nesota. He was
a man of marked ability and one of the ablest and most effective
orators in the whole Dakota nation. Yet withal, Shakpe was a petty
thief, had a "forked tongue," a violent temper, was excitable, and
vindictive in his revenge. These characteristics led him to the
scaffold. He was hanged at Fort Snelling, in 1863 for participation in
the bloody massacre of '62. He and his followers were so noted for
their deception and treachery, that Mr. Pond doubted their sincerity
and the wisdom of accepting their invitation. But after weeks of
prayerful deliberation, he accepted and began preparations for a
permanent establishment at that point. He erected a commodious and
substantial residence into which he removed, with his household, in
November 1847.

This station, which Mr. Pond called Prairieville, was fourteen miles
southeast of Oak Grove mission, on the present site of Shakopee. The
mission home was pleasantly located on gently rising ground, half a
mile south of the Minnesota River. It was surrounded by the teepees of
six hundred noisy savages. Here, for several years they toiled
unceasingly for the welfare of the wild men, by whom they were
surrounded.

In 1851, Mr. and Mrs. Pond were compelled, by her rapidly failing
health, to spend a year in the east. She never returned. She died
February 6, 1852, at Washington, Connecticut. Thus after fourteen years
of arduous missionary toil, Cordelia Eggleston Pond, the beautiful
bride of the Lake Harriet mission house, was called from service to
reward at the early age of thirty-six.

Mr. Pond returned to Prairieville and toiled on for the Indians until
their removal by the government, in 1853. He himself, remained and
continued his labors for the benefit of the white community of
Shakopee, which had grown up around him. In 1853, a white Presbyterian
church was organized and, in 1856, a comfortable church edifice was
erected, wholly at the expense of the pastor and his people. The
congregation still exists and the mission house still stands as
monuments of the wisdom, faith and fortitude of the heroic builder.
After thirteen years of faithful service, he laid the heavy burdens
down for younger hands, but for a quarter of a century longer he
remained in his old home.

During these last years, his chief delight was in his books, which lost
none of their power to interest him in advancing age; especially was
this true of the Book of books. He was never idle. The acti