The Ward Family of Henry County, Illinois

In the life of Benjamin Ward there were many qualities which gained him firm hold upon the affection and regard of friends, neighbors and all with whom he came in contact. There was never any esoteric chapter in his history, and with strong hatred of hypocrisy and sham he so lived that his position was never an equivocal one, but, on the contrary, his record was such as would bear the closest investigation and scrutiny. For a long period he was connected with the farming interests of Henry county and for a time lived retired in Geneseo, but his last days were spent in Boulder, Colorado.

Mr. Ward was a native of Somersetshire, England, born May 3, 1837. His youthful days were there passed, and during that period he was denied the opportunity of even a common-school education. He had spent his boyhood on a farm and the years of his minority constituted a period of earnest and persistent toil. In 1 861, when about twenty-four years of age, he bade adieu to friends and native country and sailed for America, for the reports which he had heard concerning business opportunities and advantages in this country led hi'ii to the belief that he might more rapidly acquire a competence here. He did not harry in the east but made his way at once to Henry county, Illinois, and in the vicinity of Geneseo secured employment as a farm hand. He was very economical and diligent and saved every dollar possible from his wages until he could gain a start for himself.

On the 2ist of October, 1864, Mr. Ward those as a companion and helpmate for life's journey Miss Amanda Yonker, of Munson township, and immediately thereafter the young couple began their domestic life upon a farm. About a year later Mr. Ward made his first purchase of land, becoming owner on the 19th of October, 1865, of the west half of the northwest quarter of section I, Munson township. With characteristic energy he began to till the fields, converting his place into a productive tract of land. To this he added from time to time until he had eight hundred acres, all well improved. He was one of a family of seven children, six of whom came to America but only one is now living, Thomas, who resides in Phenix township.

Of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Ward there were born four children. John, the eldest, married AHce Payne and they have two children, Vernon and Morris. Abel D., the second of the family, is represented on another page of this volume. Clara is the wife of Dr. John H. Murphy, living in Geneseo, and Leila resides with her mother.

For forty-four years Mr. and Mrs. Ward traveled life's journey together and were happy in their home life and in rearing their children, who are a credit and honor to their name. In addition to the children who were born unto them, they took to their hearts and home a niece, now Mrs. Mattie Liken, of Geneseo. who in early life was bereft of a mother's love and care. She was always considered as one of their own and the spirit of love and helpfulness thus shown has been beautifully appreciated and reciprocated by her. Mr. and Mrs. Ward continued to reside upon the farm until 1891, when they removed to Geneseo, where they lived retired for fifteen years, enjoying in well earned rest the fruits of his former toil. In 1906, however, the family removed to Boulder, Colorado, that their daughter Leila might attend the University of Colorado, and in 1907 Mr. Ward purchased a home there and continued to reside in Boulder until his death, which occurred on the 22d of May, 1908, when he had reached the age of seventy-one years and nineteen days. In a review of his life it will be remembered that he was a model farmer and one who had intense love for his work. He stood for all that was progressive in agricultural life and sought not only his own success but the general welfare of the community also. In Colorado as elsewhere he made many friends who felt the deepest regret at his passing. His religion was intensely practical and constituted deeds rather than words His qualities as a friend and neighbor were of the highest and he was generous and tender of heart. He despised hypocrisy and sham, had high ideals in regard to the rights of others and his business methods would put to same many who professed much more than he. He was not only just but generous, was considerate in his opinions and held to the highest standards of business integrity. Wherever known he was esteemed and honored, but most of all where he was best known.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

Thomas Ward, now retired from the active labors of the farm after a well spent life, was born in Somersetshire, England, February 19, 1844, and is an example of the best class of men his country has given us. He is a son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Andrews) Ward, both of whom were natives of England. The father was a teamster and small farmer, making a specialty of manufacturing cheese and working at the peat factory. He had eight children, of whom one died in infancy, and Thomas is now the only survivor. All of the others came to the United States except one. They were as follows: Robert died in Bureau county, this state; Eliza married William Cook, spent her life in England and, dying, left a large family; Hannah married John Lane, who lives in Geneseo, but she is deceased; Joseph passed away in Geneseo; Benjamin lived in Geneseo but went to Boulder, Colorado, where he died; Fannie married Henry Ole and her death occurred in Geneseo; Thomas is the seventh; as well as youngest.

