AN ADDRESS DELIVERED AT THE SECOND ANNUAL REUNION OF THE BOND FAMILY, BY ITS PRESIDENT, H.S. BOND, AT TURNER, OREGON, SUNDAY, AUGUST 21, 1938.
Uncle William Bond suffered a great and tragic loss, when near the end of his trek to the Oregon country. On August 24th, while encamped in the Blue Mountains, his wife, who was my mother’s sister, presented to him a little baby girl whom they named Emma. On Thursday, September 15th, the mother of that little girl said goodbye to her loved ones, and two days later was tenderly laid to rest somewhere on the eastern slope of old Mt. Hood, there to sleep until the resurrection morn. The caravan moved on to its destination, the Willamette Valley. Uncle William, with a heavy heart but with an undaunted spirit, faced the duties and responsibilities of life in the new land. The little babe, Emma, was cared for by her grandmother Hayes. At nine years of age she died from scarlet fever. The boys, Seth, James, Ebenezer became members of my father’s and mother’s family until after awhile Uncle William brought to them another good mother, Mrs. Cuma Star. That union was blessed with a daughter, Irene, who is still living. I had the privilege of visiting her a few years ago. I think she was one of the sweetest ladies I have ever known, a very sweet singer. At our urgent request she sat at her organ and sang for us and old time hymn which deeply touched our hearts.
In their young manhood, Seth, James, and Ebeneezer migrated to California, where Seth for many years taught in the public schools of that state. James after rearing a family, studied medicine, graduated from a San Francisco medical college and became a very successful physician. At the time of his death, he was the proprietor of a sanitarium. Ebeneezer remained a farmer. It was my privilege to visit him not very long before his death. He was a grand old man, a sincere and devoted Christian. The descendents of William Bond have contributed much to human welfare by their labors in the religious and professional world.