Frank (František in Czech) and his twin brother, Josef, were the first children given birth by Barbora Chroust Baloun. He was born in Klatovy, Bohemia, before the existence of the Czech Republic and named in honor of his father's deceased first wife, Františka Kellner. Josef who was their father's namesake died when the the twins were not quite six months old. Frank and Josef shared the middle name (saint's name), Andrew, as they were born on the eve of St Andrew's Day.

At the age of 10, Frank immigrated from Bohemia with his parents and five siblings (Ignatz 14, Mary 8, Barbara 6, Johanna 4, and Karoline 2). They traveled by train and boat to reach their port of departure, 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. Two-year-old Karoline did not survive and was buried at sea. Baby Albert was born aboard-ship midway in the voyage. After a short stay in Quebec, the family settled in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, PA, with other Bohemian immigrants. In Pittsburgh, three more children were born to the family of Joseph and Barbara: Peter 1870, Anna 1872 and John 1874. Frank helped his parents homestead the farm in Ottawa County, Kansas, but soon went on to Ohio to join his brother Ignatz who had gotten married while still in Pittsburgh. In Canton, Ohio, Frank married Emma Schuster and had ten children: Earl Leo (1882), Jacob O (1883), Albert A "Doc" (1884), Harry Franklin (1885), Arthur Anthony (1889), Mary Emma "May" (1893), Frank James "Dewey" (1897), Ada Lucille m:Horst (1898), Lawrence (1900), Clarence Edward "Bud" (1902). In the 1920's Frank and Emma moved to California accompanied by some of their children.