We are indebted to the Worcester Historical Museum, Mass. without whose help this page would not have been possible. We have a link to the website of the Worcester Historical Museum, which covers many aspects of the history of Worcester, Massachusetts, USA.
Lucius Pond was clearly a remarkable man. He was born in April 1826 and on completing his education started work with Samuel Flagg. After only three years he became a partner in the business.
It is thought that Samuel Flagg & Co. could supply any of the machine tools required in the US at that time. The 'Flagg Planer' was one of their major inventions.
In 1853 Samuel Flagg retired and sold his share in the business. Then during the following year, Pond bought out the other remaining partners and built a new works on the existing site. This new works, covering at least 7 acres had scarcely been completed before it was destroyed by fire in June 1854, but by 1874 the L.W.Pond Machine & Foundry Co. was employing 1000 people.
Lucus Pond lost control of the business to his son in 1875 when he was sentence to 15 years imprisonment for fraud. It seems he used his position as director of the Central National Bank in Worcester and the respect from being a key church goer and alderman of the city, to write false cheques. His disappearance and arrest are described below in a reprint of his abitchery.
After he release, his friends bought a business and installed Lucius as manager, while his son continued to run the original company. The L.W.Pond Machine & Foundry Company continued in one form or another until at least 1930.
The following are extracts that relate to Mr Pond and, we think, give a good idea of his life.
Worcester [Mass., USA] is strongly moved for the pardon of L.W.Pond, and not Worcester alone, but very widely Massachusetts and New England, wherever has come the full knowledge of this most remarkable and pitiable case. There is no mawkish sympathy in this, no sentiment that has for its basis or promises by its result the impairing of justice and the lessening the sure penalty of crime. There is none the less recognition of the peril of such crimes as his, enforced as it has been by terrible frequency among a high class of offenders, since he fell from the ranks of honest and honored men. What a fall was his. Who does not remember the blackness of the horror that descended upon this community when his crime was know, and the question went wildly about from bank to counting-room, and among the shops "Who can we trust now?". Such crimes are appalling in their suggestion.
But all that is in the Past. It was seven years ago. His period of imprisonment has already exceeded the average of penalties inflicted for such offences in this state and in other states where law retains its full majesty. Mercy works dire mischief in the prisons when she blurs the meaning of penalty; and not less does penalty become cruel when the element of clemency is obliterated. In Mr. Pond's case the sentiment in this community, and widely as above stated, is one that urges that justice has been amply satisfied. He has suffered the penalty, the full, sharp penalty of his wrong doing. The citizens, his neighbors, his townsmen, those who knew him in business, those who had loved his long and open course of honesty, generosity and public enterprise, did not interpose when he fell. Nor would they have done so in the earlier period of his term of punishment; for he deserved it. Society and business cannot be safe without a swift Nemesis for such deeds. But now they are moving with a burst of sympathy that honors this age, and finds no parallel in this age. The Governor and his Council, on Friday December 15th, saw before them three hundred citizens of Central Massachusetts asking for the exercise of the clemency of the great trusts of the executive.
One point, with others above suggested, was powerfully urged. Mr. Pond, in his imprisonment, has been manly and Christian. He has been patient, steady and earnest. He has not yielded to desperate thoughts, bred from the atmosphere of the prison, but has been patiently relaying the broken path of his life. Of his full term of fifteen years, he has earned three full years by good behavior. Is it not wise for Massachusetts to say to her prison inmates that she recognizes such efforts? How much broken and breaking manhood rusting or growing wolfish in prison garb may be turned to better thoughts, if it be understood that good behavior everywhere counts, and that community is interested warmly when penalty does not crush out a desire for well doing. We believe that the petition for Mr. Pond's pardon will bring him back to his home, and to life again. It is asked by his friends, neighbors, business associates, creditors who lost, and Christians of all denominations who wept when he fell.
The palliative influence of time, good Fellowship and Christian Charity.
Lucius W. Pond died about 7 o'clock yesterday morning at his residence, No. 51 Belmont Street. He had been in failing health for a year or more, but until about six weeks ago he had been able to attend to his business. He had been confined to his bed about a month, but hopes were entertained that he would recover until within the last week, since which time be had gradually failed. Mr. Pond was 63 years old.
Lucius W. Pond was born in Hubbardston, April 20th 1826, son of Obadiah and Sally (Waite) Pond. He came to Worcester at the age of 20, in 1846, and learned the machinist's trade of Samuel Flagg on Union Street. In 1849 he went into partnership with him and others under the firm name of Samuel Flagg & Co., and in 1857 succeeded to that business under his own name. Soon afterwards he built his large shop on Exchange Street, corner of Union Street, where he carried on a very extensive business in the making of machine tools until his troubles in 1875.
