Source: Portrait & Biographical Album of Whiteside County, IL
Originally published 1885 Chapman Bros., Chicago, IL

Transcribed by: Becky Jones

Pages 536-537

Stephen Pond, resident on section 31, Genesee Township, was born in Rutland Co., Vt., July 11, 1808. His father, Stephen Pond, Sr., was born in Berkshire Co., Mass. The earliest ancestor from his descent is clearly traced to Samuel Pond, who was married Nov. 14, 1643, at Windsor, Conn., to a lady of whom there is no trace save her given name of Sarah. This era in his existence gives tangibility to several suppositions regarding the founding of the Pond family in America, as there are traditions of two or three brothers who came hither in the time of Governor Winthrop, of Massachusetts, and who were of tender years and under the supervision of Winthrop, who kept their father in England informed concerning their welfare. Samuel, the second son of him last named, was born March 4, 1648, at Windsor, Conn., and is recorded as Samuel Pond, Jr. His second son, Philip, was the father of Dan Pond, the father of Abel Pond. The latter was the grandfather of Mr. Pond of this sketch, who is a member of the eighth generation. Stephen Pond, senior, married Elizabeth Streator. She was born March 27, 1785, in Becket, Mass., and died in Rutland Co., Vt., Dec. 22, 1810. Her family settled in New England prior to the Revolution, and seven of her brothers were in the Colonial service. Abel Pond and six of his brothers were soldiers of the Revolution.

Mr. Pond is the second of ten children born to his father, and is the youngest child of his mother, who died when he was between two and three years of age. His father married again and eight children were born of the second marriage. Mr. Pond remained under the care of his father and stepmother until he was 14 years of age. On leaving home he went to Lansingburg, in the vicinity of the city of Troy, N. Y., and he engaged soon after as a farm assistant in the neighborhood of that place. Later, he went to Windham, Portage Co., Ohio, and worked on the farm of his uncle, Jason Streator, remaining in his employ three years. He was then about 17 years of age, and he went thence to Erie Co., Pa., and began to learn the trade of a tailor. His next removal was to Nelson, in Portage Co., Ohio, where he completed his knowledge of his trade under the instructions of a craftsman named Oren Smith. He went back East and passed two years in Western Vermont and Eastern New York, operating as a journeyman tailor, after which he returned to Windham, Ohio, and he there established his business independently, and controlled a shop about five years. He concluded to turn his attention to agriculture, and he bought a farm in Huron Co., Ohio, on which he resided about ten years. In 1853 he turned his face Westward and decided to locate in Whiteside County. He bought 160 acres of land on section 31, Genesee Township, which was all unbroken prairie at the time at which he made it his homestead. He entered with all possible vigor into the work of improvement, which he prosecuted until the spring of 1864, when, after three years of war, there was need of men for immediate service. He enlisted in Co. A, 140th Ill. Regt., to serve 100 days in lieu of veteran troops who were needed where experience was indispensable. Company A was detailed for garrison duty in Tennessee and Missouri. Mr. Pond was discharged Oct. 29, 1864, after a service of 160 days. He returned to his farm, on which he has since pursued his vocation of farmer and which now contains 80 acres.

Mr. Pond was united in marriage to Abiah Bristol, May 2, 1833, in Windham, Ohio. She died May 2, 1848, in New London, Huron Co., Ohio. She was the daughter of a Connecticut farmer, and was herself born in that State, of New England ancestry. Her parents removed to Ohio, in the year preceding her marriage. She became the mother of three children, one of whom has followed her to the land of peace and silence. Elizabeth is the wife of Charles Birdsall, of Lyndon Township. Henry D. married Margaret Fleming and resides in Genesee Township (see sketch). Helen M. was born March 12, 1838, and died Sept. 11, 1856, aged nearly 19 years. Mr. Pond was again married Jan. 25, 1851, in Wayne, Knox Co., Ohio, to Phebe A. Lindsley. She was born May 11, 1819, in the place where she was married, and died March 3, 1873, in Genesee Township. Three of her children are with her in the mystic country of the hereafter. Grace C., the remaining child, married E. C. Hannawalt. Hattie and Stephen died in early childhood. The third wife of Mr. Pond is the sister of her predecessor, and her name is Elizabeth (Beers) Lindsley, and her parents were bon in New Jersey, of ancestors of mixed English and German descent and New England origin. She was born Jan. 27, 1833, in the township of Wayne, Knox Co., Ohio. She was there married to J.W. Wilson, by whom she became the mother of eight children, of whom four are not living. Amanda is deceased. Antha married Charles Chamberlain, a dentist in Lanark, Ill. Mary E. is deceased. Francis married Emma Baker and resides in Grundy Co., Iowa. Patience is the wife of Levi Thorp, a farmer in Genesee Township. Mortimer and Albert are deceased. Emma lives with her mother. Mr. Wilson died at Kansas City, Mo.

Mr. Pond is a Republican in political sentiment.