The Vacek Family

Arranged by Karlin Lojo

Born during the Austrian Empire, Frank Vacek stowed away on a ship heading to America at the age of 14. After making a life for himself and his family, Frank met Albina Lednicky. Today their family shares their love and the life they built for their growing family.

Their Story

The following biographical account was given by family members and friends and arranged by the Czech Center Museum Houston.

Frank and Albina Vacek

Frank Vacek
Frank Vacek was born in Cermne at Lanskroun in the Austrian Empire of Europe on October 10, 1876, one of 13 children born to Vincenc Vacek and Aloisie Dvorak Vacek. In 1890, with all the turmoil going on in the Austrian Empire, 14 years old Frank Vacek and a friend decided to go to America. Without telling anyone, they headed west to France, pretending to be carpenters in search of work. From France, they stowed away on a ship heading for New York City. When they were discovered as stowaways, the ship was too far out to return to shore, so they were put to work on the ship to pay their passage. From New York's Ellis Island, they caught a steamer and wound up in Galveston. (Ship records at Galveston were lost in the 1900 flood).

After reaching Ammannsville, he wrote to his parents to let them know where he was and was doing o.k. Apparently his parents were quiet wealthy and came to America shortly after in 1893. On their arrival, Frank started to shake his father's hand. Instead of shaking hands, his father knocked him to the ground, on his butt. After getting up and dusting himself off, his father told him "that was for leaving home and not telling us where you were going." Both then shook hands, hugged and he welcomed his parents to America. When his parents immigrated to the United States, 10 of the children came with them, the oldest daughter Otillia decided to stay in Europe. The youngest daughter Agnes was born in Taiton, Texas. Frank and his family lived in Ammannsville, Texas, which is where Frank met his future wife, Albina Lednicky. (The above account was told to Larry Vacek by his father Frank Vacek). 

Albina Lednicky
Albina Lednicky was born in Ammannsville on April 24, 1883 to Frantisek and Terezia Spacek Lednicky. She was one of six children, John, Francis, Frank, Johana, Albina and Albin. As per their marriage certificate, Frank Vacek of Tayton Texas and Albina Lednicky of Ammannsville, Texas were married at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Ammannsville, Texas on November, 06, 1906 by Rev. J.W. Horacek.

Their children were Angeline, George, Marie, who died of diphtheria at 6 years of age, Vince, Albina, Louise, Frank, Valentine and Pete. Grandpa Frank did not speak English. He enjoyed sitting on the back porch swing smoking his pipe, swatting flies with a home fly swatter and singing Czech songs. He also tried to teach his first granddaughter to read Czech. Grandma Albina spoke mostly Czech. She always wore long skirts and an apron, using the apron to gather eggs into. She had a garden which her boys helped her with. Her hair was white, which she wore in a bun at her neck. 

Frank died on November 29, 1962 and Albina died on February 04, 1966. Both are buried at St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery, Needville, Texas.

 Vojt and Olga (Vacek) Stavinoha

Vojt Stavinoha was born on May 22, 1882 in Ammannsville, Texas, to Josef and Anna (Adamcik) Stavinoha. He was one of eleven children, Olga Vacek's parents were Louis and Frances (Barta) Vacek and she was one of 17 children, several who died in infancy. Olga was born on April 10, 1885, also in Ammannsville, 

In 1909, the Stavinoha family, which now included 3 small children (Evan, Mary, and Mary's twin, Joseph) moved, with all their possessions aboard a buggy, to Fort Bend County, to the small farming community of Minanith, which later became Fairchilds, Texas. In those days there were no roads or fields, just prairies and cow trails. They had to break their own grounds for farming, living in a chicken house until they could build a two room house. For two years they rented a place, then bought 117 acres of land which had to be broken up for farming.

The family grew to include nine children, including an infant son, Joseph, who died at 3 months of age. The children were ivan, Mary, Joseph, Lad, Alphonse, Vojt Jr., Viola, Arnold and Eleanor. Their son Arnold was killed on Mar 24, 1944 in a plane crash between India and China in World War II. He is buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri. 

While living at Fairchilds, Mr. Stavinoha served as Precinct Officer for the elections for 20 years; was president of the Fairchilds Hall for 25 years; president of the Farmer's Gin for 11 years, and an appraiser for the RVOS for 29 year. 

Vojt Stavinoha died Nov. 25, 1962 and Olga died on April 2, 1968. Both are buried at West Gethsemane Catholic Cemetery in Rosenberg, Texas. 

Most of this information was obtained from the Rosenberg Herald newspaper regarding their 50th wedding celebration.

 Evan and Angeline (Vacek) Stavinoha

Evan Stavinoha was born in Ammannsville, Texas on January 7, 1908 to Vojt and Olga (Vacek) Stavinoha. He was baptized St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Ammannsville. Angeline was born in Taiton Texas on Sept 28, 1907 to Frank and Albina (Lednicky) Vacek. In 1909, Evan moved with his family to the Fairchilds community. Angeline's family moved from the Taiton area when she was about 6 years old.

 Several of their children also attended Concord School, but got to school on the school bus. Evan recalls going back to Ammannsville during the year to spend time with his cousins. One of the things Evan remembers doing as a youngster was sliding off the roof of the barn into the cow pen. This was one of the same things his own children did, especially when he wasn't home. The dented tin on the barn roof was evidence. 

Angeline remembers attending dances at the Fairchilds Dance Hall. Evan got an accordion when he was 17, his brother Lad played a clarinet, brother Alphonse had a banjo and Angeline's brother George, played the trumpet. Several of their cousins also played instruments so they played the music for house dances. Different families would take turns hosting the dance and the boys would provide the music. Evan and Angeline got to know each other at the house dances. 

Evan and Angeline were married at 10 am on Wednesday, October 16, 1929 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Needville, Texas by Fr. John Kalas. Evan's younger sister, Eleanor (Ernest), was flower girl and bridemaids were Angeline's sister Albina (Fishbeck) and friends, Annie DeShazo, Agnes Saha, Bessie Vacek, and Gabrella Cernosek. Evan's brother Lad, was best man. Their wedding reception was held at the bride's home and they danced in the living room till 4 am. A goose was baked and a hog was butchered for the reception. The wedding cake was made with cornbread.

After their marriage, Evan and Angeline lived with his parents for 6 months while their house was being built on Stavinoha/Vacek Road. They farmed cotton, corn, maize, had a huge vegetable and flower garden, raised cattle, chickens, geese, hogs, and peacocks.  

Evan & Angeline lived on the farm until about 1993-94, when they moved to Rosenberg. Evan enjoyed tending to his chickens, working in his small garden and making pipe chimes. Angeline was in poor health and died at age 86 on July 14, 1994. Evan celebrated his 90th birthday in January, died on Apr 21, 1998. They were married 65 years.

Both are buried at Davis Greenlawn Cemetery in Rosenberg.