Ignatius (or "Ignatz," as he is listed on his family's immigration passport*) was the first child of Joseph Balaun/Baloun. His mother, Frantisek Kelnerova Baloun, died when he was newly born. A while after her death, Joseph married Barbara Chroust. She probably was the only mother Ignatius ever really knew.

By the time Ignatius was 14-years-old, he had five half-siblings: Frank 10, Mary 8, Barbara 6, Johanna 4, and Karoline 2. That spring (1866) the family left their home in Klatovy, Bohemia, traveling by train and boat to reach Bergen, Norway. There they boarded a ship called "Anna."

With Captain Heyerdahl and a total of 235 passengers, they began a difficult sea voyage taking about six weeks to reach Canada. A new baby brother, Albert, was born aboard ship midway in the voyage. Two-year-old, Karoline, however, did not survive and was buried at sea.

After a short stay in Quebec, the family moved to Pittsburgh, Allegheny, PA. There, three more children were born, Peter 1870, Anna 1872 and John 1874. It was there also that teenaged Ignatius met Katherine S Newacheck. They were married Oct. 30, 1877, at St Wenceslaus Catholic Church, North Side, Pittsburgh, PA

Ignatius' father, Joseph, and step-mother, Barbara, established a family farm in Ada, KS, living in a small stone dug-out dwelling near a creek. Joseph immediately began constructing a fine wood-framed home made of Kansas limestone. joseph was highly educated, an artist, accomplished carpenter and experienced mason.

Ignatius, however, did not accompany his father and step-mother to the Balaun homestead. He and his wife, Kate, and their firstborn child, a son named Joseph, born in 1878, moved on with Kate's family, the Newacheks. They settled in Stark County, Ohio. Ignatz' brother, Frank, and later, John J Baloun, also went to seek their fortunes in the promising world of American industry and commerce in Canton, Ohio.

Ignatius and Kate had two more children after moving to Canton: Mary Catherine and Anna Cecelia. All three children, Joseph, Mary and Anna, remained single. All three are buried with their parents in the family plot in St Johns Cemetery in Canton.

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*Passport issued in the name of Franz Joseph I, Emperor of Austria, at the Foreign Department of Salzburg, Austria, in March, 1866

THANKS to my sister, Rose Anne Balaun, for the photo of Ignatius.

THANKS to my cousin, Helen Marjorie Balaun Goodwin, for her genealogical research in the 1990's providing a photocopy of Joseph Balaun's passport and list of his descendants.

THANKS to FindAGrave contributor, Diane Nelson, for transferring management of this memorial to me and helping to uncover shared family stories of the Newachecks/Novaceks and the Balaun/Balouns.
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