Biographical Sketch of

Levi E. Pond

Transcribed by Sandra Boudrou for the Marquette Co WI Pages


Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 795 - 796 - 797 


Capt. Levi E. Pond, State Senator from the 27th District of Wisconsin, makes his home in Westfield, Marquette 
County.  He is descended from one of the earliest families of New England.  The original progenitor of the 
American branch is Samuel Pond, who came to this country in the early part of the seventeenth century, though 
the exact date is not known.  It is recorded, however, that he was married in Windsor, Conn., Nov. 11, 1642, 
and died March 14, 1654.  The grandfather of out subject was Phineas Pond, who was born in May 1758, and 
married Rhoda Wood, who was born in 1764.  He served his country during the Revolutionary War, gallantly 
defending the cause of freedom during that entire struggle.  He died in April, 1856, at the age of eighty 
eight years.

The father of Capt. Pond, William W. Pond, was the fourth son of the above named gentleman and was born in 
Vermont, Nov. 30, 1795.  On the 24th of October, 1822, he married Elvira D. Forbes and they became parents 
of six children all of which were born in the State of New York.  They are Lydia, William, Simeon, Levi E. 
Esther M., and _____(?)William W. Pond died in 1868 aged sixty seven years.  Elvira D., Jan. 1, 1884, at 
the advanced age of eighty-seven years, and Esther M. died March 19, 1864, at the age of twenty-eight years.  
The other members of the family are still living [February, 1890].

The subject of this sketch was born in Addison, Steuben Co., N. Y., March 8, 1833.  His education consisted 
of what the common schools afforded, in a new country, in those days, and a partial academic course of 
instruction at Union Academy, in Tioga County, Pa.  The latter he secured by hard work on a farm summers 
and teaching school winters, so he could go to the academy the fall terms.  Capt. Pond, with his parents, 
and sisters, Esther M. and Similde, came to Wisconsin in 1857 and settled on a farm in Marquette County, 
in which county he has continued to reside the greater part of the time since leaving the place of his 
nativity.  He was reared to the occupation of farming and followed that avocation in this State, summers 
and teaching school winters until the breaking out of the rebellion.

The guns that re-echoed through the Nation from Ft. Sumter, were to Capt. Pond a call to duty, and on 
May 22, 1861, he enlisted in Company F 7th Wisconsin Infantry, which regiment became a part of the famous 
Iron Brigade that was composed of the 2nd, 6th and 7th Wisconsin regiments, the 19th Indiana and the 24th 
Michigan.  He was elected First Sergeant of Company E, on its organization, and on March 10, 1862, was 
commissioned Second Lieutenant, with rank from the 20th of January, previous.  He participated in nearly 
all the engagements in which the famous brigade took part, including Gainesville, second battle of Bull 
run, South Mountain, Antietam, Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg, Petersburg and others.  He was always 
ready to share with the men under his command the hardships and dangers incident to war.  When entering 
the engagements at Antietam, he took the gun of a Confederate sharpshooter who had been wounded and used 
it at the right front of his company in the hottest of the battle.  His enthusiasm and untiring devotion 
to the cause of his country and his gallantry on the field of battle won the admiration of his superior 
officers and the affectionate regard of all his comrades.  On Feb. 27, 1863, he was commissioned Captain, 
with the rank from Dec. 22, 1862.  At Gettysburg, Capt. Pond identified his name with that of a contest 
which is numbered with the great and decisive battles of the world, of ancient and modern times.  His 
company distinguished itself throughout that terrible battle.  As Capt. Pond was leading his men in a 
charge, he received a bullet in his right breast.  When he fell, dismay at once became apparent in the 
ranks of his company, but his rallying cry, "Press on boys, never mind me," inspired them with renewed 
courage and they continued the charge with exasperated fury to avenge the supposed death of their gallant 
and be loved leader.  Though severely wounded and shattered in health his desire was so great to continue 
in the service until the close of the war, that in less than two months he was again at the head of his 
command.  He would not take the advice of his friends and resign as long as he could march.  In the campaign 
from the Wilderness to Petersburg, when he was unable to keep up with his command on foot, he was voluntarily 
assisted on the march by Cols. Finnicum and Richardson of his regiment with their private horses.  On the 18th 
of June, 1864, while leading two companies in the charge in front of Petersburg, he received two gun-shot 
wounds which resulted in ending his active service in the War of the Rebellion.

Capt. Pond was taken to the hospital in Annapolis, Md., where he remained until the latter part of August, when 
by the assistance of his wife and two comrades he was removed to his home, weak and exhausted from wounds and 
disease.  During his confinement in the hospital at Annapolis, his faithful wife was by his side administering 
to his wants, laboring with a woman's love and devotion to bring him back from what seemed the brink of death.  
For many months after his return but little hope was entertained by his physician and friends of his recovery, 
but his rugged constitution and the kind care of loving hands prevailed, and he was enabled again to engage in 
active business although he has not been able to resume the duties of farm life.

