James Bellak

{{Short description|Bohemian-American musician}} {{Infobox person | name = James Bellak | birth_date = {{Birth date|1813|03|01}} | birth_place = Prague, Bohemia | death_date = {{Death date and age|1891|09|01|1813|03|01}} | death_place = Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.<ref name=NewYorkClipper>{{cite book |date=1892 |author=The New York Clipper |title=The New York Clipper Annual |url=http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/digital/collections/cul/texts/ldpd_5655288_004/pages/ldpd_5655288_004_00000037.html |location=New York |publisher=Frank Queen Pub. Co. |access-date=March 17, 2021 |via=Columbia University Libraries}}</ref> | alma_mater = Charles University | spouse = Nina Bellak<ref name=AlfredBellakObit/> | occupation = Musician }}

'''James Bellak''' (March 1, 1813 – September 1, 1891) was a Bohemian-American musician and instrument manufacturer active in Philadelphia during the nineteenth century.

Bellak was born in Prague and educated at the former Jesuit College.<ref name=JamesBellakObit> {{cite magazine |date=September 9, 1891 |title=Two Prominent Men Gone |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zMcxAQAAMAAJ&pg=284 |magazine=Musical Courier |volume=23 |issue=603 |page=284 |access-date=March 17, 2021}}</ref> He was involved in calico manufacturing until political unrest caused him to immigrate to the United States in 1846.<ref name=JamesBellakObit /> Bellak began teaching music in Philadelphia and in 1854 began manufacturing pianos and organs.<ref name=JamesBellakObit /> Bellak himself served as organist at St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, St. John's Roman Catholic Church, and the Church of the Holy Trinity.<ref name=JamesBellakObit /> He composed music and was active in his business until a couple years before his death.<ref name=JamesBellakObit />

Bellak's youngest son, Alfred, died suddenly on February 11, 1891, after developing inflammatory rheumatism the previous November.<ref name=AlfredBellakObit>{{cite magazine |date=February 18, 1891 |title=Alfred Bellak |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5EM-JU237UAC&pg=PA166 |magazine=Musical Courier |volume=22 |issue=574 |page=166 |access-date=March 17, 2021}}</ref> James Bellak and his wife were both already in poor health. Mr. Bellak died on September 1; he was survived by his two eldest sons, Leopold and Charles, and his two daughters, Bertha and Betty.<ref name=JamesBellakObit /> His widow did not long survive him, dying on October 7, 1891.<ref name=NinaBellakObituary> {{cite magazine |date=October 14, 1891 |title=Obituary |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zMcxAQAAMAAJ&pg=434 |magazine=Musical Courier |volume=23 |issue=608 |page=434 |access-date=March 17, 2021}}</ref>

James Bellak was a Freemason (Rising Star Lodge No. 126 and Columbia Mark Lodge No. 91 in the Scottish Rite), an Odd Fellow (Herman Lodge No. 7, I.O.O.F.), and a member of the Union League.<ref name=JamesBellakObit /> His estate, including the piano and organ business bequeathed to his sons, was valued at $200,000 to the surprise of the Philadelphia music community, which had imagined him to be even wealthier.<ref name=BellakWill>{{cite magazine |date=September 30, 1891 |title=Bellak's Will |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zMcxAQAAMAAJ&pg=376 |magazine=Musical Courier |volume=23 |issue=603 |page=376 |access-date=March 17, 2021}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[https://www.organ-biography.info/index.php?id=Bellak_James_1814 James Bellak], ''Biographical Dictionary of the Organ'' *[https://imslp.org/wiki/Category:Bellak,_James Works by James Bellak] at International Music Score Library Project

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bellak, James}} Category:1813 births Category:1891 deaths Category:Emigrants from the Austrian Empire to the United States Category:American Freemasons Category:19th-century American musicians Category:Charles University alumni