, WI
- Giovanni Battista Guardalabene
- Born: 17 Sep 1815, Santa Flavia, Palermo, Sicily, Italy
- Death: 29 Jan 1901, Santa Flavia, Palermo, Sicily, Italy
- Antonina D’Acquisto
- Born: ~1825, Palermo, Sicily, Italy
- Death: 12 Sep 1885, Santa Flavia, Palermo, Sicily, Italy
Bellant Family
The Guardalabene and Bellant families were close. Tony Bellant was a witness on Vito’s naturalization document. Two of the Guardalabene children (Pete and Josephine) married into the Bellant family, and the merged families ran a small bank that provided loans for immigrants when they reached the United States.
Notable Events
- January 25, 1912: A small bomb exploded at Guardalabene’s home (162-164 Detroit Street). Nearby buildings had windows shattered, but no one was harmed and the matter was not reported to the police. Witness John Wood said the bomber left “a package about a foot square on the front porch” and lit a fuse with a match.
- August 24, 1913: John Sorce was shot 9 times in the back while walking home from a saloon on Detroit Street. He died from his injuries. An informant later alleged that Vito Guardalabene ordered the murder. [The truth will probably never be known.]
- February 6, 1921:
