After arriving in New York City, with a short stay there, Kralovec was in Chicago by July of 1868.  His temporary home became the saloon and Inn owned by Joseph Fiser (Fisher), listed in the 1866 and 1870 Chicago City Directories as being located at 160 E. Van Buren. (B)  While trained in Bohemia as a mason, Kralovec's first employment was in lumber.  Before the Chicago Fire, and the accompanying changes in construction codes, many homes and businesses were lumber constructions.

By 1870 Kralovec was practicing his trade as mason after joining a German Mason union.  In the 1908 and 1928 articles he described working to construct a stone wall on Sangamon Avenue from Madison to Lake Street.  He also mentions that he worked on a post office which he indicated that the post office would eventually be replaced by the First National Bank Building.  (A) The 1871 Chicago Special Census Directory listed John Kralovec, brick builder, living at 400 South Canal. (B)

Kralovec described he was on the front line during the Chicago Fire of 1871.  Frank Stejskal had a saloon and inn at 398 S. Canal (listed 1870 Chicago Directory) and Kralovec helped get furniture and belongings from the building out and into the street.  He also tried to help save what people could from Thalia Hall.

1873 was a year of important change for John Kralovec.  On June 28, 1873, John Kralovec married Julia Kubin.  The marriage took place at Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Church on De Koven Street. (5)

Julia Kubin was born April 3, 1852 at Minsek #56, Straznad Nad Nezarkou, district of Jindrichuv Hradec. (6)

Julia’s parents were married in Minsek on July 12, 1849.  Martin listed as age 27, and Antoine at age 18. (7)

The Kubin family arrived from Bremen to Baltimore on November 30, 1867, aboard the ship Industrie: Martin 45, Antoine 36, Julia 15, Maria 9, Mora 7 (Otto) and Victoria 1. (8)

Three daughters, and the son, of Martin and Antonie Kubin would marry and remain in Chicago, leading interconnected lives.

Julia Kubin married John Kralovec who began in home construction, then ventured in real estate and was a founder and first president of the Bohemian Brewing Company.  Mary Kubin married John Geringer.  In the 1880 Census, the John Kralovec and John Geringer families lived only a few houses from each other.  (9) John Geringer had business dealings with John Kralovec and was the brother of August Geringer.  John Kralovec built a home for August Geringer, which also seems to have served as the first address for the Czech newspaper Svornost.  Victoria Kubin married Charles Vopicka, destined to become a USA diplomat to Serbia, Romania, and Bulgaria. But Charles was also in business in Chicago and had dealings with John Kralovec , August Geringer and Otto Kubin.  Otto Kubin and Charles Vopicka were partners in a notary and immigration service.  Otto Kubin was in real estate and along with John Kralovec and Charles Vopicka, founded the Bohemian Brewing Company, which was renamed the Atlas Brewing Company.  John Geringer was one of the first shareholders in the company.  Julia Kubin Kralovec, Victoria Kubin Vopicka, Otto Kubin and their spouses, are buried in Bohemian National Cemetery in Chicago. Mary Kubin Geringer, and husband John, are buried in Saint Adalbert Catholic Cemetery in Niles, Illinois.

The same year, according to the 1928 Kalendar article, John Kralovec joined with John Waska to create, perhaps, the first Czech construction company.  It seems that Canal Street would be home to their first buildings.  The Chicagu Vestnik was mentioned as carrying the announcement. Their first project was for Mr. Frank Weinfoldt (1875 Chicago Directory, listed as grocer at 491 S. Canal), building for him a smokehouse.  A marriage of a Czech woman to a German (Mr. Weiser) led to another building (1875 Chicago Directory listed as a shoe maker at 485 S. Canal).  Along with the 1908 Duch Casu article, Kralovec and Waska built for Vaclav Kaspar (1875 Directory lists 62 South Canal), and Mr. Pribyl on La Salle (1875 Directory lists Pribyl, wine sales, 454 S. La Salle) and the first building used for the publication of August Geringer’s Svornost at 463 South Canal (this was also listed as August Geringer’s home address).

Kralovec and Waska did not work together too long.  After Waska left, Kralovec returned to work for John and C.C. Busse and Edwin Sturtevant Brick Manufacturers on 126 S. Dearborn, who were building brick homes during this time.

Brother Martin (James Martin Kralovec used in USA records) reached Chicago in 1874.  James, while working for the architect, Fred W. Wolf and Company, learned of a factory building which would soon be built in South Chicago.  John Kralovec would build in South Chicago for the Robert Aitchison Perforated Metal Company. (10)

Fred W. Wolf and John Kralovec would have dealings years later.  By 1883, Fred W. Wolf had acquired the rights to the Linde Ice Making Machine, an invention from Germany.  Fred Wolf and his firm would build ice making machines into the factories, buildings, and storage facilities for companies across the United States.  One of the company specialties was working with brewing companies.  In 1892 the Bohemian Brewing Company was expanding and they too made us of Fred Wolf's designers to complete an addition for them.  Fred W. Wolf and Company soon became Fred Wolf and Linde Company.  (11)