The Barta Homestead

Pete Barta (b. 6/29/1876, d. 12/1/1957) (1910 Census line 74) (1920 Census line 62) established his blacksmith shop in Oak Forest in 19xx just south of the community power plant on what is known today as County Road 143. The house, now worn with the ages of time and vacancy, sits a few yards East of the old shop.

Many a traveler would stop by for a casual chat or to have their horses shod. His skills were varied in the ways of a smithy of his time so there was always a constant stream of people coming and going.  The smithy was a major focal point within the life of the community.

Today, the old homestead and the smithy sit in ruin but powerful memories abound as one walks around the area.

Pete (b. 6/29/1876, d. 12/1/1957) and his first wife, Anna (b. 10/1/1881, d. 5/3/1936), raised four daughters, (Lillie, Rosa, Adella  & Vlastia), and one son, Stanislov, on the Barta Homestead.  Anna later died.  It is believed that all of the children of his first marriage are also deceased.

Years later, in 19xx, after Pete put a mail-order bride advertisement in a local Czech newspaper Pete married Frances Farmacka who was living in Banquete, TX at that time.  Even though Pete and Frances didn't have any children of their own, they and the Barta Homestead continued to be the center point of the family until Pete died in 1957. 

Frances then moved to Kingsville, TX.  Later she resided in the Blue Bonnet nursing home in Granger, TX until her death on Jan 23, 1987 at the age of 103.  She is buried in the Granger, TX Holly Cross cemetery.

Editors note: As more information becomes available about the area and the people, this article will be expanded.  If you have any information about the area and the people, please send it to Webmaster.