John Hrouda and Barbara (Loula) Hrouda
John Hrouda was born May 9, 1881 in Holusice (P.O. Blatna), Bohemia. His parents were Barbara (Hessoun) Hrouda and Joseph Hrouda. Barbara Loula was born June 28, 1883 in Kasejovice (P.O. Blatna), Bohemia. Her parents were Anna or Marie? ( Zach) Loula and Albert Loula.
The following is the family story about how John and Barbara met. One day in Chicago John was at an a friend's appartment in Chicago when he noticed a picture of a young lady. He asked about the picture and was told that she was the friend's sister and that she was in a convent. Later when the sister was released from the convent due to ill health, the friend remembered John's interest in her and introduced them to each other. The sister was Barbara Loula. John and Barbara were married on June 13, 1909 in Chicago, Illinois. Two children were born in Chicago - Joseph on February 9, 1910 and John B. on March 13, 1911. John worked in a foundry in Chicago until the fall of 1911. Because of health problems John was advised by a Doctor to leave foundry work.
The family moved to Phillips, Wisconsin and purchased a farm (previous owners were Frank and Barbara Mollek and before that John R. Davis). They picked Phillips because Barbara's brother Frank had already settled there. The original farm only had one small clearing on it, with a log barn and a small log house.
Four additional children were added to the family: Anne Julia on February 16, 1913; Frank L. on February 27, 1915; Mary Jane on June 26, 1916; and Agnes Margaret on July 12, 1920. The family attended Saint Mary's Catholic Church in Phillips, and the children attended Miller Road School.
John worked in the logging camps in the winter. In 1929 a large dairy barn was built. As farmers quit, the Hroudas expanded by farming neighboring places; Kellys, and Kostelniks (Podmoliks), amoung them.
John died on May 9, 1939 and Barbara died on January 2, 1961. They are buried in Saint Patrict's Cemetery in Phillips.