The Eighth Tribe, 1979 (6. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1979-07-01 / 7. szám
Page 8 THE EIGHTH TRIBE July, 1979 János (John) M. Bartay founder of the oldest Hungarian Family in Texas Recently we received a letter from Gary Kent Bartay (fourth generation) from Texas. In the letter he talked about his family, about his great-grandfather, who came to the United States and settled in Texas in 1858. We felt that it was a worthwhile bit of information and our readers will be very interested in the article. We planned to have a page with some pictures. But as we delved deeper, more and more information came to light. We realized that we have stumbled upon a most interesting story, not only about the Bartay family, but a period of life in Hungary in the nineteenth century. The most valuable item concerned the Hungarian National Anthem “Hymnusz”. We have a copy of the composer’s (Ferenc Erkel) original manuscript and a story by Erkel, as he relates the happening behind the birth of a national hymn. So now, instead of one page, there are many pages, carrying over a few issues. Our deepest thanks to Gary Kent Bartay for bringing this to our attention.—ed. The following is an entry published in the book “History of Burleson County, Texas” by the Burleson County Historical Society, Caldwell, Texas. “The forebearers of Eldridge Woodrow Bartay coming to Texas were his great grandfather Endre (András) Andreas Bartay II von Bártfa and his grandfather János Bartay who left Hungary in 1849. This old family of Hungarian nobility owned large estates and vineyards where the present world-famous Tokay wines are produced. Endre (András) Andreas Bartay II von Bártfa was born in Széplak, Abaúj County, Hungary on April 7, 1799, and died in Mainz, Germany on October 4, 1854. He composed ballets, the Coronation Mass for Ferdinand V, grand operas, oratorios, piano music, pieces for the Mass, and string orchestra music. He was the founder and first director of the National Theatre in Budapest, Hungary from 1838 until 1844. In 1844, he devised and promoted the competition for the Hungarian National Anthem and adopted Ferenc Erkel’s music composition. Mr. Bartay later adopted a poem of Ferenc Kölcsey, combining the two elements in 1845 to create the presentday Hungarian National Anthem. Mr. Bartay and his wife Catherine (Katalin) Bauer, who was born in 1794, and their son János, who was a Lieutenant in the Hungarian army in the war against Austria and Russia in 1848-1849, were preparing to journey to Texas when Mr. Bartay died. She died in Budapest on November 14, 1857. János, born in Budapest on March 21, 1828, arrived in Dallas, Texas in 1858, where he established a hoot and shoe manufacturing plant and bought a ranch. He married Katharina/ Katalin Hügel there on September 15, 1859. She was born in Lörrach, Baden, Germany on November 20, 1835, and died in New Wehdem, Austin County, Texas on February 2, 1870. The family also owned land near Cameron, Texas. In 1866, the family moved to New Wehdem. Children of this marriage were; John, Augustus/Gusztáv, Bernhard/Benjamin, Henry and Emma. János Bartay married again after his first wife Katalin died in 1870. His second wife was Lena Rothermel whom he married in Bellville, Austin County, Texas on June 22, 1871. She was born in Katharine B. M. Hügel Bartay Henry Bartay János (John) Bartay Isabel Coufal Bartay