In 1867, Capt. Pond engaged in the mercantile business in Oshkosh, but in 1870, was a victim of a disastrous 
fire in which he suffered the loss of nearly all of his entire stock.  He then represented several business 
firms as traveling salesman for a number of years, in which work he was very successful, but his health not 
being equal to the labor required in that business, he abandoned it.  In 1876, he returned from Oshkosh to 
his old home in Marquette County, and engaged in the real estate and insurance business and in aiding his 
comrades to secure their just dues from the Government.  He takes an active interest in the prosperity of 
the community in which he lives and is a zealous and efficient worker in the G. A. R., and in all the matters 
pertaining to the welfare of the veterans who went forth to do battle for the preservation of the Government.  
In 1886 Capt. Pond was elected State Senator for the 27th District, comprising the co unties of Adams, Columbia 
and Marquette, receiving a majority over his opponent of 1,344 votes, which was more than double the majority 
received by his predecessor.  His own county, which has always been strongly Democratic, gave him 366 majority, 
which clearly indicates his personal popularity where he is best known.  During the session of the Legislature 
of 1887, he was a member of three important committees--on military affairs, claims, and that of fish and game.  
He introduced Senate  bill, No. 24, chapter 48, laws of 1887, which provides for the erection of monuments in 
honor of Wisconsin soldiers who fought and fell on the battle field of Gettysburg.  On Feb. 17, 1887, Senator 
Pond made an effective speech in the interests of the bill in which he paid a deserved tribute to the bravery 
of Wisconsin soldiers and portrayed the justice and propriety of such memorials to their courage and sacrifices 
on that renowned field. 

In the session of the legislature of 1889, he was a member of the committee on "Public Lands," and chairman on 
Committee on "Charitable and Penal Institutions."  He introduced many meritorious measures during that session, 
several of which were enacted into laws.  Among those that did not pass was one known as Senate Bill, No. 120:  
"To provide for a Soldiers' Memorial Hall, and making a contingent appropriation therefor."  When it came up for 
consideration, Senators Pond, H. A. Cooper, W. S. Maine and William Kennedy supported it by able and eloquent 
speeches and it passed the Senate by a vote of 19 to 7 but it was killed in the Assembly in the rush and confusion 
of the closing hours of the session.  All measures tending to promote the best interests of the veterans of the 
War of the rebellion received his cordial support.  Surely the old soldiers of Wisconsin owe to the Senator a debt 
of gratitude for his constant and untiring labors in their behalf.  While a member of the Senate, he attended 
strictly to the interests of his constituents, ably and consistently favoring all measures for the good of the 
people, and as ably and persistently opposing the schemes for private profit at the expense of the people.

Capt. Pond was married Feb. 29, 1864, to Miss. Czarina O. Richards, who was born in Tioga County, Pa., Sept. 29, 
1833.  Their union has been blessed with three children--Esther, who was born Dec. 12, 1865, and died on the 3rd 
of January, following; Flora Maria, born May 30, 1867, died April 20, 1868; and Levi Earl, their only surviving 
child, was born Aug. 29,. 1871.  Mrs. Pond and son Earl accompanied the Captain to Gettysburg in June, 1888, to 
view the famous battle field and witness the dedication of the monument to the soldiers of Wisconsin.  The son, 
on that occasion, took a photograph of the building where his father was first placed after being wounded, also 
of the house where Gen. Lucius Fairchild laid after his arm was amputated, and of the residence of the "Hero of 
Gettysburg," John Burns, the citizen of Gettysburg, who joined the ranks of the 7th Wisconsin and fought bravely 
for his home and country until he fell, severely wounded.

On the 1st of March, 1890, Capt. Pond resigned the office of State Senator to accept the U. S. Pension Agency 
at Milwaukee, to which he was appointed by President Harrison, Feb. 21, 1890.  The importance and responsibility 
of that position will be seen from the fact that this agency distributes the Nation's grateful remembrances, in 
pensions, to about 28,000 disabled veterans and the widows and dependent heirs of deceased soldiers at the rate 
of nearly $6,000.000 per annum.  Wisconsin, Minnesota, North and South Dakota are included in this Pension district.

The record here given is but a brief and imperfect one of one of Wisconsin's esteemed and honored sons.  As a 
citizen and legislator, he has the respect and confidence of all.  As a soldier he did his duty well, and none 
fought more bravely than he, in support of our National unity and integrity, and the "inalienable rights of mankind."







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