Wards in the
Congress 
Welcome to the "Famous Wards" section devoted to Ward kin who have served in the United States Congress, including the Continental Congresses, the United States Senate and the House of Representatives.
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United States 
Ward kin who have served in the United States House of Representatives.
Aaron Ward was born 5 Jul 1790 in Sing Sing (now Ossining), New York, a son of Moses Ward Sr. and Anna Sherwood. He began the study of law but his studies were interrupted during the War of 1812 with Britain. He became a lieutenant in the expedition against Montreal, Canada and was promoted to captain in 1814. After the war, he returned to his law studies at Oxford, NY and was admitted to the bar. He set up practice in Sing Sing. He was appointed District Attorney for Westchester County about 1820. He was named a colonel and later Brigadier General and Major General in the New York Milia.
Aaron was elected as a Jacksonian Democrat to the House of Representatives of the 19th US Congress and reelected to two additional terms, serving from 1825-1829. He did not seek reelection in 1828. He again won election as a Democrat to the 27th Congress and served 1841-1843. He lost a bid for reelection in 1842.
He was a supporter of Presidents Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren. He supported several military bills to strengthen American military forces and was an advocate of state education of state education for soldier's children.
Aaron served as a member of the New York State Constitutional Convention. In 1855, he was defeated as a candidate for New York Secretary of State.
He was the author of "Around the Pyramids", a book describing travels in Europe and the East (1863). Aaron married a daughter of Elkanah Watson and they had two daughters. He died 2 Mar 1867 at Georgetown (Washington), DC and was buried at Dale Cemetery, Ossining, NY.
Andrew Harrison Ward was born 3 Jan 1815 in Harrison County, Kentucky, a son of Andrew Ward and Elizabeth Headington. He attended Transylvania University, Lexington, Ky. He became a clerk on a steamboat on the Tombigbee River for several years, then studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1844. He set up practice in Cynthiana, Harrison Co., Ky. He was named City Attorney in 1860. Andrew was an unsuccessful candidate for the state house of representatives in 1861.
Andrew was elected to the Kentucky State House of Representative and serve 1863-1865. He lost a bid for Congress in 1864
Andrew was elected as a Democrat to the House of Representatives of the 39th US Congress to fill a vacancy and served 1866 to 1867. He did not seek reelection. He resumed his law practice at Cynthiniana.
Andrew married Elizabeth Ware in 1859. He died 16 Apr 1904 and was buried at Battle Grove Cemetery in Cynthiana.
Artemas Ward Sr. was born 26 Nov 1727 in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, a son of Nahum Ward Sr. and Martha Howe. He graduated from Harvard College in 1748. He was elected to the Massachusetts General Assembly and later served on the Executive Council.
Artemas served as a Justice of the Peace in Shrewsbury in 1752. In 1755 during the French and Indian War, he was a major in Colonel Abraham William's Regiment of Massachustts Militia. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel while serving under Gen. James Abercrombie and became commander of the 3rd Regt.
After the war, Artemas was elected to represent Shrewsbury in the Massachusetts Assembly. He was named to the Executive Council and took an active roll in the controversies between the elected Assembly and the appointed Royal governors. He was appointed a Brigadier General of the Massachusetts Militia in 1774 by the Massachusetts Provincial Congress while serving as a delegate in the legislature. In 1775 he was made Commander in Chief of Massachusetts Militia. He was commissioned Artemas was in overall command of the American forces at the Battle of Bunker Hill but was not at the battle site itself. He was also in command of the forces besieging Boston until the arrival of General George Washington, when he assumed second in command. Because of poor health, he resigned his commission in Apr 1776 but Washington asked him to continue until May.
Artemas was elected Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas of Worcester County in 1776 and as President of the Massachusetts Executive Council in 1777.
He was elected as a member of the Continental Congress in 1779 but because of poor health did not take his seat. He was elected as to the Massachusetts House of Representatives and served 1779-1785 and as Speaker in 1785.
Artemas was elected as a Federalist to the House of Representatives of the 2nd US Congress and reelected for a second term, serving from 1791-1795.
Artemas married Sarah Trowbridge in 1750 and they had 8 children, including Artemas Jr., who became a United States Congressman. Artemas died 28 Oct 1800 and was buried at Mountain View Cemetery, Shrewsbury.
