Sedlacek Family History: 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.