Bond

On July 14th, 1856, two groups boys were either swimming or fishing in Clear Creak.  Those fishing shouted to those swimming, “Help! Help! Will Richison is drowning!”  Twelve year old, John Bond immediately joined the fishing group.  “Where is he?” he shouted.  The boys pointed to where they had last seen him.  John immediately directed the boys to make a chain into the water as far as they could.  When Will surfaced again, John dived in.  He caught Will by the hair of his head and with the help of his chain of friends, brought him ashore.  They revived him by pressing on his back.   (Pg. 78)  Sound like a modern day Scout Rescue?  I’m sure Will Richison would agree with you!  John Bond lived to reach the Valley and became a writer.  After breaking his right arm he learned to write with his left rather than terminate his love for writing.  One of the things that he wrote was a very detailed narrative of the Martin Handcart Company and the Hunt Wagon Train from their arrival in the Iowa City Campground to their entrance into the Valley.  (Pg. 329) (Author’s note:  Many details of The Miracles of the Martin Handcart Company, came from John’s writings.)  His father, William Bond, in addition to being a tailor became a sheep farmer, a teacher, a post office attendant, a bookkeeper and a Justice of the Peace.  His mother became an herb doctor and doctored those in and around Heneferville where they moved in 1864.

John Bond and his family actually were a part of the Hodgett Company  which often camped near the Martin Company, John knew a great deal about them.  Because of this intimate knowledge of the Martin Company his comments are included in the book.