CHARLES REED BOND
A
valuable farm of three hundred and sixty acres of excellent
land in Otter Creek township, Lucas county, gives testimony of
the industry and ability of Charles Reed Bond along
agricultural lines. The
family settled here about forty years ago, in 1872. Charles R. Bond was
born in Baltimore county, Maryland, March 25, 1854. His parents were
George T. and Margaret (Johnson) Bond, natives of Maryland,
who passed away in Otter Creek township, this county, the
former on February 14, 1884, and the latter on February 16,
1908. In their
family were seven children:
Charles Reed, of this review; William J., deceased;
Frank, also deceased; Ollie, who died in infancy; Ira, who
passed away on July 2, 1912; Mrs. Anna Arnold, deceased; and
Mrs. Ella Clore, a resident of Otter Creek township. The two eldest
children of this family were born in Maryland, the two next
following in Pennsylvania and the remainder in Mahaska county,
Iowa. The family
moved from Maryland to Pennsylvania in 1857 and remained there
until 1866, when they proceeded westward and made settlement
in Mahaska county, Iowa, on a farm where they remained until
1872, when they came to Otter Creek township, Lucas county,
the father engaging in farming and stock-raising. He was successful
in his efforts and as the years passed accumulated a
substantial competence.
Charles
R. Bond was reared under the parental roof and, making the
several removals with his family, came in 1872 to Lucas
county, where he has ever since resided with the exception of
two years which he spent in Clarke county. He attended school
in the various places where his parents resided and assisted
his father with the work of the farm, becoming thoroughly
acquainted with efficient methods of agriculture. As the years passed
he turned them to good account and by thrift and industry
became the owner of three hundred and sixty acres of highly
cultivated and productive land in Otter Creek township,
improved with a modern home, substantial outbuildings and
barns and furnished with all such equipment as is considered
indispensable by the up-to-date agriculturist. He has become one
of the substantial men of the agricultural community of Otter
Creek township, his labors not only being conducive to his own
prosperity but being a factor in the general agricultural
development of this region.
On
February 17, 1877, Mr. Bond was united in marriage to Miss
Celestine Bennett, who was born in Washington county, Iowa,
October 22, 1857. Her
parents, Thomas and Belinda (Conley) Bennett, were among the
early settlers in Iowa, coming here when this state was yet
under territorial rule.
The former was a native of Pennsylvania and the latter
of Ohio. Thomas
Bennett died in Oklahoma, at the age of ninety-four years, the
mother also passing away in that state, aged seventy-seven. Mr. and Mrs.
Bennett became the parents of twelve children: Joseph, deceased;
Jeremiah, a soldier in the Civil war who died while in
service; Joel, deceased; Mrs. Anna Morgan, a resident of
Missouri; William, who lives in Oklahoma; Mrs. Louise Dawson,
also of that state; Mrs. Betsey Chapman, of Kansas;
Christopher, of Oklahoma; Mrs. Bond, the wife of our subject;
Mrs. Bethiah Cumrine, of Kansas; Mrs. Ada Castor, of Oklahoma;
and Sarah, who was the second in order of birth and died in
infancy. All of
these children were natives of Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Charles R. Bond are the
parents of seven children, all natives of Otter Creek
township, where they were reared and grew to maturity. They are: Mrs. Luvernie
Harvey, born December 21, 1877, of Otter Creek township; Mrs.
Beulah Nelson, born May 2, 1880, of Chariton; Mrs. Maggie Anna
Taylor, born December 30, 1881, of Indianola, Iowa; Mrs.
Georgia Gladys Ashby, born May 8, 1888, of Jackson township;
Charles G., born November 3, 1891, residing on the home farm
and assisting his father in his work; Arthur, born May 22,
1894, also assisting in the operation of the farm; and
Gertrude, born October 18, 1896, at home. Mr. and Mrs. Bond
have seventeen grandchildren.
Politically Mr. Bond is a democrat, giving his stanch support to the measures and candidates of that organization. While his extensive farming operations have demanded most of his time, he recognizes the obligations of citizenship and has actively participated in public life as township trustee, in which capacity he has efficiently served for fifteen years, and also as school director, giving thereby evidence of his support in behalf of better educational opportunities. There is no man in this locality who is higher esteemed than Mr. Bond and justly so, for his success is well merited, as it is self-earned, and the qualities which have made possible his prosperity are worthy of the highest commendation.