Smith, W. Ward - 1837-1920

BARBER, SMITH

Posted By: JCGS Volunteer
Date: 9/15/2016 at 19:29:07

Obituary of W. Ward Smith
Rev. W. Ward Smith was born in Clinton, Oneida county, New York Jan. 22, 1837 and died on June 16, 1920.
His mother died when he was nine days old with the words on her lips “God bless my little boy”. He owed his early religious training to his stepmother and his father, and had the bible his father used in the family worship, which was bought in 1829.
Rev. Smith was converted at the age of 14 years and joined the M. E. church. For fourteen years, to the age of 26 his time was divided between farming, school life, and teaching.
In 1861 he graduated from Oneida Conference Seminary at Cazinovia, N.Y. In 1863 from Garrett Bible Institute, Evanston, Ill., with a class of 13 members. Since Sept. ’63 his life has been largely in the ministry, working in West Wisconsin, Upper Iowa and St. Louis conferences. He was ordained Deacon by Bishop Thompson in 1865 and Elder by Bishop Simpson in 1867.
He was married three times, each married period being brief as God called them to their heavenly home. He leaves one son, Walling Ward Smith, of Grand Junction, Colo., and one daughter, Mrs. Nellie Barber, of this place and three grandchildren, Francis, Floyd and Margaret Barber.
His testimony was: “All my life I have found God a loving (cut off)
Source: Newspaper Unknown; __ June 1920