Vito Nicola Molès

Vito Nicola Molès was born March 1867 in Napoli, Italia, son of Carmine (1834–1921) and Carmela Molès (1842–1916). Molès is a name more commonly known in Basilicata, and it may be that the family originated there. 

The family migrated to the USA, arriving in New York on the Rhynland on 3 October 1879, but it was far from merely a story of achieving a better life. On the trip, both Carmela and Vito's youngest sibling, Leodora, died, leaving only Carmine, Nicola and Donato to make a new life in the New World. Carmine (variously listed as 'Canio' in some accounts) seems to have remarried, as he and his new wife Gaetana appear in the Presbyterian membership book in Chicago.  

On 17 April 1890 he married Angelica De Grazia (February 1874–1940), who had recently also migrated to the USA with her parents Giuseppe and Manuela Rosella. Together Vito and Angelica would have six children, of whom five survived. 

In March 1894, Vito and Angelica formally joined Filippo Grilli's First Italian Presbyterian Church in Chicago, though given the requirements to proceed forward for membership and communion, it is likely they started attending in 1893.  Grilli wrote in his Session book, that of the 18 people who had come forth to be granted access to the Table, 'solo Vito Nicola Moles non pote’ partecipare all Communione, benche’ n’avesse gran desiderio.' (25 March 1894, Session Minutes, First Italian Presbyterian Church, Chicago) His parents Carmine and Gaetana joined the next year. 

About 1898, Giuseppe Berretta, who had been converted among the Free Methodists, joined First Italian Presbyterian. An effective evangelist, he was soon among the church leadership. His Methodist roots reinforced Luigi Francescon's ponderings about 'biblical baptism'. For some years, they continued to serve under Grilli, but in 1903, Grilli took leave in Italy leaving the eldership under Francescon, in charge of the Church. A group who had responded to Berretta's preaching, meeting under G. Marin in Elgin,  desired to be baptised, and Berretta had himself baptised in a Brethren Church. Francescon announced to the Church that he would be leading a baptismal service in Lake Michigan. When Grilli returned, Francescon stepped down as presiding elder and member, an act which led to about 30 people following him out of the Church. In late 1903, they began meeting to read the bible, for the benefit of those among them who were illiterate - the first meeting of which was held in the lounge room of the Molès residence at 159 N. Halsted St., in the centre of Chicago.  When divisions arose among this group during Francescon's absence in Italy, in October 1904 he separated out again - and again the Molès family were the first to follow. 

At some time between the formation of the new Church (the so-called Chiesa dei Toscani), and the encounter in 1907 of various members of this church with the phenomena coming out of Azusa Street, Vito and Angelica Molès decided to relocate to California (where there were already members of the Cereghino family and others who had converted to Protestantism). Francescon notes that it was 'about a year before the manifestation of the Holy Spirit', during which a number of them received the Baptism 'e poi si unirono coi fratelli Americani di quella città': this would make their relocation about 1906, during which Vito and Angelica walked straight into the most significant revival of the time.  In their circle were other Italian born converts such as Annie Vienna Holmgren (b. 5 May 1877, in Piana degli Albanesi, Palermo, Sicily; d. 4 October 1969, Los Angeles, CA.),  and Rosina Tanzola and her daughters Angie and Jeannie. When Rosina Balzano Francescon visited the family in 1908, they were living at 217 E. 15th St., Los Angeles, and Nicola was continuing to make his living as a barber at 1910 E. Main St. When the 'baptism' experience began to mobilize the Chicago church, Balzano formed a 'heavy burden' for the Molès family, who had been so central to the community life of the Church which had been formed in 1904. 'God wonderfully used her and 'many were saved and some received the promise of the Holy Ghost in the month of October, 1907 during her stay.' (Maruso)

In 1922, they were living at 436 W. San Carlos, San Jose, Santa Clara, where Mario Bongiorno had moved the year before to commence church planting.  Some years later, however, they were back in LA, suggesting that the move was short term. 

Vito died in 1944, having been pre-deceased by Angelica, who died on 3 May 1940 in Los Angeles. Their contribution as enthusiastic followers and supporters of early Italian pentecostalism is one often overlooked in the writing of the histories. It is clear, however, that the 'gran desiderio' of V. N. Molès was essential to the success of Francescon as he stepped out from under the rules of the Presbyterian church, and their hospitality and suppport was again essential to the planting and spread of pentecostalism among Italians in Los Angeles. Mario Bongiorno [q.v.], in turn, traces the echoes of that effect back to Erie, PA, all over that region, and then back to LA again through his own work. It may well have been Molès again who helped support Bongiorno in his early work in San Jose.  Their story provides a rare insight into how the movements and lives of the humble of the earth fuelled the more visible and spectacular achievements of those whose names are now better known. For that alone, Vito the barber and Angelica the housewife deserve to be remembered. 

Children:

Carmela Lidia (1896, Chicago–1993, LA); m. Frank Lamonica (1892– )

Helen Margaret (28 December 1900, Chicago, IL - 3 June 1993, Seal Beach, Orange CA); m.  Charles Totora (1895– ); San Antonio, CA.

• • • Joseph Totora b. c. 1921

    • Marion A Totora b. c. 1923

Ruth (1 November 1903, Chicago, IL - 11 December 1985, Monterey Park, LA), m.  Frank J Tracy (1893– )

John (1906–1998); m. 1. Anna Gordon (1902–1965), 3 children:

• • • Harvey Lee (1930–2012); 

    • unknown

    • unknown

     m 2. Julia V Abbatecola Ricci (1918–2005)

Joshua (1912–2011), m. Mildred (1913–1995

• • • unknown

Stephen C (1917–10 Oct 1917)

Sources:

Maruso, F., History of the CCNA, De Gregorio Collection, Fuller Theological Seminary.

Session Minutes, First Italian Presbyterian Church, Chicago, Ancestry.com