BIO: Adam H. VONADA, Centre County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JO Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/1picts/commbios/comm-bios.htm _____________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898. _____________________________________________________________________ ADAM H. VONADA, a prosperous agriculturist of Brush Valley, residing near Madisonburg, Centre county, is an industrious, progressive citizen, whose success has been won by 468 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. methods which have gained him the sincere respect of his community. The Vonada family is too well known in this section to need an introduction to our readers. The first of this branch of the family to leave the ancestral home in Germany was Philip Vonada, our subject's great-grandfather, who settled in Union county at an early day. Henry Vonada, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Berks county, Penn., and accompanied his parents to Union county, where he grew to manhood. He was married in Centre county to Miss Catherine Wallerbyer, a native of Lebanon county, Penn., and settled in Penn's Valley, Centre county, in the woods, with not even a log cabin to shelter them at first, their household good being unloaded beneath a large tree. These truly primitive arrangements did not last long, however, and in due time the place was cleared and transformed into an excellent farm. These worthy pioneers reared a family of six children: John, David, Philip, Henry, Adam and Catherine, none of whom are now living except Adam, the father of our subject. John died in Illinois; Catherine, who married John Hoss, died in Centre county. Adam Vonada, now a highly esteemed resident of Zion, Centre county, was born in Haines township, that county, February 17, 1819, and in early manhood learned the tailor's trade, which he followed until his marriage in 1844 to Miss Lucy Rabenolt. He then engaged in farming, in which he was unusually successful, acquiring a goodly competence. He was a man of note in his community, and has always been a stanch Democrat. With advancing years, the strain of his former labors has told upon his frame, rendering him quite feeble, but his estimable wife still enjoys good health, and is well preserved for one of her years. Their children were: Mary C., wife of Emanuel Garlrick, a farmer of Centre county; the twins, Adam H., our subject, and Benjamin F., a farmer near Jacksonville, Penn.; Harvey D., a farmer near Hublersburg, Penn.; Philip, an attorney, now deceased; and William, a farmer of Walker township, Centre county. Our subject's mother was born in Lehigh county, Penn., March 21, 1824, the daughter of Solomon and Mary (Ocher) Rabenolt, a farmer in the same county. Both parents were natives of Lehigh county, and they removed to this section some years after their marriage, the mother dying in Union county, and the father in Centre county. They had eight children: Mrs. Vonada, Jonathan, William, David, Solomon, Sarah (who married George Kaufman, a farmer of Centre county), Caroline and Christian. Of these but three are living - Mrs. Vonada, Caroline, widow of John Garthoff, residing in Coburn, Penn., and Christian, who lives in Kansas. The subject of our sketch was born August 30, 1850, in the Nittany Valley, at Zion, and remained at the old home until he attained his majority. He received a common-school education, and as the son of a busy farmer was plentifully supplied with work at all times, unless illness excused him. On leaving home he found employment as a farm hand. On September 10, 1875, he was married in Rebersburg, Penn., to Miss Sarah J. Roush, a native of Gregg township, Centre county, born September 3, 1852, and a daughter of Benjamin Roush. The first year of his married life was spent upon his father's farm, and he then removed to a farm in Sugar Valley, belonging to his father-in-law, where he remained until the spring of 1882. The next six years were spent in Gregg township, Centre county, on a place which was formerly occupied by John Hoy, and in the spring of 1888 he settled upon his present farm near Madisonburg, then known as the old Smeltzer farm. He has made many improvements upon the estate, especially in the buildings, and in 1892 he erected a new barn of modern style. Four children brighten his home: Anna M., Katy, Mabel M. and Ella. Another daughter, Ada, the fourth in order of birth, died in infancy. It is a matter of great regret to Mr. Vonada that he did not have better educational opportunities, and he has always been a strong advocate of better schools. While residing in Sugar Valley he served for some time as a school director. Politically his sympathies are with the Democratic party, but he is not such a narrow partisan as to surrender his individual judgment. At present he holds the office of overseer of the poor. He and his wife are prominent members of the Reformed Church, in which he was deacon for nine years, and is now an elder. He is also a leading worker in the Grange, and was a charter member of Madison Castle No. 360, at Madisonburg.