Elvira was born in Agnino (N 44º14'34.41", E 10º04'52.83"), a small town in the mountains east of La Spezia, Italy.

Elvira sailed aboard the La Lorraine from Le Havre, France and arrived in New York on March 11, 1906. She was accompanied by her 20-year old distant cousin, Cassimira Novelli. Her older brother, Beniamino was already living in the Santa Rosa area. Elvira had been in Santa Rosa for only a month when the town was destroyed and more than 100 people were killed by the great earthquake of April 18, 1906. Abramo Albini met Elvira at the home of another of her cousins, Christina Rossi Asti. Elvira stayed at Christina’s home when she first came to America. After less than 6 months in America, she married Abramo at the age of 19, and they moved a number of times, first on a ranch near Marshall and finally settling on a ranch along the Estero Americano, several miles south of Bodega (N 38º19'09", W 122º58'55"). There were rumors that she died from a botched abortion when pregnant for the 9th time.

In 1914 Elvira Albini was married to Abramo Albini when Bridget was conceived by an adulterous liaison with Charles Marino, the hired ranchhand, 22 years her senior. Several months later, Charles fathered twin boys with Caterina Pozzi. He went on to father 2 more children with Caterina before he married her.

Charles was born Charles Marini in Premia, Italy, a small mountain town near the western border of Switzerland’s Ticino canton. After entering the USA, he changed his name to Marino.

John Albini was a distant cousin of Abramo Albini, Elvira’s first husband. He came to the USA in December, 2006 at the age of 17. The records show that he had a brother, Paolo, already living in California.