WARD, Robert Albion, b 1878; 1905 Bio, Saugache County, Colorado http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/saugache/bios/wardra.txt --------------------------------------- Donated September 7, 2001 Transcribed by Judy Crook from the book: Progressive Men of Western Colorado Published 1905, A.W. Bowen & Co., Chicago, Ill. --------------------------------------- Robert Albion Ward Born and reared on the soil of Saguache county, this state, and educated in the common and high schools of its seat of government, Robert A. Ward is wholly a product of the county, and all his years from the time when he was first able to work have been devoted to its welfare. It is to him, therefore, not only home but the place of nativity, and as he has drawn from its products his stature and his strength, it is the embodiment of his loftiest and most potential aspirations in civil and domestic life, appealing to him as the worthiest section of our common country for the expenditure of his talents and vigor in the promotion of its multiform interests, and awakening his pride and patriotism by every phase of its growing greatness and power. His life began here on February 10, 1878, and he is the son of Nathan and Julia A. Ward, the former born in England and the latter on an island in the St. Lawrence river. The mother was reared in Iowa where her parents settled in 1852. Nathan Ward was a farmer in Iowa until 1859, then gathered his household goods and effects about him and moved to this state, coming overland in a train of teams with cattle and other necessaries, and encountering all the dangers, suffering all the hardships and feeling all the apprehensions of the hardy adventurers of those days, who took their lives in their hands and boldly strode into the wilderness to better their fortunes and aid in founding new states. The train in which he traveled met many bands of Indians, but suffered no damage from them. But when they arrived at their destination, which was California Gulch near the site of the present city of Leadville, they found their own race more cruel than the wild men of the plains. The father remained at California Gulch until the beginning of the Civil war in 1861, then, in obedience to one of the first calls for volunteers to defend the Union, he enlisted in Company D, First Colorado Cavalry, and in this command he served to the close of the war. He was in much active service, and almost continually exposed to danger on the march and the battlefield, but he escaped without disaster; and after the close of the mighty conflict, he made trips to New Mexico, Texas and Missouri, prospecting for a suitable site for a permanent location. He was also in the party which for some time pursued the notorious James boys, another engagement fraught with hazard and full of exciting adventure. After they were captured, he returned to Colorado to live, as he had been here from time to time after the war, and in this state he has since made his home. He is now an honored resident of Canyon City, and one of the leading men of that portion of the state. For a number of years he farmed in the vicinity of Denver, raising large quantities of potatoes with which to supply the mining camps near that city. In 1868 he located in Saguache county, in which he was the fifth permanent settler. On homestead, timber culture and pre-emption claims he secured four hundred and forty acres of good land, and to the improvement of this he devoted many years of his later life. On his land he carried on extensive ranch and stock industries, expanding in volume and value from year to year, until he retired from the place and left its management to his son, the immediate subject of this article. The father is a Republican in politics and a Freemason in fraternal life. He always took an earnest and helpful interest in county affairs while living in this county, and served the people well as county commissioner for two terms. While in that office he was indefatigable in his efforts to secure good roads and similar public improvements, and the pace he set in this regard so impressed the people that it has never been slackened since. During his early residence here Indian scares were not frequent, and while game was plentiful, antelope seemed to be more abundant than other forms of it. There were four children in the family. Of these Eva died, and William L., Robert A. and Bertha N. are living. Robert has always lived on the farm. After completing his education at the Saguache high school he turned his attention wholly to the interests of the home place and to them he has steadily devoted it ever since. The ranch is well fenced, improved with good buildings, abundantly supplied with water, and wisely and vigorously cultivated. Its crops of hay and grain are large and excellent in quality, and its widely known herds of Shorthorn cattle and well bred horses are among the most valuable in the county. The son, like his father, is a stanch Republican, and like his father too, he has been successful in his undertakings and risen to a high place in the public regard, winning his way by demonstrated merit and worthy attention to all the duties of good citizenship. He was married on February 8, 1902, to Miss Minor Belle Harness, a native of Illinois reared in Wisconsin. They have had two children, a daughter Hazel who died, and one named Mildred who is living. Young, capable , diligent and upright, Mr. Ward may confidently look forward to a career of increasing usefulness and honor. =================================================== Contributed for use by the USGenWeb Archive Project (http://www.usgenweb.org) and by the COGenWeb Archive Project USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. 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