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 62 BOND. BOND. of French blood flows in his veins, derived from Andrew Sigourney, one of the early French Huguenot settlers in Massachusetts. On the maternal side he is a descendant from John Howland, one of the Pilgrims who crossed the Atlantic in the historical " Mayflower." George Bond, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Boston in the same house which his life- long friends, Amos and Abbott Lawrence, afterwards occupied for business purposes. He began business as an auctioneer and commission merchant in company with Samuel Whitwell, under the firm title of Whitwell & Bond. The new house rose to remarkable distinction, being widely known in mercantile circles throughout this and other countries. George William Bond received his edu- cation in private schools until he had attained his tenth year. He then entered the Latin school. When his course in that school was nearly complete, he was sent to the school at Roundhill, Northampton, then kept by 1 >r. Joseph G. Cogswell and George Bancroft. There he remained two years. In 1827 he entered the store of Daniel Denny & Co., dry goods jobbers, Boston, and, in 1S32, was admitted to partnership in the house of Whitwell, Bond & Co. While in the former employ, he familiar- ized himself with the handling of wools. Similar opportunities presented themselves in his new place, and in connection with other houses succeeding them. In 1S47 he abandoned the dry goods business and commenced that of wool broker, a pursuit in which he is still occupied. In 1S74 Mr. Bond received the honorary degree of A. M. from Harvard College, " in recognition," as President Eliot remarked at the time, "of his public spirit, and of his thorough knowledge of the important industries of wool growing and wool manu- facturing." Mr. Bond is recognized as the first and standard authority on all practical questions relating to the wool business in the United States. Flis thorough knowledge of the subject led to his being consulted by the National Association of Wool Manufac- turers, in forming the tariff on wool in 1867. In 1869 Mr. Bond communicated to the National Association an elaborate paper in explanation of the system adopted by him in his classification of wool. This was published in the first volume of the " Bulle- tin " of that Association. A final report from .Mr. Bond on the standard samples of wool, addressed to the Hon. George S. Boutweil, secretary of the treasury, was, by his permission, published in volume iii. of the " Bulletin " of the association. Another most important paper was read by Mr. Bond before the Boston Society of Natural History, in 1887, on the " Origin of Merino Sheep." This appeared in volume vii. " Bulletin." Mr. Bond has held the posi- tion of chairman of the committee on sta- tistics in the above association. Mr. Bond was married in Boston, July n, 1S33, to Sophia Augusta, daughter of Henry K. and Maria R. (Craycroft) May. Mrs. Bond died in 1841, leaving three sons and one daughter: George, William Sturgis, Henry May and Sophia E. (now Sophia E. Wheelwright). George was in partnership with his father until 1871, when he removed to Philadelphia. Henry May and William Sturgis were graduated from Harvard Col- lege in 1859 and 1862, and joined the Union arm)-. Henry was wounded in the battle of the Wilderness, and subsequently by Mosby's guerillas. The latter wound proved fatal. William is now in partner- ship with his father. In 1843 Mr. Bond married Louisa C. Greenwood, of Boston, by whom he became the father of five children, none of whom are now living. BOND, Nelson Freeman, son of Benjamin and Arethusa (Bowen) Bond, w.is born in Ware, Hampshire county, January 9. 1839. Passing through the common schools and high school of Ware, he fitted for col- lege in Monson Academy, in 1858, '59 and '60. He entered Amherst College in i860, and left in October, 1861, entering the army, enlisting in company D of the 31st regiment, Massachusetts volunteers. He rose from a private through the various grades to that of captain and brevet- major. His military service was chiefly confined to Louisiana, Alabama, and Florida. Fie was wounded June 14, 1863, at the siege of Port Hudson, La., by a minie- ball through the right lung, and for a long time was not expected to survive. After the war, he engaged in raising cotton in Alabama, 1866 and '67, but re- turned North in the spring of 1868, on account of ill health. He entered the employ of J. dishing & Company, wholesale and retail flour and grain dealers, Fitchburg, in April, 1870. In June, 1S76, he formed a partnership, under the firm name of Bond, Baker & Co., grain dealers, Waltham. This part- nership continued three years. He was then clerk for six years for the parties who