Thomas Ward was only fifteen years old when he lost his mother, but his father survived until 1870, being buried by her side in an English cemetery. The education of Thomas Ward was secured in England, he remaining with his father until nineteen years of age. He then worked at various things until he was twenty-two years old, when on October 22, 1866, he married Mary Nuttycomb. She was born in Somersetshire, England, December 28, 1845, a daughter of Frederick and Elizabeth (Cook) Nuttycomb, also natives of England. Her father was a gardener, who came to this country when Mrs. Ward was twelve years old. After four years spent in Dubuque, Iowa, he returned to England and there died in January, 1876. He had lost his wife in 1862 and they lie buried in English ground. They had seven children, all living: Mrs. Ward is the eldest; Ann married Frank Milton and lives in England; William, living in Wales, was an English soldier, who served until twenty-one years old when he was honorably discharged; Jane lives in London; Sarah married Charles Cooper and lives in Minnesota; Thomas lives in Kansas; and Elizabeth married Daniel Dennis and lives in Syracuse, New York, he being deceased.

Immediately after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Ward came from England on the steamer Edinburg and located in Henry county, Illinois, first renting land for three years. Following this Mr. Ward worked for Squire Harper on a farm in Geneseo township for nineteen years. Later he farmer on Dutch Bottom for several years, but he finally bought one hundred and twenty-three acres, which he now rents, and for the past six years he has been living on the old Mandle place. He is a strong prohibitionist and has never cast his vote for any but the candidates of his party. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist church, of which he has been trustee for some years.

Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ward, namely: Elizabeth Ann, September 23, 1867, married Manuel Vonhosteen and lives in Idaho where he is a farmer. Joseph Walter, October 22, 1868, married Tillie Gerkin. They live in Phenix township and have two children, Jennie and Ernie. Fannie Bethel, February 28, 1870, married Frank Torence, and lives in Geneseo. They have seven children. Lulu, Hallie, Glen, Katie, Olive, Alice and Ward. Anna Malinda, bom June 3, 1871, married Edward A. Potter and lives in Iowa. They have five children, Lucy, Florence, Lucile, Annetta and Merle. Nettie May, born June 22, 1873, married Edward E. Darin, who lives in Phenix, and has three children, Harold Avery, Mary Eleanor and John Ward. Jessie C, born February 11, 1876, married Louis Carl, of Whiteside county, and they have four children, Mary A., Ruby Irene, Florence and Russell. Forest B., born September 25, 1877, lives in Phenix township. He married Annetta Mortenson Febmary 18, 1903.

Mr. and Mrs. Ward are most excellent people who have worked hard to make their way in life and most certainly deserve the comfort and prosperity that is now their share. They are justly proud of their children and grandchildren and are among the substantial people of Henry county.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ABEL D. WARD.

