WARD, WATSON WALLACE, was born on the 8th of October, 1834, in Waltham, Vt. The first of his ancestors to emigrate to Vermont was his grandfather, Jesse Ward, who was born in Connecticut on the 20th day of July, 1763, and served three years in the Revolutionary War. He married Olive Nye, of Connecticut, in June, 1788, and some time before 1800 settled in the northern part of the town of Waltham, Vt. He was the father of five children – Chester, born on the 15th of January, 1789; Silas, born on March 11, 1791; Olive, born June 11, 1793; Ira, born April 9, 1796, still living in New Haven, Vt.; and Orin, born June 14, 1799. Jesse Ward’s first wife died early in the present century and he married again. He died on the 18th of December, 1839, and his second wife, Ruth, survived only until the 23d of the same month. His elder child, Chester, was the father of W. W. Ward, of whom we are writing. He came from Connecticut with his parents when an infant, and passed his life as a farmer in Waltham, Vt. He married, about 1812, Abigail, daughter of Roger Hawkins, who was also an emigrant from Connecticut. Chester and Abigail Ward had a family of seven children – Jesse, now living in New Haven, Vt.; Olive, widow of Hiram Spaulding, of Panton, Vt.; Amelia, wife of Ephraim Allen, of Ferrisburgh, Vt. ; Laurette, who died in September, 1861; Amanson, who died on August 11, 1848; Watson W.; and the youngest, Ann D., wife of A. J. died Mason, of New Haven, Vt.
Watson W. Ward was educated in the common schools of his native town. From the time he left school and began to work for himself he remained upon his father’s farm, and has never left it. His father lived with him until his death, which occurred on February 28, 1882, at the remarkable age of ninety-three years. The homestead comprises 152 acres of excellent land. Mr. Ward devotes his time principally to dairying, keeping on an average about twenty cows.
In politics Mr. Ward is independent, with Democratic propensities, the rule of his political conduct being that the best man should receive the suffrages of the people. He has never been ambitious to hold town offices, but has been placed in a number, and has always acquitted him self to the satisfaction of his constituents. His father was also independent in political faith, and held a number of the most important offices within the town’s gift. W. W. Ward is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Vergennes, contributing regularly to its support. He has for about seven years last past been one of its stewards. He is now living with his second wife. He was first united in marriage on the 4th of January, 1857, with Mary J., daughter of Elijah Barnes, of Chelsea, Vt., who died in May, 1861, leaving one child, Fred C., born November 10, 1859, and now residing in New Haven, Vt. On the 26th of September, 1864, Mr. Ward again married, his second wife being Martha L., daughter of Julius Thompson, of Weybridge, Vt. She is the mother of two of his children – Stella M., born on November 6, 1865, and Hattie A., born on October 20, 1871, both of whom are now living with their parents.