Pond, Norman W. 1854-1930

POND, NELSON, WILLIAMS, DUNLAP, SMITH, BELLOWS

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 3/18/2012 at 11:42:34

The Grinnell (IA) Herald; Oct. 10, 1930

BROUGHT HOME FOR BURIAL
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Funeral Services For N.W. Pond, Who Died At Woodward, Ia., Are Held Here Today.
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MASONIC RITES ARE CONDUCTED AT THE GRAVE.
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Mr. Pond Grew To Manhood Here--For Years He was Employed In Header Works.
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The body of Norman W. Pond, former Grinnell boy and man, was brought back to his old home town today for burial from Woodward, where he passed away Wednesday. Funeral services were conducted from the Methodist church at 2 o'clock this afternoon by the pastor, Rev. A.B. Cadwell. Mr. Pond all his life was an active Mason and Masonic services were conducted at the grave in Hazelwood cemetery by the Grinnell lodge. A Commandery Escort from the Triluminar Lodge of Oskaloosa, of which Mr. Pond was a member for many years attended the services. Mr. Pond was also a member of the Kaaba Shrine in Davenport.

Mr. Pond was born Oct. 30, 1854, in Tippecanoe county, Indiana. He would have been seventy six years old of he had lived until his next birthday. When he was a boy he came with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John R. Pond to the then little town of Grinnell, where he spent his boyhood. He attended school here and used to do odd jobs for Dr. Holyoke and worked on the farms around town.

In his early manhood he married Eva Nelson who died in 1882, leaving two small sons. In 1884 he married again Mrs. Flora Williams, who will be remembered by old time residents as Flora Dunlap, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William F. Dunlap. Mr. Dunlap was a shoe maker in early Grinnell and the family home stood on the lot now occupied by the Masonic Temple. Mrs. Pond was badly injured in the cyclone and was on crutches for months. Four people were killed in the house where she was when the storm struck.

During his active life in Grinnell Mr. Pond worked for Craver, Steele and Austin in the header works. He was an expert and ingenious mechanic and his family cherishes samples of his workmanship, among them a tiny set of tools and a shotgun, complete in every detail but only twelve inches long.

In 1889 the family moved to Oskaloosa, which was to be their home until four years ago. Mr. Pond had his own shop there and lived a prosperous and contented life until failing health caused his removal to a sanitarium at Woodward where his last months were spent. Mrs. Pond was with him until a year ago last August when she went to Omaha to make her home with her daughter, Mrs. Al Smith. Both were summoned when he underwent the stroke of paralysis which caused his death, were with him when he passed away, and came to Grinnell for the funeral services.

Mr. Pond is survived by his devoted wife, his step-daughter, Mrs. Smith and a step-brother Albert E. Bellows, of Hot Springs, S.D., also by his two sons by his first marriage, Harry of Cairo, Neb., and Albert, of Flint, Mich.

Mr. Pond joined the Masonic lodge in Grinnell in '82 and has been a faithful and devoted Mason ever since. He was devoted to his family. His life was centered in his home, his lodge and his church. He had been a member of the Methodist church in Oskaloosa ever since moving there. He was a quiet man, honest, industrious and respected and will be missed in all the circles where he was known.