Artemas Ward Jr. was born 9 Jan 1762 in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, a son of Congressman Artemas Ward Sr. and Sarah Trowbridge. He graduated from Harvard University in 1783. He then studied law and was admitted to the bar the same year. He set up practice in Weston, Ma. He was elected to the Massachusetts State House of Representatives and served 1796-1800. He then moved to Charlestown in 1800. He served as member of the Board of Overseers of Harvard, 1810-1844. He was elected again to the state legislature in 1811.
Artemas was elected as a Federalist to the House of Representatives of the 13th US Congress and reelected for a second term, serving 1813-1817. He was elected to the Massachusetts State Senate in 1818 and 1819. He served as a member of the State Constitutional Convention in 1820. He was elected Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas and served 1820-1839.
Artemas was honored by Harvard University in 1842 with a LL.D doctorate degree in laws.
Artemas married Catherine Maria Dexter and they had six children. He died 7 Oct 1847 at Boston.
Charles Bonnell Ward was born 27 Apr 1879 in Newark, New Jersey. He graduated from Pennsylvania Military College, Chester, Pa. in 1899. He moved to Debruce, Sullivan County, NY in 1903 and farmed. He became owner and editor of the Liberty Register newspaper at Liberty, NY from 1910-1928.
Charles was elected as a Republican to the House of Representatives of the 64th US Congress and to four additional terms, serving 1915-1925. He declined to seek reelection in 1924 and resumed his farming efforts.
He owned and operated the Debruce Inn Club until his death. He died 27 May 1946 at Debruce and was buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Newark, NJ.
David Jenkins Ward was born 17 Sep 1871 in Salisbury, Wicomico County, Maryland. He farmed and was engaged in lumbering and was a merchant at Salisbury. He was elected to the Maryland State House of Delegates, 1915-1917. He served as Chairman of the Democratic Party State Central Committee of Wicomico County, 1918-1926.
David was elected to the Maryland State Senate and served 1926-1934 and again from 1938 until he resigned in 1939.
David was elected as a Democrat to the House of Representatives of the 77th US Congress and reelected to a second term, serving 1939-1945. He lost a bid for reelection in 1944.
After he left office, he resumed his mercantile, lumber and real estate businesses. He died18 Feb 1961 at Salisbury and was buried at Parsons Cemetery.
Elijah Ward was born was born 16 Sep 1816 in (now Ossining), New York, a son of Israel and Sarah Ward and grandson of Moses Ward Sr. and Anna Sherwood. After obtaining a classical education, he entered commerce in New York City. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1843. He was elected president of the Mercantile Library Association in 1839. Elijah was named Judge Advocate General of New York and served 1853-1855. He served as a delegate to the Democratic Party National Convention in 1856.
Elijah was elected as a Democrat to the House of Representatives of the 35th US Congress in 1856 and served 1857-1859. He lost a bid for reelection in 1858. He won reelection in 1860 and was reelected for another term, serving 1861-1865. He was defeated for reelection in 1864 by a rival Democrat. During his tenure, he advocated building a canal from the Carribean Sea to the Pacific Ocean. He also advocated uniform bankruptcy laws, postal subsidies to steamships. He opposed a paper currency.
In congress he took part in the discussion of commercial questions, advocating an interoceanic canal, uniform bankruptcy laws, postal subsidies to steamships, and reciprocity with Canada, and opposing a paper
In 1871, in response to a request from members of Congress for an expression of his views, Elijah proposed freedom of commercial intercourse between the United States and Canada, on which subject he published two reports. His proposal was finally achieved in the 1990's when the North American Free Trade Association (NAFTA) was created, breaking down tariff barriers between Canada, the United States and Mexico.
Besides single speeches on commercial relations with Canada, the Geneva award, the Hawaiian treaty and the shipping act, a volume of his other speeches on commercial trade, "Financial, and other Subjects Speeches on Commercial," was published (New York, 1877).
Hallett Sydney Ward was born 31 Aug 1870 in Gates County, North Carolina, a son of Nathan O.Ward and Martha Matthews. He graduated from the University of North Carolina Law Department at Chapel Hill, NC in 1893. He was admitted to the bar the same year and set up practice at Winton, NC. He was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 1899 and 1901. He was elected Mayor of Plymouth, NC in 1902 and 1903.
He moved to Washington, NC and was elected Solicitor of the First Judicial District in 1904 and served to 1910.
