Plumas-Lassen County CA Archives Biographies.....Ward, William T. 1802 - 1878
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Author: Fariss & Smith (1882)

JUDGE WILLIAM T. WARD, the first county judge of Plumas county, was born in
Cummington, Massachusetts, February 28, 1802. He was raised on a farm until
about eighteen years of age, when he quit farm life, moved to Vergennes,
Vermont, and embarked in the mercantile business. Here, at the age of 23 years,
he married Miss Harriet Sherill, and all of their children, except the youngest,
were born to them at this place. In 1836, in obedience to New England adventure
and enterprise, he moved west, and settled in Cleveland, Ohio. Here he invested
all his means in an iron foundery, and in commerce upon the lakes in connection
therewith, and did a large business until 1846, when he lost most all of his
property by fire. He then moved to Wisconsin, and engaged in the business of
milling and merchandising until the winter of 1852-53, when high floods
destroyed his mill property. He then turned his face toward the Pacific,
crossing the plains in the summer of 1853, and reached Plumas county late in the
fall of that year. He settled with his family in Indian valley, upon what was
then known as the Isadore, now called the Hickerson ranch. At the organization
of Plumas county he was called by the people from his farm life to the position
of county judge. This necessitated his removal to Quincy, the county seat, where
he resided until the close of his official term, in December, 1857, discharging
his judicial functions to the entire satisfaction of the public and with honor
to himself. He then returned to his home in Indian valley, and enjoyed the quiet
independence of farm life until the mining excitement of 1861, when he purchased
the Genesee mine near Genesee valley, in this county, and with his family moved
there, and continued to prosecute his mining operations until the death of his
wife in Angust, 1865. Shortly after, he went to Susanville to live with his son
John, remaining until 1875. While there he held for a number of years the
position of postmaster. He then removed to Quincy, where he resided till his
death, which occurred April 21, 1878. Judge Ward was a splendid type of that New
England manhood and persistent effort—that indomitable will and pluck which has
caused the stock of his native section to dominate so largely the institutions
of our country.

Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties

San Francisco: Fariss & Smith
(1882)


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