Clarence Thomas Ward

As printed in 1910

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 History of Henry County, Illinois (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.