Biography - Alexander Ward
ALEXANDER WARD. Whether it is that Shelby County is especially notable
for the longevity of its inhabitants or not, the writer is not certain. It
is a fact, however, that almost all of the gentlemen whose history it has
been our pleasure to write, have passed the meridian of life and the
majority of them are pioneer settlers who can look back upon the growth of
the county from the earliest occupancy, when deer, and wild turkevs were
much more frequently seen than the face of a neighbor. Our subject is one of
the many whose experience includes the changes through which his vicinity
and county have passed. Now residing on section 1, Ridge Township, he was
born April 24, 1833, in Okaw Township, and is a son of John and Catherine
(Lohr) Ward.
The grandfather of our subject, James Ward, resided in Kentucky, and thence
three of his sons, namely, William L., John and James, came to Shelby
County. Of these, William L. first came, his advent being in 1828. He
located in what is now known as Todd's Point, where he entered a tract of
land upon which he resided until about 1856, when he removed to Pickaway
Township, residing there until his death, which occurred in July, 1872.
James Ward came to the county in 1845 and resided in Okaw Township. Later he
removed to Dry Point where he died about the year 1866. John Ward was born
in Trumbull County, Ohio, but when very young his parents removed to
Kentucky, where he grew to manhood. He first came to Illinois in 1830,
stopping for a time in Shelby County and then went back to Kentucky, but in
1832 he again returned to Shelby County, and in August, that year, was
united in marriage to Catherine Lohr, who was reared in the same
neighborhood with her husband in Kentucky. At the time of her marriage her
home was in Morgan County, Ill., where her family were early settlers.
After marriage the young couple located in Okaw Township where they entered
land and experienced all the ups and downs of pioneer life. He was, however,
successful and became the owner of over two thousand acres of land, a large
proportion of which he himself entered. He followed stock-raising
principally, being especially interested in the breeding of cattle and
mules. He died in March, 1880, being over seventy years of age. His wife
died in 1870. He was always interested in politics, both national and local.
At first belonging to the old-line Whig party, he afterward became a
Republican. He was a member of the Christian Church, being a generous
supporter of the same. He was a broad-minded, public-spirited man,
interested in all public enterprises that promised to be to the advantage of
the people. He was well and favorably known throughout Shelby County as a
man of unstained honor and integrity.
John and Catherine Ward were the parents of eleven children, one of whom
died in infancy, one in childhood and one daughter was accidentally killed
when ten years of age. Eight of the children lived to be grown; of these our
subject is the eldest; James W. lives in Decatur, Ill.; Lucinda is the wife
of James Sudduth and resides in Springfield, Mo.; John W. died in Okaw
Township; Charles resides in Shelbyville; George W. died in the latter
place; Elizabeth is the wife of George A. Roberts and lives in Shelbyville,
and Benjamin F. makes his home in Lincoln, Neb.
Our subject grew to manhood in his native township and he distinctly
remembers pioneer days when deer and other game were plentiful. He attended
such schools as were provided and in September, 1859, was married to
Cordelia Van Hise, a daughter of James H. and Sarah Van Hise. She was born
in Fairfield County, Ohio, December 2, 1838. The first home of the young
couple was upon the place where he now resides. It then, however, comprised
only ten acres of ground, hemmed in by a rail fence, their first dwelling
being a log cabin which was primitive, indeed. Four years after marriage the
log cabin gave way to his present residence, and since that time he has made
many changes in his home and placed many substantial improvements upon his
place. Mr. Ward is now the owner of six hundred acres of land, three hundred
and seventy-three acres being located in Shelby County, and the balance in
Moultrie County, on which he has good buildings.
Five children are the fruit of the union of our subject and his estimable
wife. They are, Abraham L., Catherine, Edward S., George A. and Ulysses G.
Mr. Ward is a stanch Republican in politics and always votes at general
elections for the man he believes best fitted for the office. He himself has
never been ambitious to be an office-holder. Socially he is a member of the
Association of United Workmen. Our subject is especially interested and
engaged in the stock business, buying, breeding, shipping, etc., stock to
the metropolitan markets. His history in itself is an apt illustration of
what a man may accomplish in the fertile lands of the Middle States, by his
own efforts, alone and unaided, but with ambition, industry and
perseverance.
Extracted 11 Jan 2018 by Norma Hass from 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie
Counties Illinois, pages 349-351
.
