Celeste Del Bello was born in Lanzeno, Italy in 1866, the youngest of eight children. He came to the United States by boat to Ellis Island, New York in 1844 at the age of 18. He moved to Texas to work in coal mines in Thurber, Texas. He married his first wife Margherita and they had eight children. Margherita died in 1909 three days after the birth of their eighth child, who also died. Celeste remarried Domenica Nina Cavallina later that year.
In 1914, Celeste traveled to Manvel, Texas and purchased 40 acres of farmland. In later years, he purchased even more land there. He moved his family; seven of the then twelve children; two dogs, two cows, two mules, a wagon, farming equipment and house furniture by train to Manvel. When they arrived in Manvel, the family lived in a three-room, single-wall frame house. The home had a wood-burning stove used for heating and cooking. In 1918, Celeste built a four-room house for his family on his 40 acres of land.
In 1925, Celeste purchased his first Model T Ford and in 1926 moved a new 1.5 story home from Iowa Colony to the Del Bello homestead in Manvel. Celeste Del Bello died in 1951 at the age of 84. His wife Nina died in 1980 at the age of 99. Their legacy lives on through their 14 children, 33 grandchildren, 64 great grandchildren, and 19 great-great grandchildren. Many family members still reside in the Manvel area today and are actively involved as firefighters and civic leaders.
PHOTO CAPTIONS
- The Del Bello family circa early 1900s
- Angelo & Frank Del Bello
- Ben Del Bello in front of his home
- Ted & Lillian Del Bello
- Victor & Stella Del Bello
- Margherita Del Bello, Celeste’s first wife