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"Uncle Eugenio asked me for the pistol, and when I hesitated, he said, "What use is a pistol to a girl?" "The same as for a boy," I answered, and tied the string around my waist, and said I wanted to keep it. I wanted Uncle Eugenio to know that out here we are all starting over again."
—Teresa Viscardi[3]

Teresa Angelino Madden (née Viscardi; c. 1869 – July 16, 1952) was the daughter of Rose and Mr. Viscardi. She was the elder sister of Antoinetta, Ernesto, and Tomas. In 1883, Teresa's family left their home in New York City to settle in the Idaho Territory, where they joined a community called Opportunity.

Biography[]

Early life[]

Teresa was born the first child of Rose and Mr. Viscardi around 1869.[1] She had three siblings, Antoinetta, Ernesto, and Tomas. Her grandmother emigrated from Trappeto, Sicily,[4][5] an island region of Italy. Teresa's family lived on Wooster Street and owned a store in New York City, New York, until 1883.

Journey to Idaho[]

In early 1883, Teresa's father announced that they would be moving to the Idaho Territory to form a community named Opportunity with several other families. Teresa's mother was hesitant at first to agree, but eventually relented. That April, Teresa and her family boarded a train heading west, after taking a ferry to New Jersey. On the train, Teresa met her friend, John Wilson Anderson.

They reached the last train stop in Watertown in late April. Teresa's family began preparing for their journey on the wagon trail by purchasing several essentials. A week later, they formed a wagon train and headed straight towards the Idaho Territory. It was a grueling journey, which required Teresa to walk around ten miles a day. Teresa spent much of the trip doing chores for her mother, and visiting her friends, John Wilson and Mary Margaret Degler, who she met on the trail.

In mid-June, news of a nearby silver strike reach the wagon train and several men left to go look for it, including Teresa's father and uncle. The rest of Teresa's family continued west, until they were left behind after her aunt, cousin, and brother fell ill. Two days later, Teresa and her grandmother went to Rapid City to retrieve her father and uncle. Upon returning to the wagon, Teresa learned about her sister's death. Still devastated, they buried Antoinetta and rejoined the wagon train.

Later life[]

Teresa's entire family prospered in Opportunity, where her father opened up a thriving farm. The following year, she was hired as an assistant teacher to Mr. Cross. She became head teacher six years later, before retiring in 1936. Teresa married at thirty-six to James Madden. They had three children as well as several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Teresa and James were together until her death on July 16, 1952.[2]

Personality and traits[]

Her grandmother was constantly lecturing Teresa about what how a proper lady should act or be, which Teresa always ignored. Teresa, as a girl, was often frustrated that she was not allowed to do certain things that her brother could. As their journey continued on, Teresa proved to her family that she was just as strong as any boy. She was also permitted to drive the wagon and became skilled at it.

Family tree[]

The Viscardi Family Tree
 
 
 
 
 
 
"Nanna" Viscardi
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Marta Viscardi
 
Eugenio Viscardi
 
 
Mr. Viscardi
 
Rose Viscardi
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Husband
 
Rosaria Viscardi
 
Teresa Viscardi
(1869-1952)
 
James Madden
 
Ernesto Viscardi
(b. 1873)
 
Antoinetta Viscardi
(1875-1883)
 
Tomas Viscardi
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Four children
 
 
 
 
 
Three children
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Barb
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jackie

Behind the scenes[]

Appearances[]

References[]

See also[]


Dear America characters
Main characters

Remember "Mem" Whipple | Deliverance Trembley | Lozette Moreau | Catharine Logan | Prudence Emerson
Abigail Stewart | Lucinda Lawrence | María Rosalia de Milagros | Hattie Campbell | Mary Driscoll
Florence "Florrie" Mack Ryder | Susanna Fairchild | Clotee Henley | Amelia Martin | Emma Simpson
Sarah Nita | Phillis "Patsy" Frederick | Libby West | Priscilla "Pringle" Rose | Mary "Polly" Rodgers
Nannie Little Rose | Angeline Reddy | Sarah Jane Price | Teresa Viscardi | Anetka Kaminska
Zipporah Feldman | Minette "Minnie" Bonner | Angela Denoto | Margaret Ann Brady | Kathleen Bowen
Simone Spencer | Lydia Pierce | Nell "Nellie Lee" Love | Bess Brennan | Minerva "Minnie" Swift | Grace Edwards
Julie Weiss | Madeline Beck | Amber Billows | Piper Davis | Dawn "Dawnie Rae" Johnson | Molly Flaherty

Supporting characters

Antoinetta Viscardi | Leon Nasevich | Daniel Pierce | Erma Jean Love | Patrick Flaherty

Lists of characters by book

A Journey to the New World | I Walk in Dread | Look to the Hills | Standing in the Light
Love Thy Neighbor | The Winter of Red Snow | Cannons at Dawn | A Line in the Sand
Valley of the Moon | Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie | So Far from Home | All the Stars in the Sky
Seeds of Hope | A Picture of Freedom | A Light in the Storm | When Will This Cruel War Be Over?
The Girl Who Chased Away Sorrow | I Thought My Soul Would Rise and Fly | The Great Railroad Race
Down the Rabbit Hole | Land of the Buffalo Bones | My Heart Is on the Ground | Behind the Masks
My Face to the Wind | West to a Land of Plenty | A Coal Miner's Bride | Dreams in the Golden Country
A City Tossed and Broken | Hear My Sorrow | Voyage on the Great Titanic | A Time for Courage
When Christmas Comes Again | Like the Willow Tree | Color Me Dark | Mirror, Mirror on the Wall
Christmas After All | Survival in the Storm | One Eye Laughing, the Other Weeping
My Secret War | Early Sunday Morning | The Fences Between Us | With the Might of Angels
Where Have All the Flowers Gone?

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