The Balon Family

Michael Balon immigrated to the United States in either 1891 or 1893. His passport information shows that he had brown hair, brown eyes, and a medium build. In his mid to late 20s when he arrived, he quickly settled in McKean County, Pennsylvania. By 1910, he was working on the railroad — a pretty good job. Given that Pennsylvania was known for coal mining, he must have had connections to avoid that line of work.

At the time of the 1910 census, he had been married to Mary Kasprzyk for 16 years, and they had 7 children. Additionally, they had a brother-in-law (possibly Mary's brother) and a boarder living with them. Current research does not show that any family came over with him from Poland.

Family history handed down gives Michael's parents as Roh Balon and Ursula Sniek. Supposedly Roh died during the Black Plague, and Ursula later remarried. The story continues that young son Pete, aged 10, built the coffin and buried his father. No further information is yet known.

[ More narrative to be added. ]