From the Lodi Sentinel, 16 May 1922, Page 2:
One of the first Business Men in Lodi, Locating Here in 1880
Got His Start in Calaveras County, Where He Operated Vegetable Garden
Suffering a number of complications as the result of a stroke of paralysis seven years ago, Giacomo Pierano, one of the earliest settlers of Lodi, passed away Saturday evening at his home on East Pine street. He was a native of Genoa, Italy, and was aged 62 years.
When quite a young man, he moved to Calaveras county, where he conducted a vegetable garden. It was there through hard work that he got his start. He ran a vegetable wagon. In those days there were no bridges across the Mokelumne. Several times he flirted with death when he attempted to ford the stream. Upon five or six occasions upon returning at night to cross the Mokelumne that he had forded earlier in the day, the stream had raised during the day so that the horses had to swim. Several times team, wagon and driver were carried down stream. Pierano, being an excellent swimmer, did not seem to mind little difficulties of this kind. Swimming around to the horses he would unhitch the traces, free the animals and let the wagon go on down stream until it would lodge some place against the bank.
Mr. Pierano came to Lodi in the early eighties and went into the mercantile business here about 1883. It was one of the first stores in Lodi. At that time Mr. Pierano sold harvesters and all kinds of farming implements, besides groceries. The pioneer saw the Lodi section go through many stages -- wheat, watermelons and grapes. He witnessed many hard and distressing times in Lodi during the early eighties, when there were dry years and the farmers had little or no money to pay their bills.
Mr. Pierano had a big heart. He carried these farmers from year to year until they could get upon their feet. Never in his life did he turn a family out of doors because they could not pay their bills. He was one of the first independent buyers and shippers of wine grapes in this section.
Deceased was the husband of Maria Pierano, father of George O., Charles B. and William S. Pierano of Lodi, brother of Carlo Pierano and Mrs. Thresa Costa of Lodi, Mrs. Louisa Campodonica of Stockton, Miss Maria Pierano and John Pierano of Italy.
The funeral will be held this morning at 10 o'clock under the direction of Hale & Bawden from St. Anne's church, where high mass will be celebrated for the repose of his soul. Father Maher will officiate and interment will be made in St. Joachim's cemetery near Lockeford.