Ward

Chester A. Ward 1849 - 1851

Excerpt from

Portrait and Biographical Album, Isabella County, Mich. containing Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County. Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1884

Chester A. Ward, senior member of the firm of C. A. & W. E. Ward, general merchants of Mt. Pleasant, was born Aug. 26, 1817, in Cayuga Co., N. Y. His parents, Jonas and Julia Ann (Willis) Ward, were farmers and reared their sons on the homestead place.

Mr. Ward remained in the care of his mother on the homestead, his father having died about 1828, following agricultural pursuits until he was 18 years old, when he went to Clyde, Wayne Co., N. Y., and entered the employment of his brother-in-law, Smith Ely, as a clerk. He officiated in that capacity two years and engaged in mercantile interests in his own behalf. He continued operations in general trade three years. In 1849 he was elected Sheriff and removed to Lyons, the county seat. He officiated as Sheriff three years. On the expiration of his term of office he went to the city of New York and interested himself in the produce commission business, in which he was engaged five years. In 1858 he removed to St. Joseph Co., Mich., and opened a general store at Burr Oak, which he managed six years. He was then employed by a New York mining company to go to St. Joe lead mines, which were located in St. Francis Co., Mo., as financial manager. He officiated in that capacity between two and three years, returning at the expiration of that time to Burr Oak, where he engaged two years as a clerk. He went to Hamilton, Ont., and remained six months to establish his son in business, after which he came to Stanton, Mich., to take charge of a branch hardware store in the interests of an Ionia firm. He continued in that engagement about two years. Within a year after its termination, in company with Geo. C. Wallace, he opened a general mill supply business, in which he continued two years. At the end of that time he sold his interests and served as clerk one year for Mr. Wallace, after which he went to Blanchard, Isabella County, and opened a grocery and provision store. He commenced business there in February, 1879, and remained until June 12, 1880, when he came to Mr. Pleasant and established the business in which he is now engaged, in company with his son William E., and a gentleman named C. Chrysler. The latter closed his relations with the firm four months later. The stock represents a value of $5,000, and the firm are engaged in the transaction of a solid cash business.

Mr. Ward was married in Clyde, May 28, 1848, to Caroline D., daughter of Aaron and Electa Young. She was born in Geneva, N. Y., April 2, 1819. Of four children born of this marriage two are now living: William E., business associate of his father, was born Sept. 15, 1849; John R., born in Lyons, Nov. 27, 1851, is clerking in a wholesale and retail grocery in Syracuse, N. Y.; Thomas C. was born Aug. 19, 1859, and died 12 days later; Mary C., born April 7, 1861, died March 22, 1864.

Excerpt from Past and Present of Isabella County by Isaac A. Fancher - Indianapolis: B.F. Bowen & Company, 1911

Ed Ward came here in June, 1880. At the time his father had located in Blanchard, Isabella county, but remained there but a short time, coming to Mt. Pleasant soon after Ed came. The father, C.A. Ward, commenced business here in 1880, in connection with one Christopher Chrysler. Chrysler only remained for a short time and then turned over his interest to Mr. Ward.

After that the father, Chester A. Ward, joined with William E. Ward, and the firm was known as C.A. & W.E. Ward. They continued doing business for a long time and were located on South Main street in what is now the McNamara store building. They did a large and lucrative business and were at the time considered one of the strongest firms here. They continued their trade until the old gentleman died February 13, 1891, and after that W.A. continued the business for some time when he sold out the business and lived on the money they had accumulated.

While residing in Clyde, and before before becoming Sheriff, Mr Ward also held the position of Justice of the Peace in the Town of Galen.

Sheriff Ward immediately joined in at his new place of residence and was Town Clerk in Burr Oak in 1860 and continuued to be a Town Board member until relocating.

