Emma Vondra 1891- 1982

Emma Vondra, 9 years old

Emma Vondra was born in the sod home on the Vondra farm in Eden Township, Hyde County, South Dakota on March 19, 1891. Emma remained with her family her whole life. Her family later moved to Union Township, by Rice Lake, so that they would have access to water. They had a home built of wood there.

Emma attended country school, probably through eighth grade, as did her siblings. After her mother's death, Emma did much of the cooking and running of the Vondra home. She was an excellent cook and baker. She baked kolache and buchty, Bohemian pastries.

Emma was the last member of her family on the farm, having outlived her parents and brothers. When the home place was sold after her brother John's death in 1962, Emma had a home built in Highmore, South Dakota and moved to town.

After Emma moved to town, she continued to host holiday meals for her family. She never drove, and didn't have a car. She depended on her sisters and other family to drive her shopping and to other needs. She had a large dining room table, probably from the family home, set up in her clean garage. She was accustomed to cooking for a large family and her holiday meals included several types of food. She often had 4 types of meat, including a goose or duck, as was the custom at home. She usually had ham. The one dish that her family often had was homemade pickled pigs feet. The feet and hocks were cooked with spices and then cooled. The meat was cut from the bone, placed in a cake pan and covered with the juice the meat was cooked in. This was cooled. When it was cool and jelled, the fat was scraped from the top. The meat was served with vinegar poured over the top.

The local area where the Vondra lived in Union Township, was known as Ziegler, after a local doctor. The Ziegler post office was in the Vondra home and Emma served as the postmistress for a while. She resigned her position and her sister Anna took over that position for a period of time.

Emma, Josie, Anna Vondra, back, Helen Barbara Vondra in the front

1905 Census card, Emma Vondra

Emma Vondra, Olga Mencl, Agnes Vondra, back row, Will Vondra, front

1915 Census Card, Emma Vondra

1935 Census Card, Emma Vondra

1945 Census Card, Emma Vondra

William Vondra

William Vondra, March 17, 1889 to November 11, 1947

Will was born in the sod home in Eden County, South Dakota. Will, as I always heard his sisters refer to him, was the 9th child born to Marie and John Vondra. He seemed to be favored by his sisters. He liked to be well dressed. 

Will, as was true of all of his brothers, never married. He lived his whole life on his parent's homestead in Hyde County, South Dakota.

The obituary says the he was known as Bill. That may be true, but I always heard his sisters refer to him as Will.

There was damage to the newspaper that had Will's obituary. The right side towards the top shows the affect to Will's obituary, with the the next page of the paper showing.

1905 census -- 16 years old

1915 Census -- 26 year old

 1935 census--45 year old

1945 Census -- 55 years old

World War I Draft card

Frank Vondra 1886 - 1929

Frank Joe Vondra was born on July 4, 1885 in the Vondra sod home in Eden County, South Dakota.  Frank had a twin brother who was deceased at birth. The twin was buried on the prairie outside the sod home. The twins were the first children born to John and Marie after they came to America.

Frank attended country school and according to the record, received a common education. Many people of this time went to school through 8th grade.

Frank, like all of his brothers, never married. He worked on the farm and drilled water wells in the state of South Dakota. He drilled the well that served the city of Highmore, South Dakota for many decades.

1905 Census

1915 Census