Clement Ghiloni emigrated from Italy to the United States in 1899 at the age 16. By 1910, he along with brothers Julian and Samuel moved to Newark, Ohio to start a fruit business. In 1913, Clement married 18-year-old Bessie Baker, a bookkeeper from Croton.

The couple started their lives together in a home at 561 Granville Street. Soon they welcomed their firstborn, Margaret, in 1915. On January 30, 1919, identical twin boys were born—John Primo (meaning first) and James Homer. The family continued to grow with another daughter, Grace, added in 1921.