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PAST AND PRESENT OF THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD AND SANGAMON COUNTY ILLINOIS
By Joseph Wallace, M. A.
of the Springfield Bar
The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, IL
1904



MRS. M. J. POND - Mrs. M. J. Pond, who resides at No. 1112 South Sixth street in Springfield, is a native of Fairfield county, Ohio, and since 1881 has made her home in Springfield. She had an uncle, the Rev. S. S. Wilson, a Presbyterian minister living at Pleasant Plains, Illinois, and it was his wish that she come to the capital of Illinois. Two years later Rev. Wilson closed his earthly career. He had charge of the Pleasant Plains church, that he and his brother, minister, Rev. Ayers, built, but was called away to the higher sphere of action from the Christian duties to which he had been so faithful in this life. His death was a sad blow to Mrs. Pond, to his children, to the fellowship of the church and, indeed, to all who knew him.

Mrs. Pond is the only daughter of William and Margaret (Elder) Ewing, who were among the best known people of Lancaster, Fairfield county, Ohio. The Ewing family located in that county in pioneer times, and the name is widely known in the state because of the active connection of its representatives with affairs bearing upon public progress. William, who was born on the 4th of April, 1809, during his active business career, was largely engaged in stock raising. He owned two fine farms and was a wealthy and public spirited citizen who contributed of his means to the general good, and at the same time provided handsomely for his family. His wife died September 4, 1869, and left to her children the heritage of a noble example. At her death the comfortable home was broken up and her husband afterward traveled to a considerable extent, engaging part of the time in stock business in Kansas. In 1881 he joined his daughter, and with her spent his declining years in peace and quietness. Coming to Springfield he here remained, receiving the care which is required in advanced life. As a young man he affiliated with the Democracy, and supported Polk for the presidency, but he afterward regretted this act because of the change in his political views. He then became an ardent Whit, and subsequently a stanch Republican. He passed away on the 10th of December, 1889, at the very advanced age of eighty-one years. There were in him many characteristics that awaken regard and respect, and wherever he lived he won friends who entertained for him high esteem. Unto him and his wife were born three sons and a daughter, and the sons have all attained to prominence. Thomas Ewing, known by all as Colonel Ewing, was married to Miss Isabel Doyle, who was of English and French extraction, a lady of innate culture and refinement. They have an attractive home in California, where Mr. Ewing is extensively engaged in mining enterprises. William E. Ewing, the second of the family, is unmarried, and is identified with his brother Thomas in business. James P. Ewing, at one time a resident of California, is now deceased.

Mrs. Pond, the other member of the family, is now living in retirement in Springfield. Like the others of the household, she was born in Lancaster, Ohio, and obtained her preliminary education in the schools of that place. Subsequently she became a student in the Lithopolis Presbyterian Seminary, and after arriving at early womanhood, she gave her hand in marriage to S. B. Pond, a dry goods merchant of Winchester, Ohio. He came of a prominent and influential family well known in both political and business circles. He had three brothers, Elihu, Ashley and Jared, all older than himself, and the last named was killed in the Civil war. All were highly educated men of strong intellectuality, and Ashley Pond now stands at the head of the legal profession in Detroit, Michigan.

Mr. and Mrs. Pond became the parents of a daughter, Jessie Statira Ewing Pond, who was educated in the Young Ladies Atheneum in Jacksonville, Illinois, where she was graduated at the age of fifteen years on the completion of a classical course which included the studies of Latin, German and French. She was then sent to New York, where she pursued a course in music under Professor Brooks at Rutgers College. She afterward studied French and music under Professor Ritter at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York, for one year, and later was married, but while living in Denver, Colorado, she was taken ill with typhoid fever and died on the 16th of October, 1890. The sad news reached her mother in Springfield, and Mrs. Pond arrived just before she died. Her remains were brought back to this city and laid to rest in Oak Ridge cemetery. She left two bright and interesting children, Thomas Ewing Pond and Charles Pond Joy, both of whom are now attending the Springfield high school. Mrs. Pond has reared these children from infancy, and is surrounding them with good Christian training as well as providing them with excellent educational privileges that will fit them for life's practical and responsible duties.

Mrs. Pond was called upon to mourn the loss of her husband shortly after their marriage, his remains being interred in Greenlawn cemetery of Columbus, Ohio. There have been sad chapters in the life history of Mrs. Pond, but there has also been much sunshine and happiness, and her own genial nature has enabled her to cast around her much of the sunshine of life. She joined the Presbyterian church in her girlhood, and has been one of the active members of the First Presbyterian Church of this city. She is also a member of the Foreign Missionary Society, and has been one of its active workers, as was her daughter. She is also connected with the Grateful Daughters Home for old ladies in Springfield. She lives in one of the attractive homes in the southern part of the city at No. 1112 South Sixth Street.



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