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ITEM: George F. Pond biography
SOURCE: William G. Cutler, History
of the State of Nebraska, The Western Historical Company, A. T.
Andreas, Proprietor, Chicago, IL, 1882 http://www.ukans.edu/carrie/hok/bourbon/bourbon-co-p13.html
GEORGE F. POND
General agent of the Howe Sewing Machine Company, for Northern Kansas
and Southern Nebraska, P. O. Godfrey, George Pond first came to Kansas
in March, 1862, as a member of Company C, Third Wisconsin Volunteer Cavalry
[having enlisted in Fairwater, Wisconsin]. His regiment served all through
the war under Maj. Gen. Blunt in Kansas. After his discharge from the
army in March, 1865, Mr. Pond returned to Kansas and located on Drywood
Creek, near Fort Scott, where he resided one year, and was engaged in
the milling business with his brother. From here he removed to Lamar,
Barton Co., Mo., where he resided six years, and was engaged in farming.
From Missouri he returned to near Godfrey, Bourbon County, where he has
resided since. Mr. Pond and two of his brothers enlisted at Fairwater,
Fond du Lac Co., Wis., October, 1861, in the same Company C of the Third
Wisconsin Cavalry, and served until the close of the war. His eldest brother
entered the service as Second Lieutenant, and was mustered out as Major
of his regiment; his next eldest brother entered as a Sergeant and was
mustered out as Second Lieutenant of his company. Mr. Pond himself preferred
scouting duty to monotonous service of a soldier's life, which in a measure
accounts for his non-promotion. He has frequently carried dispatches in
company with one of his comrades from Fort Scott to Fort Gibson, without
any rations or forage except what could be carried on their horses. The
distance is 175 miles, and a trail went through the Indian Territory,
and the journey was frequently made in three nights and two days. He participated
in the battles of Montevallo, Honey Springs, Cain Hill, Lexington, Little
and Big Blue, the massacre of Baxter Springs and numerous other minor
engagements. Mr. Pond had the honor of capturing the notorious guerrilla,
Captain Fa. Price, a nephew of the rebel Maj. Gen. Price. On the night
of May 20, 1863, Mr. Pond in company with two of his comrades attacked
Capt. Henry Taylor, a noted bushwhacker, who had sixty men under his command,
and who was returning with nineteen Union prisoners captured by him in
Kansas, to Missouri, and who had stopped on his way to rob and plunder
the house of J. C. Ury, a famous Union scout. Mr. Ury and his father were
taken prisoners by the rebel band. Mr. Pond and his comrades succeeded
in stampeding the rebels, and in releasing all the prisoners taken by
them except the father of Mr. Ury, who was slain in cold blood. For his
daring deed Mr. Pond and his comrades, Elwin Weber, now a resident of
Laramie, Wyoming Territory, and O. H. Carpenter, now a resident of Jasper,
Mo., were publicly thanked in general orders issued by Gen. Charles W.
Blair, then commanding the Union forces in Kansas. Mr. Pond first met
Miss Ann Harrington, a native of Ohio, who subsequently became his wife,
at Lamar, Mo. During the war in pursuit of bushwhackers, the rebels proving
too strong for him and his comrades, they were forced to take to the woods
where Miss Harrington found Mr. Pond, and supplied him with provisions
while he lay concealed. He was married to her on December 24, 1865, at
Drywood, Mo. They have six children living--Clarissa J., Junia L., Franklin
W., Herbert G., Florence May and Eugene. Mr. Pond was in the State registering
office in Barton Co., Mo., in 1866 and 1877, Justice of the Peace of Richland
Township, Barton Co., Mo., for six years, or during the entire time he
resided in the State, and was elected to this office when only twenty-one
years old. He also was coroner of Barton Co., Mo., for four years. He
is at present, and has been for the past five years, a member of the Board
of School District, No. 80, Bourbon County, this State. He is a member
of the W. H. Lytle Post, No. 32, G.A.R., of Fort Scott and Godfrey Lodge,
No. 124, A., F. & A. M., and is at present W. M. of his lodge, and
has held the same office for the past five years. He is also assistant
lecturer of this fraternity for the State of Kansas. Mr. Pond was born
in the court house in Libertyville, Lake Co., Ill., October 5, 1844. His
parents removed when he was two years old to the Badger State, where he
resided until he entered the United States army.
George Pond was awarded the Medal of Honor 16 May 1899.
Citation: With 2 companions, attacked a greatly superior force of guerrillas,
routed them, and rescued several prisoners. Rank and organization: Private,
Company C, 3d Wisconsin Cavalry. Place and date: At Drywood, Kans., 15
May 1864. Entered service at. Fairwater, Fond du Lac County, Wis. Birth:
Lake County, Ill. Pond is buried at Fort Scott, KS. [http://members.tripod.com/~wisconsin2/honorlist.htm]
NOTES:
See also Third
Wisconsin Cavalry, Company C and Commemorating
Heroism, Missing Medals of Honor for additional information related
to George Pond.
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