Sheriff Ward was 75 years of age when he died in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan

The North Western Tribune lists Sheriff Ward's death as Feb 14, 1892

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	Chester A. Ward 1849 - 1851
	Excerpt from Portrait and Biographical Album, Isabella County, Mich. containing Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County. Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1884
	Chester A. Ward, senior member of the firm of C. A. & W. E. Ward, general merchants of Mt. Pleasant, was born Aug. 26, 1817, in Cayuga Co., N. Y. His parents, Jonas and Julia Ann (Willis) Ward, were farmers and reared their sons on the homestead place. Mr. Ward remained in the care of his mother on the homestead, his father having died about 1828, following agricultural pursuits until he was 18 years old, when he went to Clyde, Wayne Co., N. Y., and entered the employment of his brother-in-law, Smith Ely, as a clerk. He officiated in that capacity two years and engaged in mercantile interests in his own behalf. He continued operations in general trade three years. In 1849 he was elected Sheriff and removed to Lyons, the county seat. He officiated as Sheriff three years. On the expiration of his term of office he went to the city of New York and interested himself in the produce commission business, in which he was engaged five years. In 1858 he removed to St. Joseph Co., Mich., and opened a general store at Burr Oak, which he managed six years. He was then employed by a New York mining company to go to St. Joe lead mines, which were located in St. Francis Co., Mo., as financial manager. He officiated in that capacity between two and three years, returning at the expiration of that time to Burr Oak, where he engaged two years as a clerk. He went to Hamilton, Ont., and remained six months to establish his son in business, after which he came to Stanton, Mich., to take charge of a branch hardware store in the interests of an Ionia firm. He continued in that engagement about two years. Within a year after its termination, in company with Geo. C. Wallace, he opened a general mill supply business, in which he continued two years. At the end of that time he sold his interests and served as clerk one year for Mr. Wallace, after which he went to Blanchard, Isabella County, and opened a grocery and provision store. He commenced business there in February, 1879, and remained until June 12, 1880, when he came to Mr. Pleasant and established the business in which he is now engaged, in company with his son William E., and a gentleman named C. Chrysler. The latter closed his relations with the firm four months later. The stock represents a value of $5,000, and the firm are engaged in the transaction of a solid cash business. Mr. Ward was married in Clyde, May 28, 1848, to Caroline D., daughter of Aaron and Electa Young. She was born in Geneva, N. Y., April 2, 1819. Of four children born of this marriage two are now living: William E., business associate of his father, was born Sept. 15, 1849; John R., born in Lyons, Nov. 27, 1851, is clerking in a wholesale and retail grocery in Syracuse, N. Y.; Thomas C. was born Aug. 19, 1859, and died 12 days later; Mary C., born April 7, 1861, died March 22, 1864.
	Excerpt from Past and Present of Isabella County by Isaac A. Fancher - Indianapolis: B.F. Bowen & Company, 1911
	Ed Ward came here in June, 1880. At the time his father had located in Blanchard, Isabella county, but remained there but a short time, coming to Mt. Pleasant soon after Ed came. The father, C.A. Ward, commenced business here in 1880, in connection with one Christopher Chrysler. Chrysler only remained for a short time and then turned over his interest to Mr. Ward. After that the father, Chester A. Ward, joined with William E. Ward, and the firm was known as C.A. & W.E. Ward. They continued doing business for a long time and were located on South Main street in what is now the McNamara store building. They did a large and lucrative business and were at the time considered one of the strongest firms here. They continued their trade until the old gentleman died February 13, 1891, and after that W.A. continued the business for some time when he sold out the business and lived on the money they had accumulated.
	While residing in Clyde, and before before becoming Sheriff, Mr Ward also held the position of Justice of the Peace in the Town of Galen. Sheriff Ward immediately joined in at his new place of residence and was Town Clerk in Burr Oak in 1860 and continuued to be a Town Board member until relocating. Sheriff Ward was 75 years of age when he died in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan The North Western Tribune lists Sheriff Ward's death as Feb 14, 1892
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