Abel D. Ward is conducting a profitable business as a farmer and breeder of polled Durham stock. His home is on section 1, Munson township, and his farm of two hundred acres extends over the boundary line into Geneseo township. He was born in the house which he now occupies, March 16, 1871, and is a son of Benjamin and Amanda (Yonker) Ward, of whom extended mention is made elsewhere in this volume. He was reared to farm life and in his boyhood attended the district schools, while at fifteen years of age he entered the Collegiate Institute in Geneseo, being graduated therefrom with the class of 1890. He was afterward elected to represent the alumni association on the board of trustees of that institution, and served for twelve years. After completing his school days he cultivated his father's farm as a renter for two years. He was at that time but nineteen years of age and Henry P. Billings and his family lived upon the farm and kept house for him. Mr. Ward's early experience in the fields as he assisted his father through the periods of vacation qualified him to assume the management of the farm at an early age and in all of his work he has been most practical and energetic, passing by no opportunity in a heedless manner but using his advantages in such a way as to win success along honorable business lines. As the years have gone by he has prospered in his undertakings and as his financial resources increased he planned to purchase the home farm and is now the owner of two hundred acres of rich and arable land, much of which lies in section 1, Munson township. Upon the farm are good improvements, the fences and buildings being kept in a state of good repair, while the fields are well tilled and the latest improved machinery is used in cultivating and caring for the crops. An important feature of the place is the breeding of polled Durham stock, and Mr. Ward has raised some very fine cattle upon his place, driving from their sale a substantial annual income.

On the 1 6th of February, 1893, Abel D. Ward was married to Miss Helen Edwards, who was born on a farm in Western township, and is a daughter of Herbert and Harriet (Gordon) Edwards. Her father was a native of Vermont and in his childhood days accompanied his parents to Illinois, the family driving across the country to this state, which was then a pioneer district. The death of Mr. Edwards occurred when his daughter Helen was only about a year old. Her mother was a native of Michigan and with her parents went to Moline, where she gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Edwards. Mrs. Ward was the youngest of a family of seven children, of whom six reached years of maturity. Carrie became the wife of Frank Stewart and died in Delta, Colorado, leaving five children. Frank H., living in Henry county, married Anna Smith and has four children. Clarence A., resides in Kearney, Nebraska. Flora is the wife of William Tully, of Grand Island, Nebraska, and has three sons. Grace is the wife of Clarence Ward, a cousin of Abel D. Ward, and a resident of Atkinson township.

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Abel D. Ward has been blessed with five children: Grace, who will enter the Collegiate Institute of Genesee in the fall of 1909; Herbert; Clara Marion; Frank Robert; and Charles Edward. The parents are members of the First Presbyterian church in Geneseo and in the work of the church have taken active and helpful part, Mr. Ward serving as superintendent of the Sunday school for many years, while for about fifteen years he has been an elder in the church. His religious principles constitute the guiding factor in his life, making him a man of unquestioned business integrity and of lofty purpose. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party. While he believes in many of the principles of the former he is a stanch temperance man and greatly desires to see the abolition of the liquor traffic. He is a man whom to know is to esteem and honor, his sterling qualities winning him friendship and regard from all with whom he comes in contact.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

CLARENCE THOMAS WARD.

The needs of his home farm make steady demands upon the time and energies of Clarence Thomas Ward, who owns one hundred and eighteen acres on section 31, Atkinson township, and eighty acres in Geneseo township. A native of the former township, he was born in the house he now occupies March 8, 1875, his parents being Joseph and Anna (French) Ward. The former was born in Somersetshire, England, January 13, 1836, and lived in the land of his birth until he was seventeen years of age, when, determined to try the opportunities said to around in the United States, he crossed the Atlantic. He was in all probability the first of his family to come to this country, although two brothers, Benjamin and Thomas, came here later. He remained in New York state for two years after reaching our shores, obtaining work and attending school for a short period. When he was nineteen he started westward, reaching Henry county, Illinois, November 5, 1855. Here he found employment by the month, but in 1856, having married, he purchased the place where his son Clarence T. is now living. A few improvements had been begun and a frame house started, but for some time he and his wife lived in a log cabin. Later he erected other buildings, and as he won a pronounced success from cultivating the soil he invested in other farm property, buying eighty acres in Geneseo township and one hundred and sixty acres in Alinnesota. A man who had been thrown upon his own resources early in life, he knew the full value of persistent industry and economy, and it was due entirely to his own efforts that he gained the success that enabled him to retire to Geneseo in 1893. There his last ten years were spent, his demise occurring May 2, 1903. On becoming a citizen of this nation he allied himself with the republican party and, while upholding its principles, was always loyal to the country of his adoption and rendered his community valuable services during the years he was school director.

