PHILIP VONDRAN
This representative farmer of Mustang township, Oklahoma county, is a native of
Struth, Prussia, Germany, where he was born January 29, 1842, and passed sixteen years of his life. His
father, Jacob Vondran, spent his entire life in Germany, and after his death the family decided to come to the United States. The widowed mother, Mrs. Mary Anna
(PECK) Vondran, with her two sons, and three daughters sailed to New Orleans, and after making that long and wearisome voyage they proceeded up the Mississippi river to
Sinsinawa, Grant county, Wis., where they resided for several years.
For three years after reaching Wisconsin Philip Vondran worked at whatever he could find to do, and attended school at intervals, in order to acquaint himself with the peculiarities of the English language. In 1860 he left home and went to Rabb's Barns, Ark., where he obtained a position as teacher of the German language, but the outbreak of the Civil war effectual put an end to educational work in that locality. He remained there, however, until the spring of 1863 when he went to Nebraska, and later to Missouri. Searching for any kind of employment whereby he might make his living honestly, at length he became a bookkeeper in a brewery at St. Joseph, Mo., and held the position three years. He then returned to Nebraska with the small capital which he had accumulated by strict economy, and investing the amount in a farm, proceeded to cultivate the place. He met with success in his enterprise and provided well for his family.
In March 1890, Mr. Vondran came to Oklahoma and bought the farm on the southwest quarter of section 15, Mustang township, which he now owns, paying $550 to the original claimant. He makes a specialty of raising horses and cattle, and as the climate is not very severe, finds that he can use his wheat-fields as pasture land during the winter season. At present he has large numbers of excellent horses and has no difficulty in finding a market for them when he chooses to sell. A thrifty orchard and vineyard nearby provide many varieties of fruit and, with the industry and watchfulness of his race, the proprietor of the farm attends to every detail, sparing no reasonable amount of labor and capital in its general improvement.
In 1870 the marriage of Mr. Vondran and Miss Caroline WALTER took place in Nebraska. She is a native of France, but was only a year old when she was brought to this country by her parents. Eight children born
to our subject and wife lived to maturity, namely: Joseph, Benedict, Albert,
Philomena, Lucy, Dora, Martha and Anna. The two elder sons are now engaged in earning their own livelihood, and
Philomena, the eldest daughter, is the wife of Joseph MAJARUS, a farmer of this county.
Mr. Vondran adheres to the faith of the Roman Catholic Church, and was very influential in the building of a fine house of worship in this community, also assisting in organizing a school here, of which he is a director. He is popular in his neighborhood, and was honored by being made one of the trustees of the township, in which capacity he has served four years. In political affairs he is independent, voting as he happens to see fit, regardless of party.