In a beautiful unassuming home in McCleary is a beautiful unassuming lady named Virginia Mohney.If you are a McClearyite you probably know about Mohney’s Prairie out past Elma Hicklin Road. Oh, and you do not pronounce the “h.” It is pronounced mo-nee. This prairie was settled by her husband’s family, in the late 1800s or early 1900s. Her husband, Kenneth was born on Elma Hicklin Road.

But this story is about Virginia Tincani Mohney. She is the first generation born in the United States to Italian parents, Giuseppe (Joe) and Angiolina Manfredi Tincani. Giuseppe was born in Casina, Riggo Emilia, Italy on March 1, 1894 and passed away Nov. 6, 1990. Angiolina was born in Montechiarugolo, Italy on Nov. 1, 1902 and passed away in May 1976. Virginia was born at home on Mommsen street in McCleary where her parents had settled. Her older sister, Lena had been born in Italy.

Virginia worked for 20 years at the McCleary Pharmacy when Ron Roffler owned it. Having a job helping the public let Virginia keep up with the newcomers. She was raised here, and knew everyone, but as new people arrived, she learned their names and relationships to other people in town. She knew my parents, and that surprised the heck out of me. Not that she knew them, so much, as she connected them to me.

Virginia married Kenneth Mohney in 1956. He passed away 11 years ago. Together they raised three children. Angela works in the drug store in Elma, Tammy’s job finds her in the Deli section of Safeway in Chehalis. Son, Douglas, passed away from cancer 10 years ago.

When Giuseppe first arrived in the United States he submitted paperwork called ‘Declaration of Intent’ to become an American citizen. The year was 1913 and Giuseppe was 21 years old. As time marched on, WWI broke out. He was drafted into that war just as it was ending. Because of his service he was able to get his Naturalization papers in 1918. Angiolina became a citizen in 1935. Together they raised their two girls in McCleary, Washington.

Why did Giuseppe come to America in the first place? According to Virginia, he was following his brother, Rudolpho, looking for a better way of life in America. Rudolpho first came to the U.S. in 1910 and worked in the door factory at Chehalis until it was moved to McCleary in 1912. He went back to Italy in 1915 and was caught up in the war serving 30 months in the trenches with the Italian Army. He was a POW of the Austrian Army for 13 months. He and his wife, Genoeffa, arrived in McCleary late in 1919 to settle in and make this their home.

Virginia’s father, Giuseppe or “Joe”, worked for Henry McCleary in the mill. He was helping Mr. Winslow at the mill when an accident happened that cost him his leg. His compensation for that lost limb was $3,000. With that money he bought a house on Third Street where Virginia and her older sister, Lena, grew up right across from the Methodist Church.

Losing a leg did not slow Joe Tincani down. He got a wooden leg and continued to work at the mill. At some point he was given a better leg but found the original wooden leg more to his liking.

Adler Tincani was a cousin to Virginia. In 1953 he traveled back to Italy and took many photos to share with us. One was of the ship, SS Andrea Doria, where he was in good company with other third-class passengers. He said he looked at the first and second-class passengers and was sure he was happier. He didn’t have to change clothes for every meal. SS Andrea Doria was an Italian ocean liner and was said to be the biggest, fastest, safest and most beautiful ship in Italy after World War II. It could carry 1,784 passengers and crew.

Its maiden voyage was on Jan. 14, 1953. Adler left for Italy in August of that same year. It was a two-week long voyage to get to Italy, and two-week voyage to get back home. He was gone from the mill where he held a door-patching job for 90 days.

In 1956 the big ship was hit by the MS Stockholm in the Atlantic Ocean. Andrea Doria, sank to the bottom of the ocean. MS Stockholm survived, was repaired and renamed Athena.

The Tincanis also survive in this small town and have added greatly to the history of McCleary. We owe our rich history to families like the Tincanis and Mohneys. They were certainly made of sturdy stock.

Linda Thompson is the editor of the McCleary Museum Newsletter. She has been a volunteer at the museum since 1990. Research provided by Charles H. Fattig.