Bond, William

BOND, SMITH, BOYNTON, KEES, DECKER

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/27/2009 at 09:23:30

Bond, William

One of the best known and most highly respected men of a past generation in Mound Prairie township, Jasper county, was William M. Bond, who, after a life of usefulness and honor, having "fought the good fight" of St. Paul, the apostle, has closed his eyes on earthly scenes and become a part of that larger existence "beyond the utmost bounds of time," but his influence still lives. He took no small part in the work in transforming this locality from a wild prairie and the log cabin days to the present magnificent prosperity.

Mr. Bond was born in Schenectady County, New York, November 12, 1817. He is the son of Richard and Eva (Smith) Bond, natives of the state of New York, to which state the grandfather of the subject came from England before the Revolutionary War and there he married a German woman. In a very early day Richard Bond came to Wisconsin and there spent the rest of his life.

William Bond came to Wisconsin with his parents in 1840 and located in Jefferson County, and there the subject became the owner of eighty acres which he farmed many years. In 1866 he immigrated to Jasper County, Iowa, driving a team of oxen to an old fashioned wagon in which he brought his family. He bought sixty acres, later buying forty more, all in Mound Prairie Township. This he improved and became very well established through hard work and good management. In the early days he kept a large herd of feeding cattle on the open prairie. He erected all the buildings on his place and set out every tree on the same. He was an influential man in the community and took an active part in public affairs, being an ardent Republican. In religious matters he was a Spiritualist.

Mr. Bond was married on July 13, 1847, to Melissa Boynton, who was born March 30, 1826, in Canada. She is the daughter of James Boynton, an early settler in Wisconsin. This was the subject's second marriage, his first wife having died early. Mrs. Melissa Bond is still living on the homestead here, being now eighty-six years of age, but is well preserved for her age. Like her husband before her, she enjoys the friendship of a wide circle of acquaintances. The death of William Bond occurred on May 8, 1895.

Mr. Bond and his first wife were the parents of two children. Richard, now deceased, and Mrs. Sarah J. Kees. By his second wife three children were born, namely: Samuel W. lives in Santa Cruz, California, Harriet and Mrs. Ella May Decker. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 846.