CENTRE LINES

The Vonada Family

This column is part of a feature series which focuses on a different Centre County family each week. Five new columns will be released each month unless some technical difficulty enters the picture.

This column's focus is on Vonada. An effort has been made to identify all persons carrying that name in the 1890 U.S. Census, using the Centre County business directory which was formed from a preliminary review of that census before the larger set of 1890 U.S. Census records was destroyed by fire. (Sadly, the postal directory does not typically provide the ages of females, but it's the best record we've got).

One book in the Pennsylvania Room of the Centre County Library in Bellefonte apparently deals with the Vonada family. It is: Nora Taylor's, Evelyn McMillion's and Sandra Tremain's Von Nuett, Von Neida, Von Nida, Vonada: from Germany to America (1995).

There are several different first-name entries for Vonada in John Blair Linn's History of Centre and Clinton County (1883). In addition, there are many references to the name in Beers' Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania (1898).

And, now, your ancestors' VONADA neighbors in 1890:

In GREGG Township:

George, 29, farmer--Madisonburg Edith S. Lola Bessie V. Harvey, 44, farmer--Spring Mills Annetta Mamie W. Minnie Susan A. Emma F. John W. 1 Israel, 56, laborer--Spring Mills Susanna

In HAINES Township:

Abraham D., 36--Woodward Catharine--Woodward George, 70, farmer--Woodward Harriet Freddie 22 Ira--Poe Mills Emanuel J. 35 Louisa Charles 12 Mary Jeremiah, 60, retired--Woodward Hannah Harry Clayton 13 Kate Ida Cleveland 5 Lydia--Woodward James 33 Sarah Bessie Susan--Woodward Guy 12 Thomas E., retired--Woodward May

In MARION Towsnhip:

Benjamin F., 40, farmer--Walker Alice J. William H. 16 Edwin E. 12 Katie M. Lucy V. Franklin J., 31, farmer--Walker Justice J., 22, farmer--Walker

In MILES Township:

Adam H., 39--Madisonburg Sarah J. Annie M. Katie I. Mabel M. Anna--Rebersburg Henry, 33--Madisonburg Sarah Frank P. 11 Henry H. 9 Sallie P. Emanuel C. 4

In PENN Township:

Andrew J., 32, manufacturer--Spring Mills Maggie F. John 9 Robert F., 37, clerk--Coburn Emma J. Boyd W. 9 Mabel Alma S. William W., 32, farmer--Coburn Erie S. Sumner W. Mabel E. Milton C. 9 Sarah Minnie

In POTTER Township:

Calvin J., 19--Centre Hill Anna M.

In WALKER Township:

Adam, 71, retired--Zion Lucy A. David, 63, farmer--Zion Catharine Mary A. Elias, 58, farmer--Zion Catharine J. Eve--Zion William C., 31, farmer--Zion Alice I. Arthur A. 3 Paul A. 2 Mary