Shakopee in Scott County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Samuel William Pond
Photographed by McGhiever, February 3, 2024
1. Samuel William Pond Marker
Samuel Pond was born in Washington, Connecticut, in 1808. During his early years, he worked as a clothing merchant, a farmer, and teacher in Washington. At the age of twenty-five, he began travelling and landed in Galena, Illinois, in 1833. He was joined the next year by his brother, Gideon H. Pond.
The brothers ventured to Fort Snelling in 1834. They proceeded to build a cabin and established the first permanent mission among the Dakota at Bde Maka Ska. In the years following, the brothers and the Dakota exchanged agricultural knowledge. Over the span of 40 years, the brothers established an orthography for the Dakota language, known as the Pond-Dakota alphabet, which is still in use today. They also translated the Bible into the Dakota language and created the first Dakota-English dictionary.
In 1837, Samuel Pond was ordained a minister, and a year later, he married Cordelia Eggleston. Most of Pond's life was spent among the Dakota. His family grew up learning the culture, language, and even received Dakota names. His missionary labors covering a period of about nineteen years (1834-1853). He was stationed successively
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In 1847, Samuel Pond was invited by Chief Ṡαkpe II to relocate his wife Cordelia and their three children to Ṫνŋta Otuŋwe, located near what is now Shakopee's Memorial Park. The Ponds built a framed structure in the area, which served as the first school and mission. Pond called this area Prairieville. In 1855, Samuel Pond founded the First Presbyterian Church, serving as its pastor for 13 years. Samuel Pond died Dec. 12, 1891, at the mission house, and his headstone can be found at Valley Cemetery in Shakopee.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Education • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is December 12, 1891.
Location. 44° 47.933′ N, 93° 31.522′ W. Marker is in Shakopee, Minnesota, in Scott County. It is at the intersection of 1st Avenue E. and Lewis Street S., on the right when traveling west on 1st Avenue E.. The marker is in the plaza at the midpoint of the River City Center building.
Photographed by McGhiever, February 3, 2024
2. Samuel William Pond Marker at the River City Center
Regionally, this marker is in the Minnesota River Valley and in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once Ruperts Land, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Stagecoaches to Shakopee (approx. one mile away); The Springs (approx. one mile away); Who Else Was Here (approx. one mile away); Betting, Booze & Speakeasies 1920-1940 (approx. one mile away); The Ox Cart Trail to Shakopee (approx. one mile away); On the River Bottoms (approx. one mile away); The Railroad to Shakopee 1865 (approx. one mile away); Pond Mission (approx. 1.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Shakopee.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 6, 2024. It was originally submitted on February 4, 2024, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 1,003 times since then and 105 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 4, 2024, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
