Lt. James Pond, Alto native, editor
of the Markesan Journal, 
and Medal of Honor winner with
the Third Wisconsin Cavalry (courtesy Kevin Dier-Zimmel)

SEPTEMBER 16: James Pond's personal writings, biographical materials, and source information have been gathered together on a James Pond page. Additional transcriptions include Pond's introduction to Eceentricities of Genius, his editorials for the Markesan Journal, obituaries, and a letter from Mark Twain to William Deal Howells.

SEPTEMBER 12: Additional biographies have been added to the Markesan Area Biographies page, including John Card, George Friday, Elias Grout, Gard and Town Miller, Edgar Smith, Samuel Staples, and James Welch.

SEPTEMBER 11: Mackford Township land patents maps have been added to the Mackford and Markesan pages along with an alphabetical index of patent holders. In addition, a biographical page for Arthur Mathews, Markesan-born American impressionist artist, and examples of his work have been added to the Markesan site.

SEPTEMBER 7: A short history of the Civil War death of Markesan veteran, Osgood Learned, and the subsequent uncertainty about his burial location, resolved only in 1999, has been added to the Markesan page. Additional area biographies have also been added to the Markesan Area Biographies.

IN PROGRESS
JAMES B. POND. The colorful history of James B. Pond, eldest son of one of the pioneer families in the town of Alto is being researched by Kevin Dier-Zimmel of Beaver Dam. Son of an ardent abolitionist, Pond served with John Brown in Kansas prior to the Civil War. In 1860, he became the editor of the Markesan Journal, a Republican paper, in which capacity he recruited for Co. C of the 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry, eventually signing 17 men from the Fairwater area late in 1861. He was subsequently awarded the Medal of Honor for his service with the 3rd. Following the war, Pond became one of the leading agents for lecture talent in the country, counting Mark Twain, P. T. Barnum, Henry Ward Beecher, and George Washington Cable among his clients.

CENSUS RECORDS. Volunteers blessed with good eyesight and patience are needed to contribute to the ongoing project to complete the transcription of county census records. While copies of the original census pages are available on microfilm through the State Historical Society of Wisconsin and on CD through Digital Antiquities,  making them available and searchable on the Web requires that they be transcribed to electronic text.