On the 24th of June, 1856, Joseph Ward married Miss Anna Maria French, who still survives him. They were the parents of nine children, Elizabeth became the wife of William Chrisop and lives in Jamesport, Missouri, where she is rearing her two sons, George F., now residing in Phenix township, married Mary Key and they have three children. Elmer and Ella E. were twins. The former died at the age of three years, but the latter is now the wife of George

Matson and lives in Geneseo. She is the mother of four children. Henry died at the age of seven years. Lily became the wife of William Mowbray and died at the age of twenty-eight years. A twin of Clarence Thomas died at birth. Bertha is the wife of Hartz Matson, of Citronelle, Alabama, and they have two children.

Clarence Thomas Ward was reared upon the home farm in Atkinson township, receiving his elementary education in the district schools. When about sixteen )'ears of age he entered the high school at Geneseo and the following fall became a student in the Geneseo Collegiate Institute, which he attended for two winters. At the age of seventeen, however, he had started to make his way in the world by working for farmers by the month. In 1895 he married and assumed charge of the home place, to whose cultivation he has devoted himself since. He is progressive in his farming, utilizing modern methods and machinery, and has found his labors rewarded by a handsome income, which has enabled him to carry forward the improvements upon his place, for in 1907 he. bought the homestead and since that date has put up a modern crib and granary combined, has erected a corn elevator and built a new hog house. Of recent years he has given more and more time to stock raising and feeding, and as his animals have found a ready market he regards this enterprise as profitable. Through close application and indefatigable energy he has achieved the success which he now enjoys and which is well deserved.

On the 27th of March, 1895, in Geneseo, Mr. Ward was united in marriage to Miss Grace Edwards, who was born in Western township, this county, April 23, 1869, a daughter of Herbert and Harriet (Gordon) Edwards. The former was born in Vermont in 1825, grew to manhood in that state and then with his parents drove through the mountains and over the prairies to Moline, Illinois, where he followed his trade as a mason. There he met Miss Harriet Gordon, who later became his wife. She was born near Battle Creek, Michigan, and when three years old, in 1836, came with her parents to Henry county, and it is believed that her brother Henry Gordon, and his twin sister, Henrietta, who is now Mrs. Cossun, of Moline, were the first white children born in this county. Her father, Amos Gordon, lived to see a great change wrought in the character of this section of the state, for he was ninety-nine years of age when he died in Moline. His wife also lived to witness these changes, for she had passed the ninetieth milestone on life's journey before called to her final rest. One of her sons, Daniel, is still living in Moline at the age of eighty-seven years. For a short time after his marriage Herbert Edwards was engaged in farming in Rock Island county, living near Moline, and then in 1867 they removed to Western township, Henry county, where Mrs. Ward was born, as was her sister who is now Mrs. Abel Ward. Mr. Edwards died in Western township about 1884, but his widow is still living and resides in Geneseo at the advanced age of seventy-six years. After the death of her father Mrs. Ward removed with her mother to Geneseo, where she attended the high school and later the Geneseo Collegiate Institute, and was within two months of graduating from the latter when she was compelled to abandon her studies on account of ill health. She then undertook a course in music and received her diploma from that department of the institute in 1888. The subsequent five years were devoted to teaching music, in which she attained a marked success.

Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ward, namely: Harold, who was born on their present home, September 8, 1896; one who died in infancy; Florence L., who was born September 6, 1900; Frank G., March 1, 1903; and Wilbur J., February 25, 1905.

Mr. Ward is a stalwart champion of the principles of the republican party and a sincere friend of the cause of education, as was manifest during the nine years of his acceptable service as school director. Both he and his wife are members of the Congregational church and their lives have exemplified the principles of Christianity, so that they are highly regarded in the community as persons of genuine worth.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.