After his return to the city in 1882 he worked at his old trade for a while for other parties, and then he started in business again as superintendent of the L.W.Pond Machine Company. This was the name given to the reorganised Powell Machine Company, which Mr. Pond's friends bought almost solely for the purpose of giving him a place in which he could earn the full worth of his abilities. Prominent among these friends were Henry C. Fish, who owns half the stock; Hon. C.B.Pratt, Caleb Colvin and F.B.Knowles. Hon. S.C.Hildreth was also supposed to be interested in the concern at one time. The company prospered in business and the stock is now above par.
Mr. Pond was a member of the common council from ward two in 1858-59, alderman in 1862, and state senator in 1866, '67 and '68. At one time he was prominently mentioned as republican candidate for congressman and for mayor. He was one of the earliest members of Laurel Street Church, and was for many years on its board of offices, contributing more than any other individual to its financial support. He leaves a wife and one son, David W. Pond, superintendent of the D.W. Pond Machine Company, now located in Plainfield, N.J., and one daughter, wife of Charles A. King of this City. He also leaves a brother, Levi, in Ludlow.
The events in Mr. Pond's life in 1875 created an excitement in the business circles of Worcester such as had never been known here before, and have not been equaled since. Mr. Pond had borne an excellent reputation as an astute and honorable business man, successful politician and an exceedingly genial companion. As for his religious affiliations, he was as prominent in the district Methodist conference as he was in the Laurel Street Church, which he practically carried on his shoulders. He had a large business, and he spent money with lavish hand. The almost universal deference paid him, both for his riches and for his character, would foster vanity in almost any man. It affected him and stimulated him to a degree of extravagance that became disastrous the moment his business success fluctuated.
For nine years he had been a director in the Central National Bank, and his business credit was excellent. In 1875, however, it was rumored that his machine shop was suffering from depression of business, and, as he always had a good of paper out his credit began to suffer.
One day, early in October, Mr. Pond left Worcester for New York, ostensibly on business. He was seen aboard the boat, but all trace of him was lost that night. In his stateroom were found his valise and coat, and the natural supposition was that he had committed suicide. The news was soon in Worcester and, as one of his endorses had already been startled to learn that he was held for notes that he knew had been paid long ago, an investigation followed. It was found that old notes had been used by Mr. Pond over and over again, by the simple process of washing off the date and amount with a sponge and a preparation of chlorine, intended for the removal of ink stains, and by inserting new dates and amounts to suit the convenience of the giver of the notes. By making the notes payable at his own office, he saved them from cancelation at the bank. One after another, victims of the same trick were found among the Masonic, church and business friends of Mr. Pond, and the amount of his operations grew to an alarming extent. Rich and poor suffered alike through his operations. How much money was actually made way with was never known, for many who had suffered kept the story of their losses to themselves.
Mr. Pond was not dead. When he boarded the boat he carried with him a new suit of clothes, and, disguised in this, he left the boat at New York unobserved. For several weeks no knowledge of him could be had. At last he was seen in a machine shop at Hamilton, Ontario. Detectives were already hunting him, and he was traced to San Francisco, and was at length arrested by Detective Ezra Churchill of this city while on board a boat about to sail for Australia. He was brought back to Worcester, pleaded guilty to three indictments for forgery, and was sentenced to the state prison for three terms, aggregating to fifteen years. There were many other indictments of a similar nature, a single law firm holding sixteen.
No sooner had he returned than public sympathy turned in his favor and began to swell rapidly. The church people especially, whom he had wronged as deeply as any other victims, refused to hear a woad against him. His pastor, Rev. Williams Pentecost, visited him in prison, and came from the interview with tears in his eyes. "I have never saw a better man in this world," said he "and I never expect to, till I am in heaven." The extraordinary hold that he had on the church people he maintained to an equal degree among many of his political and business friends, and in a few years a petition was in circulation asking the governor for his pardon. It was not granted. Another was started, and to such an extent had public sympathy been aroused by reminiscences of his former good works, by entreaties of friends, and by the representation that his health was broken down, that a host of signers were found among the prominent men of the city and the county towns. This partition was granted by Governor Long in December, 1882, and Mr. Pond came back to Worcester and to his wife, to whose indefatigable due. He had served a little less than half his sentence.
There could hardly be anything more remarkable than the spirit in which he was received by old friends and associates, even those who had most cause to remember him only with bitterness. They even talked of meeting him in a body at the Union station and bringing him home in a carriage of their own hiring. His own attitude throughout his misfortunes was singular. "Why, if I had known that that was forgery," said he, "I never would have done it in the world." How kindly, how generously he has been treated there is no need of detail now. Seldom do time and charity so thoroughly efface the animosity born of wrongs received. Since his return he has lived a quiet but industrious and, so far as known, an exemplary life. He was taken back not only to business but to the church he had done so much both benefit and to injure. His old business was conducted in this city by his son till spring 1887, when the son removed it to Painfield, N.J. The dead man had richly paid the penalty of wrongdoing, and he bore his burden manfully. Many a time had gone faithfully to his office, when, in the weakness of disease, he was scarcely able to drag himself to work.
The funeral will be held at his late residence next Thursday afternoon at 3.30 o'clock, and the interment will be at Rural cemetery.
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