Frank Colucci
Frank Colucci, one of Lima's well-known business men, who has been prominently identified with railroad construction for a number of years, was born July 3, 1863, in Italy, a country which has contributed many useful and successful citizens to the United States.
Mr. Colucci was educated in his own land and was a youth of 19 years when, in 1882, he set foot on American soil. The 24 years which have intervened have been busy ones for Mr. Colucci, and he has demonstrated that a man's nationality has little to do with is ultimate success. From New York he entered the employ of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company and continued with that corporation for three years, going then to Green County, Wisconsin with Drake & Stratton, railroad contractors. After two years with them he was connected with the Illinois Central for a year, and in the fall of 1888 located in Chicago, where he was engaged in construction work until the summer of 1889- the time of his coming to Lima. Here he became foreman for the construction of the Columbus, Lima & Milwaukee Railway (now the Columbus, & Lake Michigan), in the employ of the late Benjamin C. Faurot, and then secured a large construction contract on the road between Findlay and Kenton. Here he employed about 60 men and concluded the contract in January, 1890.
Mr. Colucci then returned to Lima and for the first time since coming to America made what seemed a bad bargain. One of his countrymen was in the fruit business here, having stores opposite the Court House and on East Market street, and to him Mr. Colucci loaned the sum of $200. His compatriot did not succeed in his ventures and in order to secure his hard-earned money Mr. Colucci was obliged to take over the fruit business on East market street. He placed his brother in charge of the enterprise, as his abilities lay in an entirely different direction. On March 22, 1890, he was engaged by the Chicago & Atlantic Railroad to furnish laborers for construction; in the fall of the same year the Chicago & Erie assumed control of the C. & A. road, and he has been with the Erie ever since as a contractor of labor. He has also taken grading contracts and has had business relations with the Standard Oil Company and the Pennsylvania lines. He is so reliable that large corporations know that a contract well be carried out to the letter, if he takes charge of it.
On June 22, 1904, Mr. Colucci was married to Rosina Fusco, also of Italian birth. Mr. Colucci has invested largely in Lima real estate, belongs to the Lima Progressive Association and is one of the representative business of the city, whose industry, honesty and ability have earned him an enviable standing.