BIO: Thomas E. VONADA, Centre County, PA

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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.
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  THOMAS E. VONADA, whose entire life has been passed in Centre county, 
now makes his home in Haines township, one-half mile northeast of 
Woodward. The first of the family in this country came here a long time 
ago, and at first settled under a large hemlock tree in what is now 
Haines township, later by hard labor clearing land, and raising stock. 
The old family was a very good-natured class of people, honest and 
honorable in all their dealings, and prospered well.
  Henry Vonada, father of our subject, was born near that place, and 
acquired his education in the Vonada school. At an early age, however, 
he left school, and began work upon the home farm, operating that place 
for several years. On starting out in life for himself he had 270 

422  COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.  

acres, to which he added from time to time until at his death, in 1887, 
he had about 660 acres of land, which he left to his children. He was 
an industrious, energetic man, devoting his entire time and attention 
to the cultivation and improvement of his farm, whereon he erected a 
comfortable residence and substantial outbuildings. Politically he was 
an earnest Democrat, and religiously was a consistent member of the 
Reformed Church, to which his wife also belonged.
  In 1852 Henry Vonada wedded Miss Mary Rishel, and they became the 
parents of five children, namely: Louisa C., born in 1853, is the wife 
of E. J. Vonada, living near Coburn, Centre county; F. Pierce, born in 
1855, is an engineer of Coburn; Andrew J., born in 1857, married Maggie 
Rote, and is proprietor of a planning-mill in Coburn; Thomas E. is next 
in order of birth; and Susan, born in 1862, is the wife of Emanuel 
Eungard, a farmer of Penn's Cave, Centre county.
  Thomas E. Vonada, our subject, was born on the old homestead in 
Haines township, September 1, 1859, and during his boyhood he attended 
the Vonada school, while later he was a student in the schools of 
Woodward until twenty-one years of age. He operated the home farm on 
shares for about five years, and then worked at general labor near 
Woodward for a few years, after which he purchased seven acres of land 
on which he still resides, and some timber land.
  On November 23, 1891, Mr. Vonada married Miss Almeda, the youngest 
daughter of Philip and Mary (Undergobler) Vonada, and they have two 
children: Florence May, born June 14, 1892; and Tammie R., born March 
18, 1895. Mr. Vonada takes an active interest in the success of the 
Democratic party, which he always supports by his ballot, and is 
recognized as one of the representative and influential citizens of the 
community, with whose interests he has ever been prominently 
identified.