Ward, George T.

WARD

Posted By: Joyce Hickman (email)
Date: 10/13/2008 at 21:46:59

George T. Ward

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.206, Norwalk Twp.)
George T. Ward, farmer, P. O. Downsville, was born in Tazewell County, Va., October 15, 1837; he is the son of Milton and Martha D. (Thompson) Ward. His father was born in Tazewell County, Va., March 29, 1797, and died i February 1879. His mother was born in the same county, in Virginia, in May 1801, and died October 29, 1864. The Thompsons were one of the first families of Virginia. Our subject's grandmother, Rebecca Peery (maiden name), was born in a block-house in Tazewell County, Va. His grandfather, Thompson was a Major in the Provincial militia. While out as a scout and in search of deer, he narrowly escaped capture and probably death at the hands of the Indians. The string of one of his moccasins fortunately became loosened, and, in stopping to tighten it, he fell considerably behind the rest of the little party, who were surprised by a band of Indians in ambush, who fell upon them, capturing five and killing the balance of three. Our subject's advantages for an education were extremely limited, there being no common schools in Virginia at that time. he worked at home with his father, who was a farmer and cattle-raise, until the breaking-out of the war of the rebellion. In 1861, he enlisted as a private in a confederate regiment, but ranked as Lieutenant Colonel in the militia of his native State. According to newspaper reports, at the time the Union forces were driving Gen. John S. Williams out of the Sandy Valley, our subject was the bearer of a dispatch from Gen. Marshall, ordering Williams through the mountains, from Kentucky to Virginia. Our subject was promoted to the rank of Captain. After becoming disabled, he sent in his resignation, which was never accepted, so he remained a commissioned officer till the close of the war. He was with Gen. Morgan at Greenville, Tenn., at the time the General was killed. At the close of the war, in June, 1865, he surrendered at Charleston, W. Va. he was married, in Buchanan County, Va., November 12, 1861, to Jane Ratliff, who was born in Buchanan County, Va., Buchanan County, Va., May 29, 1843. She is the daughter of Abednego and Louisa (Matney) Ratliff. Her father was born in Tazewell County, Va., in 1801, and is still living. Her mother was also a native of Tazewell County, Va., and was born in 1799, and died December 3, 1868. Mr. and Mrs. Ward have had five children, of whom three are living - George E. (deceased), Archibald N., Eliza R., Lydia and Sarah E. (deceased). In religion, Mr. Ward is a Quaker, and in politics, a Democrat.