Rook Harman

Arlene · New Member Joined: Aug 30, 2011 Posts: 2

Has anyone come across the name Rook Harmon, not his Italian name. Was born in Italy about 1862, came to the US either with his brother or a boys orchestra or maybe brother was also part of the orchestra. Name has his Italian name as Ruck Terang from US Census, but we assume that's a partial last name or not spelled correctly. He played the violin.

uantiti · Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 6:22 am Post subject: Re: Rook Harman

Nearly impossible to find what was the Italian name. I think his first name could be Rocco. But Rocco was a quite popular name in the past in Italy and probably more used in Southern Italy. Do you have any idea when he travelled to US? And where he lived in US

Ada

Arlene · New Member Joined: Aug 30, 2011 Posts: 2

We have seen the name spelled Ruke too. He first shows up on the US census in 1880, age listed as 18. Family lore has he coming to the US at age 12 with a boys orchestra. Returning to Italy when the orchestra went broke, and then coming back to the US, possibly with an older brother. Rook told a granddaughter he worked on the streets of NY before going to Iowa-the family he lived with in Iowa were named Harmon. Our best hope is there another family with similar family lore.
I know his last name cannot be Terang as listed on the 1880 census.
In later years when family got around to asking him his Italian name he was to old to remember.
A mystery we hope to solve one day.