Sean Gilhuly
on 16.02.2026

Hello there, Jeff! I know this comment is 18 years later but I have information for you! Panagiotis BENARDOS was born circa 1824 in Potamos, Kythera. In January 1856 he was listed on the passport of his brother Ioanni to Athens, Greece. In late 1867 he pledged 120 drachmae for the construction of a port at Diakofti. He was a farmer. Diamanta KAPSANI and Panagiotis BENARDOS were married on 13 October 1860 at Agia Triada church in Potamos, Kythera. Diamanta KAPSANI was born 6am on 12 January 1842 in Potamos, Kythera. She was baptized on 12 January 1842 in Potamos, Kythera. Panagiotis BENARDOS and Diamanta KAPSANI had the following children: 1. Konstantinos VENARDOS (Makiarou) was born 4am on 15 September 1862 in Karavas, Kythera. He was baptized on 23 September 1862 at Iperagias Theotokou church in Karavas, Kythera. He travelled on 3 September 1914 to New York, New York, United States from Piraeus, Greece onboard Ionnina heading to Alton, Illinois with $500. He left his wife in Kythera. He was a US citizen at the time and had been in America previously in 1899 and 1910. Konstantinos was a farmer. 2. Antonios VENARDOS was born 6am on 22 October 1865 in Karavas, Kythera. He was baptized on 7 November 1865 at Iperagias Theotokou church in Karavas, Kythera. Maria BENARDOU was born 7am on 12 September 1877 in Potamos, Kythera. She was baptized on 28 September 1877 at Agia Triada church in Potamos, Kythera. She died 3am on 19 January 1880 at the age of 2 in Potamos, Kythera. Ioannis VENARDOS was born on 10 October 1872 in Kythera. As a young man, he served in the Greek army and navy as a corporal in the Grecian Marines, participating in both land battles and naval engagements. During one encounter with the Turks, he was wounded in the hip by a bullet and briefly hospitalized. After completing his military service, John, as he was known in America, emigrated to the United States in 1898, initially settling in St. Louis, Missouri, before moving to Alton, Illinois, in 1900 to join his brother Constantine “Gus” Venardos in the confectionery business. Together, they built a thriving candy shop. John later became the sole owner of the candy store at Piasa and Third Streets, earning the affectionate local title “John Venardos, the candy man.” His whipped-cream chocolates, peanut candy bars, and chocolate covered peanuts became local favorites, and he trained young employees with promise, most notably Mary Polyxene, who later became a partner in the business with her husband John Souris. In October 1917, The Telegraph reported that John traveled to St. Louis to visit his brother Constantine, who was very sick and undergoing surgical operations. This was a serious family moment, reflecting both the close bond between the brothers and John’s ongoing involvement in family affairs even while managing his business in Alton. In 1917, John expanded into real estate, purchasing valuable property on East Broadway, including buildings occupied by the Casper Horn Grocery Company and a nearby church. On November 29, 1919, The Telegraph reported that he purchased the building where his candy store had operated for eigh years. Earlier that year, on October 7, 1919, John acquired the house at 446 Bluff Street from Mrs. Mamie Foulds. The newspaper noted that the previous occupant, Harry Herb, a former manager of the Board of Trade, was moving for the third time that year to make way for John, who desired to live in the property while managing his confectionery business. This transaction illustrates John’s growing involvement in local real estate as well as his commitment to securing stable, long term housing tied to his business operations. In April 1932, John opened a new confectionery at 1663 Washington Street in Upper Alton, featuring modern equipment, a newly decorated interior, and homemade specialties like peanut bars and Karmelkorn. The store was advertised locally on the radio, highlighting John’s innovative approach to business and marketing. In September 1933, The Telegraph reported that Antonio Venardos, John’s nephew, arrived in Alton from Piraeus, Greece, to visit him. Another brother of Antonio, also named John Venardos, was expected to arrive shortly from West ia. This visit demonstrates John’s continued close ties to family in Greece and his role as a supportive uncle to relatives traveling from abroad. By the early 1940s, with World War II underway, John continued to demonstrate his leadership in the Greek-American community. In May 1943, The Telegraph reported that he was organizing a Home Guard of local Greek-American men to support national defense efforts. Theodore Caires, a former Greek Army sergeant, volunteered to assist John in drilling and training the men. This initiative extended to St. Louis, where Greek-Americans were reportedly forming a similar Home Guard. John’s efforts highlight his patriotism, organizational skills, and influence within the local community during a critical time in history. By 1934, John was still actively managing business operations in Alton. A notice in The Telegraph (August 28, 1934) reported that Tom Toulos, along with his wife, moved to Alton from Harrisburg to work for John at his new place of business on West Broadway. This confirms that John continued to employ local residents and expand his operations in the community. John maintained close ties to Greece. An April 1929 notice in The Telegraph reported that he traveled to New York and then to Kythera to visit family properties after the deaths of his parents and his brother Constantine. In his personal life, John married Edith “Eda” Hack on September 26, 1906. They had four children: Elizabeth, Dia, Homer, and Nestor. Edith died on January 22, 1966, and Nestor passed away on August 31, 1966. In July 1958, at age 85, John returned home after a fall and brief hospitalization, marking only his second hospital stay—the first being in Greece after his wartime injury. John Peter Venardos died on October 3, 1968, seven days before his 96th birthday, after seven weeks of hospitalization. He was buried in Alton City Cemetery. In his memory, a scholarship fund in his son’s name was established through the Alton-Wood River Ad Club. Remembered as a hardworking immigrant, successful confectioner, savvy real-estate investor, patriotic leader, and respected figure in the Greek-American community, John Venardos left a lasting legacy in Alton, shaping both its business and social life. Ioannis was buried at Alton Cemetery in Alton, Madison, Illinois, United States Block OY Lot 151 1/2.