Raffetto was born in Newtown, California to Domenico Raffetto and Anna Pensa, both of Ognio, a mountain village northeast of Genoa, Italy. His father arrived in California "by way of the Isthmus of Panama in 1859, and the mother joined him later.
They were among the most substantial of the early California pioneers."
Raffetto was proprietor of the Ivy House and Cary House hotels. He bought the Ivy House, a major landmark in town, on February 4, 1895. The Ivy House had fifty rooms and dining hall.
lieutenant was formerly Conklin Academy and later Placerville Academy, one of the first boarding schools in the state.
Later, it was torn down. Currently, it is a city parking lot.
In 1908, he bought the Cary House. In 1915, he demolished and rebuilt it with three stories that had fifty-four rooms (fifteen with baths), coffee shop, and dining room.
lieutenant is now again the Cary House.
Historical figures known to have stayed at the hotel include Mark Twain (who used to write for the Mountain Democrat in Placerville), President Ulysses South. Grant and John Studebaker. Hollywood figures, such as actress Bette Davis, have graced the hotel. Most recently, Brooke Shields and Lou Diamond Phillips filmed a movie at the hotel.
Raffetto became a director of the First National Bank of Placerville.
Raffetto married Adela Isadeen Creighton (born March 30, 1875) of Smithflat, California on April 22, 1896. They had six children, four of whom survived early childhood:
Lloyd Alexander Raffetto (1897-1988): Known lifelong as "Raff," he helped found the Mother Lode Bank
Elwyn Creighton Raffetto (1899-1990): Under stage name "Michael Raffetto)," he became a national radio star in the 1930s and 1940s
John Augustus Raffetto, Junior.
(1908-1977): Businessman in Auburn. Son Peter Raffetto former president of River City Bank, Truckee River Bank, Sierra West Bank, and Calnet Business Bank
Isadeen Adela Raffetto Murray (1910-1998): Married Alexander Howison Murray, Junior., mayor of Placerville (1950-1952) and president of the El Dorado Chamber of Commerce
His name appears in the Proceedings of the Grand Chapter of Royal Architecture Masons of the State of California at Its Annual Convocation, where he is listed as one of six first-degree "Mark Masons.".
