John J Balaun was born in Allegheny County, PA, in 1874. He was the youngest child of Barbara Chroust and Joseph Balaun who had emigrated from their home in Klatovy, Bohemia, Austria. John was probably named in honor of his paternal grandfather, Jan, who had died in the fall of 1865. After Jan's death, Joseph and Barbora prepared to move their family, including six of John's older siblings, to America. In the spring of 1866, the family traveled by train and boat to Bergen, Norway, where they boarded a ship bound for North America. They were at sea for six long, difficult weeks, finally arriving at Canada's eastern seaboard.
Before cold weather set in, Joseph and Barbora moved their family from Canada down to an urban Bohemian settlement in Pittsburg, Allegheny, Pennsylvania. They remained there for about eight years. John was the youngest of three additional children born in the United States. While residing in Pittsburg, the Balauns' eldest son, Ignatz, married Kate Newacheck, daughter of another Bohemian family. Ignatz became a father himself; so when Joseph bought land and moved his family to a farming community in Kansas, his two eldest sons, Ignatz and Frank went with Iganatz's in-laws, the Newachecks, to Canton, Ohio.
John was a toddler; he was taken by his parents along with his other siblings to the Balaun homestead in Ada, Kansas. Joseph, having been educated and trained in Bohemia as a carpenter, graced the Balaun farm with a fine wood and native limestone farmhouse.
As John matured he was attracted to the business and industrial opportunities and the lifestyle offered in Ohio. He eventually joined his brothers in Ohio, married Barbara Franta and established a family with her in Canton. They had two sons, Edward and William.
Edward married Erma Frank and lived in Akron for a short time, then went back to Canton where he continued to work as a die maker until he died in 1943. William married Evelyn Seikel, founded Balaun's Restaurant in Akron and remained in Akron all his life. He expanded the restaurant business to several locations, including Cleveland. He, his wife and their many children all made Akron their hometown.
Before cold weather set in, Joseph and Barbora moved their family from Canada down to an urban Bohemian settlement in Pittsburg, Allegheny, Pennsylvania. They remained there for about eight years. John was the youngest of three additional children born in the United States. While residing in Pittsburg, the Balauns' eldest son, Ignatz, married Kate Newacheck, daughter of another Bohemian family. Ignatz became a father himself; so when Joseph bought land and moved his family to a farming community in Kansas, his two eldest sons, Ignatz and Frank went with Iganatz's in-laws, the Newachecks, to Canton, Ohio.
John was a toddler; he was taken by his parents along with his other siblings to the Balaun homestead in Ada, Kansas. Joseph, having been educated and trained in Bohemia as a carpenter, graced the Balaun farm with a fine wood and native limestone farmhouse.
As John matured he was attracted to the business and industrial opportunities and the lifestyle offered in Ohio. He eventually joined his brothers in Ohio, married Barbara Franta and established a family with her in Canton. They had two sons, Edward and William.
Edward married Erma Frank and lived in Akron for a short time, then went back to Canton where he continued to work as a die maker until he died in 1943. William married Evelyn Seikel, founded Balaun's Restaurant in Akron and remained in Akron all his life. He expanded the restaurant business to several locations, including Cleveland. He, his wife and their many children all made Akron their hometown.
John J Balaun was born in Allegheny County, PA, in 1874. He was the youngest child of Barbara Chroust and Joseph Balaun who had emigrated from their home in Klatovy, Bohemia, Austria. John was probably named in honor of his paternal grandfather, Jan, who had died in the fall of 1865. After Jan's death, Joseph and Barbora prepared to move their family, including six of John's older siblings, to America. In the spring of 1866, the family traveled by train and boat to Bergen, Norway, where they boarded a ship bound for North America. They were at sea for six long, difficult weeks, finally arriving at Canada's eastern seaboard.
Before cold weather set in, Joseph and Barbora moved their family from Canada down to an urban Bohemian settlement in Pittsburg, Allegheny, Pennsylvania. They remained there for about eight years. John was the youngest of three additional children born in the United States. While residing in Pittsburg, the Balauns' eldest son, Ignatz, married Kate Newacheck, daughter of another Bohemian family. Ignatz became a father himself; so when Joseph bought land and moved his family to a farming community in Kansas, his two eldest sons, Ignatz and Frank went with Iganatz's in-laws, the Newachecks, to Canton, Ohio.
John was a toddler; he was taken by his parents along with his other siblings to the Balaun homestead in Ada, Kansas. Joseph, having been educated and trained in Bohemia as a carpenter, graced the Balaun farm with a fine wood and native limestone farmhouse.
As John matured he was attracted to the business and industrial opportunities and the lifestyle offered in Ohio. He eventually joined his brothers in Ohio, married Barbara Franta and established a family with her in Canton. They had two sons, Edward and William.
Edward married Erma Frank and lived in Akron for a short time, then went back to Canton where he continued to work as a die maker until he died in 1943. William married Evelyn Seikel, founded Balaun's Restaurant in Akron and remained in Akron all his life. He expanded the restaurant business to several locations, including Cleveland. He, his wife and their many children all made Akron their hometown.
Before cold weather set in, Joseph and Barbora moved their family from Canada down to an urban Bohemian settlement in Pittsburg, Allegheny, Pennsylvania. They remained there for about eight years. John was the youngest of three additional children born in the United States. While residing in Pittsburg, the Balauns' eldest son, Ignatz, married Kate Newacheck, daughter of another Bohemian family. Ignatz became a father himself; so when Joseph bought land and moved his family to a farming community in Kansas, his two eldest sons, Ignatz and Frank went with Iganatz's in-laws, the Newachecks, to Canton, Ohio.
John was a toddler; he was taken by his parents along with his other siblings to the Balaun homestead in Ada, Kansas. Joseph, having been educated and trained in Bohemia as a carpenter, graced the Balaun farm with a fine wood and native limestone farmhouse.
As John matured he was attracted to the business and industrial opportunities and the lifestyle offered in Ohio. He eventually joined his brothers in Ohio, married Barbara Franta and established a family with her in Canton. They had two sons, Edward and William.
Edward married Erma Frank and lived in Akron for a short time, then went back to Canton where he continued to work as a die maker until he died in 1943. William married Evelyn Seikel, founded Balaun's Restaurant in Akron and remained in Akron all his life. He expanded the restaurant business to several locations, including Cleveland. He, his wife and their many children all made Akron their hometown.
Gravesite Details
THANKS to my cousin, Helen Marjorie Balaun Goodwin, Mem#86021735, for researching Balaun family genealogy. Margaret E Balaun Stearns (ID#48268127)
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