Joseph Ardizzone

Joseph Ardizzone
Joseph Ardizzone's mug shot taken in 1914.
Born	Giuseppe Ernesto Ardizzone (1884-11-19)November 19, 1884 Piana dei Greci, Sicily
Died	October 15, 1931(1931-10-15) (aged 46) California
Cause of death	Murder
Nationality	Italian
Other names	Iron Man
Known for	Mob Activity
Spouse(s)	Elsie A. Ardizzone
Parent(s)	Antonino Ardizzone (father)
Relatives	George Ardizzone (brother) Frank Ardizzone (brother) Mary Ardizzone (Niece)

Joseph "Iron Man" Ardizzone (November 19, 1884 – vanished October 15, 1931) was an early Los Angeles mobster, who became the first Boss of the Los Angeles crime family. He was involved in a long-standing feud with the Matranga family, and became the only Los Angeles boss to be murdered by his own men. He once claimed to have killed 30 men.

Born Giuseppe Ernesto Ardizzone in Piana dei Greci (today Piana degli Albanesi), in the Province of Palermo, Sicily, to Antonino Ardizzone on November 19, 1884. Some of his maternal ancestors were descended from Albanians who fought the Ottomans during the 15th century. The Albanians were given land grants in what later became Italy, and with Piana di Greci being one of the larger Albanian communities. The Ardizzones were related to several other families and they would maintain contact in America. Those families included the Cuccias and the Matrangas.

The Ardizzone family came to America at different times. Antonino came in the later 19th century, landing in Louisiana then taking the train to southern California. He became a wealthy farmer and wine maker. His other children, including Stefano and Francesco also moved to the Los Angeles area. Giuseppe was one of the last to arrive.

For reasons uncertain Giuseppe, who Americanized his name to Joseph, became involved in a dispute with the Matrangas who lived in Los Angeles. They were distant cousins from Piana dei Greci. In what he later called an act of self-defense, Joseph shot and killed a Matranga ally named George Maisano in 1906. He then fled California and hid in different states.

He eventually returned and was arrested, but the charges against him were dropped. He then married a young girl named Elsa who was the daughter of a German neighbor in the city of Sunland, California where they lived at that time. Shortly after that their home was burned down by arsonists.