Johnson County ArArchives Biographies.....Ward, Andy F. 
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Robert Sanchez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00027.html#0006574 July 15, 2009, 10:44 am

Author: S. J. Clarke (Publisher, 1922)

ANDY F. WARD.
    Andy F. Ward, a coal operator of Clarksville, watchful of the signs of the
times and taking advantage of the business opportunities offered, thereby making
his way to success, is regarded as one of the representative residents of
Johnson county. He was born in Clarksville, April 14, 1869, and is a son of
David and Mary (Collins) Ward. The father was a native of Tazewell county,
Virginia, born in 1815 and his life record covers ?the intervening years to
1889. He was a son of David Ward, who was also born in Tazewell county,
Virginia, and who came to Arkansas in 1827. settling on a firm which he obtained
from the government. Not a furrow had been turned nor an improvement made upon
the land but he transformed it into a richly productive tract and as the years
passed became the owner of a large amount of land in this section of the state.
In fact he was the wealthiest man of his day in this section, owning not only an
extensive plantation but also a number of slaves. He left a will that is
recorded in the courthouse and is a somewhat unique and most interesting paper.
He married Ellen Cravens, representative of one of the prominent families of
Virginia and Arkansas. Their son, David Ward, father of A. F. Ward, was one of
those who went to California through the attraction of gold discoveries on the
Pacific coast. There he went through all of the experiences of life on the far
western frontier. He did not marry until he reached the age of fifty-four years
and until after his return to Arkansas. In Johnson county he wedded Mary
Collins, who was married three times, Mr. Ward being her third husband. She was
born in Johnson county and is still living at the notable age of ninety-eight
years. Her father was a native of Tennessee and became one of the pioneers of
Arkansas. Like his father, David Ward owned a large amount of land in Johnson
county and was quite successful in his business affairs. He voted with the
democratic party and his religious faith was that of the Presbyterian church. To
him and his wife were born two children, the eldest being a daughter, now Mrs.
Effie Dunlap of Clarksville, who was born in 1867.

    The son, Andy F. Ward was educated in the public schools of Clarksville and
started out in life on a farm. As the years passed he acquired a large amount of
land and in 1906 he became identified with the coal industry. He has handled
coal since that time and is now one of the well known and successful operators
in this part of the state. In 1901 he organized the Arkansas Fruit & Farm
Company and set out three hundred acres of fruit trees, being the first man to
engage in horticultural pursuits in Johnson county. Prior to this time he was
extensively engaged in breeding and feeding cattle. As his orchard began to bear
fruit he shipped a large amount of fruit from the county and made considerable
money on that venture. He managed the business for the company, but sold his
fruit interests about 1914 and is now concentrating his efforts and attention
upon the handling of coal. In business affairs he has ever displayed sound
judgment and unfaltering enterprise and steadily has his success increased as
the result of his close application and earnest purpose.

    In 1895 Mr. Ward was united in marriage to Miss Kittie King, who was born in
Johnson county, Arkansas, a daughter of Jasper King, a pioneer farmer of the
county. Mrs. Ward pursued her education in the Presbyterian College of
Clarksville and by her marriage she has become the mother of five children: Andy
F., Jr., who is engaged in the manufacture of fruit baskets and has developed a
large plant at Clarkesville; Allene, the wife of Pat McWilliams, assistant
cashier of the First National Bank at Clarksville and also engaged in the coal
business; Lucile, at home; J. D., who is a student in the Virginia Military
Institute at Lexington, Virginia; and King, who is attending the College of the
Ozarks in Clarksville. The parents are members of the Presbyterian church and
are interested in the moral progress and development of the city. Mr. Ward also
belongs to the Masonic fraternity and has taken the degrees of hoth the York and
Scottish Rites. He has membership with the Knights of Pythias and the Woodmen of
the World and his political allegiance is given to the democratic party, but he
has never sought nor desired office, preferring to devote his attention to his
business affairs. His entire time is given to his individual interests along the
line of mining and other business. He is connected with the Clark McWillams Coal
Company and the McWilliams Ward Coal Company and in addition he is a director of
the First National Bank and the May Marlar Wholesale Company, the Clarksville
Mercantile Company and the Clarksville Basket & Manufacturing Company. His
varied business interests indicate the prominent part which he plays in
connection with the development and upbuilding of the city. He certainly
deserves much credit for what he has accomplished. In the early days he chopped
wood, hauled it to town and in this way gained his start. He represents one of
the old pioneer families of the county. His grandfather in the paternal line
owned the land where Clarksville now stands and from that day to the present the
Ward family has taken active part in the progress and upbuilding of this section
of the state. Mr. Ward has served on the school board and has always been a
friend of education and of every progressive measure having to do with public
welfare, hut most of all his attention has been directed in the field of
business and his activities have ever been of a character which have contributed
to public progress and prosperity as well as to individual success.


Additional Comments:
Citation:
Centennial History of Arkansas
Volume II
Chicago-Little Rock: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
1922


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