Brown-Johnson-Monroe County IN Archives Biographies.....Ward, James G. 1845 - 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/in/infiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com March 4, 2007, 5:29 pm

Author: B. F. Bowen (1904)

JAMES G. WARD, M. D.

   A man's reputation does not belong exclusively to himself, his friends and
the public generally having a certain property right therein. Every human being
submits more or less to the controlling influence of others, and with this aid
rises superior to environment and not infrequently becomes a leader of men in
the world of business, in the learned professions, in the political arena, or in
the realm of thought. There can be no impropriety therefore in justly reviewing
the career of an individual so far as it affects his public or business
relations, for by so doing the world is made acquainted with his actions, and
the young and rising generation learn to emulate his virtues and to catch
inspiration from his example. If he is honest and eminent in his chosen field of
endeavor, investigation will serve to heighten his fame and make plain the path
which others may follow to the same goal of success. The life of the
representative physician and enterprising citizen whose name appears at the head
of this article has had a pronounced influence for many years in the
professional circle in which he moves and the active interest he has manifested
in the welfare of the community has won for him high honor and universal esteem
as a man and citizen.

   Dr. James G. Ward is a native of Indiana, and was born in Johnson county on
August 25, 1845. His father, Rufus Ward, also a physician and surgeon and for a
number of years one of the leading men of his profession in Monroe county, was a
Virginian by birth, and the mother, who bore the maiden name of Clemintine
Alexander, first saw the light of day in Kentucky. Dr. Rufus Ward came to
Indiana in an early day with his father, Granville Ward, who was among the first
pioneers of Monroe county. He was reared and educated in the county of Monroe,
and after receiving his professional training located, in the early 'thirties,
at the town of Nineveh, Johnson county, where he practiced for more than a
quarter of a century, having been the first physician at that place. He achieved
distinctive success in his chosen calling, became widely and favorably known
throughout a large area of territory and as a public spirited man of affairs
exercised a strong and beneficial influence among his fellow men, who was-always
held in the highest personal regard. He found time amid the pressing claims of
his profession to devote to other lines of thought, having been a wide and
critical reader, a close observer and diligent student of the sacred scriptures,
which he accepted for his only rule of faith and practice. He held very
pronounced religious views, which his familiarity with Holy Writ enabled him
successfully to maintain, and as a sincere Christian his life and character were
salutary and above reproach. His wife was also a faithful and consistent
communicant of the same body of worshippers to which he belonged and, like him,
lived in harmony with her profession and made her presence a power for good
among her neighbors, friends and associates. Dr. and Clemintine Ward reared a
family of ten children, six sons and four daughters, the subject of this review
being the third of the number in point of birth. The father died in the month of
September, 1861, the mother surviving him a number of years, departing this life
in February, 1899.

   Dr. James G. Ward remained with his father until the latter's death and the
year following that event entered the army, enlisting in 1862 in Company I,
Tenth Indiana Cavalry, with which he shared the fortunes and vicissitudes of war
until the downfall of the rebellion. He was with his command throughout all its
various experiences of campaign and battle, bore himself as became a loyal son
of the North and a fearless defender of the national union and at the expiration
of his term of service was honorably discharged, being mustered out at
Vicksburg, Mississippi, at the close of the war.

   Returning home immediately after his discharge, the Doctor attended school
for a short time, after which, in 1867, he yielded to a desire of long standing
by taking up the study of medicine, chosing for his preceptor Dr. James Maxwell,
one of the leading physicians of Bloomington, this state. He continued his
researches and investigations under the able direction of that gentleman until
sufficiently qualified to practice and then entered upon the active duties of
his profession at the above place, where he remained from 1878 until the latter
part of 1881. On December 1st of the latter year he changed his location to
Georgetown, Brown county, and in due time built up a lucrative professional
business, which without interruption has steadily grown in magnitude and
importance to the present day. Animated by a laudable zeal to fit himself more
thoroughly for the duties of his noble calling, the Doctor, during the years of
1882-1883, took a course in the Central College of Physicians and Surgeons at
Indianapolis, since which time he has kept fully abreast the age in all matters
relating to medical science and takes high rank among his fellow practitioners
in this part of the state.

   Dr. Ward's practice not only takes a wide range, but is also firmly
established, his reputation as a successful healer and skillful surgeon being
such as to win him a warm and permanent place in the confidence of the people
among whom his talents are being exercised. He possesses many of the
qualifications of the' ideal family physician, the calm demeanor, the gentle
presence, and the tender touch which inspire confidence on the part of patients
and which have such marked influence sometimes in affecting cures. The Doctor
has a well equipped office, a good library and, when not responding to the calls
of his numerous patients, devotes his time to close study and painstaking
research. He maintains harmonious relations with the leading medical men of his
own and neighboring counties, observes the ethics of professional life, and is
popular with all with whom he comes in contact.

   Dr. Ward votes the Republican ticket, but is not a very active politician,
finding little time to devote to party affairs. In religion he subscribes to the
Calvinistic creed, belonging with his wife to the Presbyterian church, and his
fraternal relations include membership with the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows, in which he is a zealous and influential worker.

   In the month of March, 1864, Dr. Ward was united in marriage with Miss
Sarepta Peterson, daughter of Gambell Peterson, of Monroe county, to which union
have been born the following children: Ida, deceased; Rufus, who owns and lives
on a cattle ranch in California; Mahlon, deceased; Clementine, wife of James P.
Shafer, of Brown county; Harry, a resident of California, and Hannah J.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from

BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY
INDIANA

INCLUDING BIOGRAPHIES OF THE GOVERNORS AND OTHER REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS OF INDIANA

ILLUSTRATED

1904

B. F. Bowen PUBLISHER


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/in/brown/bios/ward876gbs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/infiles/

File size: 7.5 Kb