The Bond Families of Jasper County, Iowa

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, 1 81 7. 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 wath his parents in 1840 and located in Jefferson county, and there the subject became the owner of eight acres which he farmer many years. In 1866 he emigrated 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.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

RICHARD E. BOND.

When he games over his broad acres of well cultivated land Richard E. Bond, a progressive young farmer of Mound Prairie township, is justified in feeling that he has achieved the acme of his ambition, when in early life he became imbued with the ambition to some day take front rank among the leading agriculturists of his locality.

Mr. Bond was born in Wisconsin, March 15, 1873. He is the son of Richard Bond, Sr., and Frances (Bartholomew) Bond, the father born in the state of New York in 1838 and the mother in Wisconsin. The father devoted his life to farming and when two years old he came to Jefferson county, Wisconsin, with his parents, William and Eva (Smith) Bond. The father of. the subject grew up in Wisconsin and there engaged in farming for a number of years on rented land. During the Civil war he served in the Union army. In 1875 he brought his family to Mound Prairie township, Jasper county, where he homesteaded a farm, also rented land and here became Wery comfortably established. The death of his wife occurred in 1882 and in 1888 he moved to Nebraska, and at the town of Scotia he ran a store. His death occurred in 1906.

To Richard Bond, Sr., and wife the following children were born: William A.; Richard E., of this sketch; Edward, Mrs. EHza Gilbert, Mrs. Harriet Etta Baker, Mrs. Mary Jane Lytle, Fred, Lottie and Phoebe are all deceased.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

A modern business man, prominent in all circles, of Reasnor, Jasper county, is Reece Bond, who seems to have inherited something of the Bond characteristics of energy, integrity and praiseworthy traits in general, and he is a genial, kind-hearted young fellow who can claim hosts of friends, especially in his home town of Reasnor.

Mr. Bond was born in Monroe, Iowa, December 6, 1878, and he is the son of S. A. and Lydia J. (Anderson) Bond, natives of Ohio. His parents were married in Iowa, whither they had immigrated in their youth, and at the time of their marriage the father was a farmer. Later he engaged in the grocery business at Monroe, of which city he was a pioneer merchant, and was successfully engaged in business there over ten years. Within one year of his death he sold out on account of ill health, his death having occurred on May 3, 1886, at the early age of forty years. He was a well known man and public spirited citizen of fine attributes. In politics he was a RepubHcan. His wife died at Monroe, Iowa, on December 6, 1909, at the age of sixty-one years.

Reece Bond is a member of a family of six children,, one of whom, Carl, died when sixteen years of age; those living, besides the subject, are, Mrs. Minnie Crum, wife of W. S. Crum, a farmer living near Altoona, Iowa; Madge Miller, wife of W. F. Miller, a general manager for the Southern Pacific railroad, at Marshfield, Oregon; Mrs. "Milly" Custer is the wife of Charles Custer, a merchant at Monroe. Iowa; Grace married W. H. Roman, a farmer who resides near Monroe, Iowa.

Reece Bond, the youngest child in his family, obtained a good education in the home schools, and he began working for himself when seventeen years of age as clerk in a clothing house, where he remained for five years, giving his employers the utmost satisfaction by his aptitude to learn the business and his courtesy to the trade. Then he moved to Jasper county and began farming, which he followed successfully for a period of eight years, then, in 1908, he accepted a position in the general store of Fred Roberts, in Reasnor, Mr. Bond being general manager, which position he held with much credit to himself and to the satisfaction of Mr. Roberts until 1909, when the store was purchased by F. J. Cofifee, with whom Mr. Bond still remains, although he lives upon his farm near Reasnor. He has an excellent place, which he has kept well improved and on which stand a comfortable and attractive residence and good outbuildings.

On November 17, 1899, Mr. Bond was married to Nellie D. Sipe, the daughter of James and Clara (Solomon) Sipe, both natives of Ohio. She has no natural brothers or sisters, but one half brother. Charles Sipe, of Pella, Iowa. Her father was killed in a runaway accident near Reasnor, Iowa, in September, 1888. Her mother, Mrs. J. B. Wheeler, resides in Newton.

To Mr. and Mrs. Bond have been born three children, all of whom are living, namely: Carl, born October 15, 1902; Helen, born October 5, 1904; [name withheld], born November 13, 1910,. are all at home, the two eldest being in school,

Mr. Bond is well known in the vicinity of Reasnor and over the county and his reputation is without a stain. Fraternally, he is a member of Fairview Lodge No. 197, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at Monroe, also of the Woodmen of the World at Reasnor. He has held a number of township offices and he was recently a candidate for the office of trustee of Palo Alto township, losing by but a small margin. He was formerly a director of the local telephone company and he is a man who is active and influential in all public affairs.

Mrs. Bond is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Reasnor. and she takes an active part in both church and Sunday school work. She was born on the farm upon which they now reside.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.