NanniJan on Family Tree Circles

My great grandfather migrated from Italy to the US around 1905. He left Italy under adverse circumstances, never returned, didn't learn to speak fluent English, and left no clues to his family except to say he was from Sicily. His name was "spelled" like it sounded by someone who wrote the information when he arrived. Searching feels much like trying to find a needle in a haystack! I've followed several leads, but not found success. Can you help?

There is likely a connection between Ann Floating Cloud Vest Williams (1754 - 1840) and the Trail of Tears. Ann, I believe, was married to Pennsylvania Phillip "Buck" "Spike" Williams. They were grandparents of my grandmother's grandparents. Any one recognize the names?

Thanks!

As the story is told, my great grandfather left Sicily, Italy to avoid punishment after committing a crime of domestic passion. It is believed he was born in Sicily around 1878. Speaking no English, he was unable to pronounce his sir name so others could understand it. Someone decided they heard "Clipse", so he became Frank Clipse. Because of the uncertainty of the spelling of his last name, searching for ancestors is extremely difficult.

Frank landed in Tennessee working for the railroad. He married Ida Belle Jenkins in Scott County, VA on 15 July 1906. Great Grandpa Clipse's obituary in the Kingsport, TN newspaper states he died on 28 August 1956. My grandfather, Joseph Franklin Clipse (1909-1974), was one of the children born to Frank and Ida. He married Ada Victoria Johnson (1908-1968). My mother, Stella Clipse Adkins, was the second child born to Joe and Ada.

As a very young child, I remember sitting on Great Grandpa Clipse's lap as he counted to 10 in Italian. That is my sole memory of this man to whom I am related. It would please me greatly to find out even a bit more about this branch of my maternal family tree.

Does anyone have advice about how to search Italian genealogy?

Thank you, in advance, for your help.