Hallett was elected as a Democrat to the House of Representatives of the 67th US Congress and reelected for a second term, serving 1921-1925. He declined to seek a third term.
He was elected to the North Carolina Senate once again in 1931. He died 31 Mar 1956 at Washington, NC and was buried there in Oakdale Cemetery.
Hamilton Ward was born 3 jul 1829 in Salisbury, Herkimer County, New York. He was privately tutored and later studied law. He was admitted to the bar and set up practice in Belmont, NY in 1851. He was chosen District Attorney of Allegany County and served 1856-1859 and again 1862-1865. He was appointed in 1862 by the governor to be Commissioner to raise and equip troops for the union army during the War for Southern Independence.
Hamilton was elected as a Republican to the House of Representatives of the 39th US Congress and reelected to two additional terms, serving 1865-1871. During his tenure, he served as Chairman of the Committee on Revolutionary Claims. He did not seek reelection in 1870.
He was a delegate to most of the State Conventions from 1858 to 1890. He was elected Attorney General of New York and served 1880 -1881.He was a member of the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1890.
Hamilton was appointed a Justice of the New York State Supreme Court in 1891 and subsequently elected for a full term, serving from 1891 until his death 28 Dec 1898 at Belmont, NY. He was buried at Forest Hill Cemetery there.
James Hugh Ward was born 30 Nov 1853 in Chicago, Illinois. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame, Indiana in 1873 and graduated from Union College of Law, Chicago in 1876. He was admitted to the bar that year and set up practice. He was elected a Supervisor of the town of West Chicago in 1879.
James was elected as a Democrat to the House of Representatives of the 49th US Congress in 1884 and served 1885-1887. He did not seek reelection. He returned to his law practice in Chicago.
James died 15 Aug 1916 in Chicago and was buried in Calvary Cemetery there.
Jasper Delos Ward was born 1 Feb 1829 in Java, Wyoming County, New York, a son of Cincinnatus Ward and Eliza Wooster. He attended Allegheny College, Meadville, Pa. in 1849 and 1850 and then studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1852 and set up practice in Chicago, IL. He was elected to the Chicago Board of Aldemen in 1855, 1856, 1859 and 1860. During the War for Southern Independence, he enlisted in the Western Engineers Regiment and served about 8 months. He was elected to the Illinois State Senate and served 1862-1870.
James was elected as a Republican to the House of Representatives of the 43rd US Congress and served 1873-1875. He lost a reelection bid in 1874.
He was appointed United States District Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois and served 1875-1877. He moved to Colorado in 1877 and settled at the mining town of Leadville. He was appointed by the governor to be Judge of the Fifth Judicial District of Colorado and served 1881 to 1882. He declined to seek reelection to the office. He then moved to Denver and set up law practice there.
James married Emma Jane Raworth about 1854. He died 6 Aug 1902 in Denver. He was buried in Fairmount Cemetery there.
Jonathan Ward was born 21 Sep 1768 in Eastchester, Westchester County, New York, a son of Stephen Ward and Ruth Gedney. He became Assessor of Eastchester in 1791. He was elected Sheriff of Westchester County and served 1803-1806.
He was elected to the New York State Senate in 1807. Jonathan served on the council of appointment in 1809.
Jonathan was elected as a Democratic Republican to the House of Representatives of the US Congress and served 1815-1817. He served as a member of the New York State Constitutional Convention in 1821 and surrogate of Westchester County 1828-1840.
He married Sarah Brown. He died 28 Sep 1842 in Eastchester.
Marcus Lawrence Ward was born 9 Nov 1812 in Newark, New Jersey, a son of Moses Ward and Frances Brown. He became a candle manufacturer. He served as a delegate to the Republican National Conventions in 1860 and 1864. He was an unsuccessful candidate for governor of New Jersey in 1862.
Marcus was elected Governor of New Jersey in 1865 and served 1866 to 1869. He was elected Chairman of the Republican National Committee in 1866.
He was elected as a Republican to the House of Representatives of the 43rd US Congress and served 1873-1875. He lost a bid for reelection in 1874.
Marcus married Susan Longworth Morris in 1840 and they had eight children. He died 25 Apr 1884 in Newark, NJ and was buried there at Mount Pleasant Cemetery.
CONTINUED in Part 2
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