Samuel William Pond

Background

He was born on April 10, 1808 in New Preston, Connecticut, United States, fifth child of Elnathan J. and Sarah (Hollister) Pond, and a descendant of Samuel Pond who came to Windsor, Connecticut, not later than 1642.

Education

After a brief elementary education he was apprenticed to a clothier, and later taught a local school.

Career

As a result of a revival he and his brother, Gideon Hollister, wholly inexperienced and without help from any mission board or church, entered the hitherto untouched mission field of the Dakota, or Sioux, Indians in May 1834, by way of Fort Snelling. They received assistance from the commandant and from the Indian agent, were assigned to an Indian settlement at Lake Calhoun, and in 1835 helped to establish a mission at Lake Harriet.

Even before reaching Fort Snelling they had begun the study of the Dakota language, for which there was neither grammar nor dictionary. Throughout much of the remainder of their lives the study of this difficult tongue was a major concern with them. Before the end of the first year they had evolved an alphabet, begun work on a grammar, and collected many words. As other missionaries came during the next few years, the alphabet was generally adopted and the grammar and dictionary accepted and improved. Samuel accompanied the Indians on long hunts, plowed for them, and associated with them on intimate terms in order to gain mastery of the language.

Returning to Connecticut, he studied privately and on March 4, 1837, was ordained missionary to the Sioux Indians by the Litchfield South Association of Congregational Ministers, Connecticut. The following October he received an appointment from the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. In 1839 he published, with his brother's revision, The History of Joseph, in the Language of the Dakota or Sioux Indians, a translation of the story in Genesis. Soon afterwards hostilities reopened between the Sioux and the Chippewa, and the Indians to whom Pond ministered left their home and settled eventually at Oak Grove on the lower Minnesota River. After a brief residence near Fort Snelling, therefore, the brothers joined the Indians at Oak Grove. In 1844 appeared Samuel's Dakota Wiwangapi Wowapi: Catechism in the Dakotah or Sioux Language.

In 1847 he established a mission at Shakopee, which place he called Prairieville. This remained his station till the Sioux, having sold their lands in 1851, removed in 1853, and it was his residence from that time until his death. Meantime, the American Board had published Dakota Dowanpi Kin: Hymns in the Dakota or Sioux Language (1842), largely his work, though his name does not appear on the title page. In 1852 "Grammar and Dictionary of the Dakota Language, " edited by S. R. Riggs, was issued. Though this publication does not bear Pond's name, its inception and much of its copiousness and accuracy were due to him.

After the Indians left Prairieville, Pond remained as pastor to the incoming white settlers. In 1866 he also relinquished this charge. The remainder of his life was devoted largely to his studies. He wrote "The Dakotas or Sioux in Minnesota as They Were in 1834".

His death occurred at Shakopee, Minnesota.

Achievements

• Samuel William Pond was one of the earliest missionary among the Sioux in Minnesota. He published a spelling book, the first work ever printed in the Dakota language. He was also the author of "Indian Warfare in Minnesota" and other verse collected in Legends of the Dakotas and Other Selections from the Poetical Works of Rev. Samuel Pond. He made contributions to The Dakota Friend, and a study of the Septuagint by him appeared in the Herald and Presbyter (Cincinnati).

Works

More photos

• book

  • Indian Warfare in Minnesota (French Edition)

    (Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We h...)

Personality

He was over six feet in height, strong, and genial, seemed the child of a king.

Connections

He was married in 1838 to Cordelia Eggleston of the Lake Harriet mission. His first wife died in February 1852, and that same year he married a former schoolmate, Rebecca Smith. By his first wife he had four children.

Father:

Elnathan J. Pond

Mother:

Sarah (Hollister) Pond

Spouse:

Cordelia Eggleston

Spouse:

Rebecca Smith

Brother:

Gideon Hollister Pond