Son of Jan (John) Palivec and Marie Endrst.

Jan (John) Palivec was one of seven children. Born July 22, 1861 and lived in Bohemia, Austria-Hungary, later named Czechoslovakia, and then Czech Republic. Born at House number 4, town of Drahlín, district of Pribram, which is 30 miles southwest of Prague. Married Anna Trcka on Sep 19, 1886 in Drahlín, Czech Republic, at the age of 25.

Lived at House number 43 at the time of his son's (Joseph's) birth and baptism in 1903. Had fourteen children (including Barbara who died at birth in 1901) in Czech Republic and one child in the USA. Five of his children went to the USA between 1904 and 1912. Jan worked as a miner in 1903 (son's baptism certificate).

Jan departed Bremen, Germany (420 miles from Drahlín) on Mar 20, 1913 on the ship Chemnitz, part of the North German Lloyd Line, and arrived in Philadelphia, PA on Apr 4, 1913, age 51, with his wife Anna, and eight of his children. They travelled in 2nd Cabin accomodations. The children were Jan (John), 18, Anna, 15, Franz (Frank), 11, Josef (Joseph), 9, Barbara, 7, Regina, 4, Brzena (Bertha), 2, and Miloslava (Mildred), 1. Brought $2400 to the USA. His U.S. contact for the trip was his son in law, Frank Muzik, husband of Rose Palivec, Cleveland, OH. His listed occupation was farmer.

He used the name John in the USA, instead of Jan. He immediately bought a house at 12906 Union Avenue, in Cleveland, Ohio for $2,900. He worked as a gardener. His 15th child, Edward, was born in the USA, but died at the age of four months.

Listed in 1920 Census, Cuyahoga County, Cleveland, OH, (indexed as Paliree instead of Palivec), age 49, foundry watchman, with his wife, Anna, 49, sons Frank, 18, sewing machine clerk, Joseph, 16, department store stockboy, and daughters, Virginia (Regina), 11, Bertha, 9, and Mildred, 8. All immigrated 1913. Lived at 12906 Union Avenue. Also living there was his widowed daughter, Toney Jamnik (indexed as Yaminik), 29 (27), and Toney's son Charley Hantl, 4, as well as another daughter Anna Wojnarowsky, 23 (21), immigrated 1908, her husband Tom, 34, Polish, machinist, immigrated 1892, and their daughter Anna, 9 months.

Listed in the 1930 Census, 12906 Union Ave, Cleveland, OH, age 68, not employed, with his wife, Anna, 58, daughter Mildred, 18, single, and daughter Regina, 21, with her husband William Pelsnik, 25, born in Ohio, and an assembler of stoves. All (except William) immigrated in 1913 and had not naturalized.

He died at age 78, on August 22, 1939. He was buried at Calvary Cemetery, Section 54, Lot 1282, Miles and E. 116th St, Cleveland, OH.