My Genealogy Hound

Edward G. Ward, an early settler of Barton County, Mo., is a son of George E. and Charity H. (Greene) Ward, who were born in Lynchburg, Va., and Harrodsburg, Ky., April 1, 1811, and March 30, 1811, respectively. They were married in the mother’s native town, and about 1840 moved to Independence, Mo., and subsequently to Johnson County, moving to Sabine Parish, La. in 1844, where Mr. Ward was chosen assessor, and where he had all the mail contracts in Louisiana and Texas. In 1852 he started to California, but only got as far as Barton County, Mo., and located where Lamar now stands, the county at that time going by the name of Jasper. He built a little log storehouse near where M. N. Wills now resides, and in 1857 built a two-story frame storehouse on the southwest corner of the public square, which was burned during the war. During that time he served in Talbot’s regiment until the battle of Pea Ridge, in which engagement he was wounded, dying the following October 2, 1862. He named Barton County, and when it was laid off he secured the first Lamar post office and called it Lamar, which became the present town. He served as judge when it was part of Jasper County, and filled the office of treasurer after it became Barton County. He was a Democrat, and was an Episcopalian in faith his wife being a member of the Christian Church. His wife is still living, having borne five children, three of whom survive. The great-grandfather, Thomas Ward, was a Scotchman, and was a colonel in the Revolutionary War. The grandfather, Seth Ward, was an 1812 soldier. The maternal great-grandfather was also a Revolutionary soldier. Edward G. Ward, the immediate subject of this biography, was born in Barren County, Ky., January 28, 1839, and in youth attended the old subscription schools of Barton County, Mo. In June, 1861, he enlisted in the Missouri State Militia, C. S. A., and after serving about six months he joined the regular Confederate army, serving under Shelby until the close of the war. He surrendered at Shreveport, La., having been in the battles of Pea Ridge, Wilson’s Creek, Lexington, Lone Jack, Helena, Shelby’s Raid, Price’s Raid, Little Rock, Prairie De Hand, Newtonia and others; at the last named battle a grape shot passing through his abdomen from front to rear. He now carries a 44-caliber revolver ball in his left lung, and a buckshot in his scalp. In 1863 he was elected captain of a select company for advance service. After the war he joined his mother and sisters in Illinois, and in 1868 came back to Barton County, where he has since been engaged in farming and merchandising. January 28, 1869, Mr. Ward married Mary, a daughter of Dr. John Logan, who was a cousin of Gen. John A. Logan, and a colonel of the Thirty-second Illinois, Federal Army. She was born in Illinois, July 8, 1844, and is the mother of six children: Edward L., Annie, William B., George E., Lillian and John R. Mrs. Ward is a member of the Methodist Church, and Mr. Ward is a Royal Arch Mason.