Porta, Emanuel

Emanuel Porta was born on March 4, 1875, in Campo, Canton Ticino, Switzerland, to Guisseppi and Elizabeth (Genazzi) Porta. After earning his grammar school diploma at age fourteen, he was inspired by his eldest brother Jim to move to California. Leaving home on February 17, 1892, he sailed from Havre, France, arrived in New York, and reached San Francisco on March 7, 1892. Guided by Jim to Ignacio, Marin County, he worked on a dairy farm until September 1905, when he relocated to the area now known as Riverdale.

In Riverdale, Porta initially farmed for Louis Gobby before renting S. Zanolini’s 189-acre ranch and eventually purchasing his own property on October 1, 1912. He became a naturalized U.S. citizen under Judge Frank M. Angellotti in San Rafael in 1900, aligning as a Republican and helping organize a local bank and creamery as a stockholder. In 1915, he married Louisa Gonzinotti, daughter of Edwardo and Virginia Gonzinotti, with whom he had two children, Lydia and Mabel.