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ISAAC N. WARD, a successful agriculturist of Mt. Auburn Township, owns and operates a good farm on section 36.
For upwards of a quarter-century he has made his home in this immediate vicinity, and is one who has endeavored
in every possible manner to promote the good of this community.
Our subject is a son of John and Mary Ann (Smith) Ward, and was born September 14, 1840, in Guernsey
County, Ohio. His father was a native of the Old Dominion, who passed his youth in that part of the country,
but removed to Ohio in his young manhood. In the Buckeye State was celebrated his marriage with Miss Smith, a native
of England. After his marriage, Mr. Ward engaged in farming in Guernsey County for a few years, later removing
to Washington County, where he cleared and developed
a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, and reared his family in the fear of God. During his residence on this farm
he lost his wife, and after a few years he sold the property, returning to Guernsey County, where he spent the
remainder of his life.
Isaac N. Ward is one of a large family, comprising ten sons and four daughters. Of this number all lived to maturity
and were married with one exception. Eleven are still surviving, and during the late war three of the brothers
were soldiers. One of the latter, James, was taken sick and died at Carthage, Tenn.
Our subject's boyhood days were passed on the old homestead in Washington County, and his services were dutifully
given to his father until he had attained to his majority. On the 13th of August, 1862, Isaac N. Ward donned the
blue and went in defense of the Union. He became a member of Company H, Ninety-second Ohio Infantry, and saw considerable
active service. With his regiment he took part in a number of important campaigns, and participated in the battles
of Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Buzzard's Roost, and went through the Atlanta campaign. He was on the march with
Sherman to the sea, and at the close of the war marched with the victorious army in the Grand Review at Washington,
where he was mustered out.
Returning to his Ohio home after the storm clouds of war had rolled away, Mr. Ward resided there for about three
years. It was in the fall of 1868 that he determined to try his luck in Illinois, where he arrived in October.
Having purchased a team, he engaged in farming on rented land for a number of years in this county, and in 1880
became the owner of the farm on which he still makes his home. This place once belonged to three heirs, Mrs. Ward
being one of the number, and after buying out the others she succeeded to the place. Like many of the farms in
this locality, it is fenced with osage hedge and divided into forty-acre sections. Mr. Ward has erected a good
residence, substantial barns and granaries and has set out an orchard.
In 1867, in Washington County, Ohio, occurred the first marriage of our subject. The lady of his choice was Miss
May Jane Hupp, who was born in Noble County, of the same State.
She departed this life in 1873, leaving two children. The elder, Laura, is the wife of Lewis Hurlbutt, who is engaged
in farming in this vicinity. The younger daughter, Mary A., became the wife of William C. Brubeck, now of Oklahoma.
In Springfield, on the 8th of April, 1880, at the St. Nicholas Hotel, Mr. Ward and Miss Amanda Montgomery were
united in marriage. The lady was born on the farm where she now resides, and is a daughter of Ira Montgomery, an
honored pioneer of Christian County, who died in 1858. By this union six children have been born: Ida Pearl, James
N., Eva Grace and Ella Myrtle (twins), Jessie and Tillie Belle.
Socially, Mr. Ward is a member of Grove City Odd Fellows' lodge, and is Noble Grand. He also belongs to the Modern
Woodmen of America, and is greatly interested in these organizations. He ranks high in the estimation of all his
friends and neighbors as a man of excellent business ability and true worth of character. He has been an ally of
the Democratic party for many years, supporting its nominees and measures in Presidential elections, but he prefers
to be independent at local elections. He has served as a member of the School Board, but has declined other official
honors, choosing to give his entire time to the supervision of his farm.
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