Biography of Charles Rufas Ward, White County, Arkansas *********************************************************** Submitted by: Bonnie Palmer Date: Jun 1997 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ar/white/white.html *********************************************************** from The Pioneer, Vol. V, Maddox, White County, Arkansas, Apr. 1907, No. 4 CHARLES RUFAS WARD One of the greatest blessings that can accrue in a community is to be blessed with the old fashioned kind of families that have been successful in rearing a large family of well developed, healthy children. Families these days have dwindled in size, until it is a relief to a thorough old fashioned, liberty & loving, American citizen to meet up with such a family as that of Mr. Charles Rufas WARD, a brief family history of which follows: Charles Rufas WARD was born in Cherokee Co., NC, July 27th, 1840, and will consequently be 67 years old his next birthday. He was raised on a farm in that state until he was 18 years of age, when being of a patriotic disposition and aiding with the Union cause, he enlisted in Co. F. of the 5th Regiment, TN Mounted Infantry, Col. S. B. BOYD commanding. He served throughout the entire war, and was mustered out at its close, in 1865, with honor to himself and to the company & regiment he had born arms with. While not in any of the few great battles noted for numbers, he was in numerous smaller engagements, which were most bitterly contested, such as Spring Creek, GA, and Fishers Creek, TN. Mr. WARD was married July 14th, 1878, to Miss Margaret Elizabeth JAMES, at Columbia, TN. To them have been born 10 children, as follows: Auba Seaile, born July 30th, 1897; Berry De Lone, born February 5th, 1895; Charles Lawson, born July 4th, 1893; Rufus Cecil, born January 25th, 1892; George Henry, born Dec. 24th, 1889; Byrum Smith, born Dec. 13th, 1888; Warn Beaufort, born Dec. 13, 1886; Maggie Elizabeth, born Dec. 23rd, 1884; Emma Dale, born June 11, 1882, and James Tell, born April 11th, 1880. All the children are now living except Emma Dale, who died when 3 years, 3 months & 17 days of age, and Maggie Elizabeth, who died when only 6 days of age. This leaves 7 boys & 1 girl, (Miss Zuba Sealile), all living and all at home with their parents south of Pleasant Plains; all the children have so far remained unmarried. Mrs. Ward is a farmer, and after his marriage resided at Columbia, TN, for about 12 years; from there he moved to Hardin Co., TN, residing there about 14 years, and from there to White Co., AR, where he & his family have since resided.