My Genealogy Hound

LEWIS J. POND, one of the early settlers on the Prairie Dog creek, in Harlan county, was born in Hudson, Summit county, Ohio, March 1, 1853. His father, Julius Pond, at one time an extensive farmer, was born in Summit county, Ohio, in 1827, and died there in 1870. The mother of Lewis J. was Sarah (Scott) Pond, a native of Ohio State, born in 1822. She came West in 1872, after the death of her husband, and settled on a homestead on Prairie Dog creek, where she still lives on a farm adjoining that of her son. The paternal grandfather, Preston Pond, was a native of Connecticut and a pioneer in that state. Lewis J. Pond lived in Summit county, Ohio, till August, 1871, attending school in early life and laboring on his father’s farm. The death of his father and the attending circumstances of the family made necessary a change in the management of affairs, and it was thought best that the family seek a new home in the then far West. He accordingly set out, in August of 1871, on a tour of inspection through the West with a view of looking up a location for the family. After looking over different sections of the state, he decided on the present location on Prairie Dog creek, and February of the following year wrote for his mother and the rest of the family. His mother, on arriving, filed claim on the northeast quarter of section 34, township 1, range 18 west. At this early day there were but few actual settlers south of the Republican river in Harlan county, there being a few squatters, who left the following year. Wild game — buffalo, elk, deer and antelope and thousands of wild turkey — swarmed over the country and presented a wild effect indeed. On July 4, of that year, the main herd of buffalo came in sight, and the prairie, as far as the eye could see, was literally black with them. Buffalo frequently strolled through the same fields in which he was at work. The first house constructed and occupied by the family was a log cabin 14 by 18 feet in dimensions. The first few years the Pawnee, Otoe and Omaha Indians camped for weeks at a time along the creek near their cabin while on hunting expeditions, and on account of their begging and stealing they were a great source of annoyance. The nearest trading point the first year was at Grand Island, and later at Lowell, and he was able to earn some money the first few years freighting goods across the country from these two points. Crops for the first six or seven years were practically a failure on account of the grasshoppers and severe drought, and the family saw some pretty hard times.

Lewis J. Pond pre-empted a quarter section across the state line in Phillips county, Kans., in 1873, and bought his present place, consisting of two hundred and forty acres of fine land, in 1880. There were one hundred and twenty-five acres broken when he bought it, but aside from this there was little improvement. He now has his farm well improved with good frame buildings, and he deals to a considerable extent in cattle and hogs. He was married in November, 1874, to Miss Fannie Snider, a most estimable lady, who was born in Milwaukee county, Wis., in 1857. Five children have blessed this happy union, namely — Winfield C., Raymond R., Lottie, Atwood, and one that died in infancy. Politically, Mr. Pond is a strong adherent to the principles of the republican party, and has held various offices in his township. Considering the extreme youth of Mr. Pond when he settled in Harlan county, and the many disadvantages under which he was compelled to struggle, he is certainly deserving of great credit for the success he has achieved since coming to Nebraska.