This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: BATLA, BACAK Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.texas.counties.bell/2186.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Thank you very much for responding to my post on the Batla family! Wow, that was posted in 2005! I have information on Frances Slovacek, who married Joseph W. Batla, Sr. on 31 Oct 1893 in Fayette County, TX; having children Joseph Jr and Louise. The parents of Frances appear to have been Stephan and Mary Slovacek. My primary interest in Joseph W. Batla, Sr. and his wife Frances, is because a family verbal recollection says that my Great Grandmother Anna [Batla] Bacak was the half sister to this Joseph, Sr. I have been trying to find additional information to attempt to sort out who Anna's mother was. It is believed that Anna Batla was born in 1868 in Jablunka, Moravia. (Near the village of Vsetin.) She could have been the eldest (known) child; Joseph Batla being next. I could speculate that Anna was born of her father's first wife who perhaps died in Moravia. Though I'd like to confirm it, it also seems that Anna and Joseph's father (Johann Batla) was then married to Anna Hlubik. Johann and Anna [Hlubik] came to the US in 1870: Arrived 2 Jun 1870, from Bremen to Galveston. Family 6080 Ship Galveston Date 6/2/1870 Destination Texas Port of Departure Bremen Date departed blank Family Last name Batla Origin Bohemia Name Age Sex Occupation Johann 35 Farmer Anna 32 n/a Johann 10 M n/a Josef 7 M n/a Carl 5 M n/a Paul 1 M DIED EN ROUTE Total people: 6 According to census Anna [Batla-Bacak] came to the US in 1879, which implies that she could theoretically have come over with another relative. (She married Frantisek Bacak on 28 Oct 1884 in Fayetteville,TX, and died from pneumonia on 1 May 1903 in Elk, McLennan County, TX. If you can be of any assistance in shedding some more light on the matter of Joseph and Anna Batla's parents, I'd be most appreciative! You are welcome to email me directly: martin1019@cox.net Sincerely, Richard