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T.R. Fiorita, of Moberly,
has had a successful business career and is
an example of what can be
accomplished by thrift and industry, coupled
with the determination to
succeed, He is a native of the Island of Sicily
and was born July 24,
1877. He is the son of Charles Fiorita who lived
for a time at Des Moines,
Iowa, and was engaged in the wholesale fruit
business. He lived in
Kansas City, Mo., where he died in 1916 and his
widow resides in that city.
T. R. Fiorita came to
America with his parents who first located at
Des Moines, Iowa, He
came to Moberly in June, 1899 and at that time,
just 21 years ago, his
entire capital consisted of $71.00 He first engaged
in the fruit business and a
short time afterwards added candies and ice
cream to his business,
making his own candy and ice cream. About ten
years later he bought a
saloon which he conducted until July 1, 1919.
During the course of his
business career Mr. Fiorita worked hard and
saved his money which he
invested carefully. He became prosperous
and today is an extensive
land owner, besides the owner of valuable
property in the city of
Moberly, including his residence and a business
block at 118 Reed street,
He is the owner of about 1,200 acres of land,
685 acres at Clapper, 252
in Audrain County, near Mexico, and 240 acres
near Higbee, Randolph
County. He leases two of his farms and has a
tenant on the other 685
acre place which he operates under his own
supervision. This place is
well stocked and he is extensively engaged
in breeding registered
Duroc Jersey hogs and registered Jersey cattle
and also conducts a dairy
there.
Mr. Fiorita was united in
marriage at Atlantic, Iowa, to Miss Ida M.
Sanford, a native of that
place. To Mr. and Mrs. Fiorita have been born
two children: Nina, a
student in Linwood College at St. Charles, Mo., and
Charles, who is at home
with his parents.
Mr. Fiorita is a member of
the Benevolent and Protective Order of
Elks and the Knights of
Columbus. |