BIOGRAPHIES: Joseph Erwin WARD, Lima Township, Pepin Co., WI

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Submitted by:  oldstufn@hotmail.com  on  26 May 2005
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Joseph Erwin Ward, in former years a prominent citizen of Lima township,
Pepin County, who was also the owner of a considerable tract of land in
the adjoining township of Canton, Buffalo county, was a native of New York
State, but left his early home when a boy and come to Wisconsin, settling
at Brodhead in Green county, whence in 1852 he came to Pepin county with a
party of surveyors who proceeded on their way to survey lands on the sites
of the present cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Making his home in
Section 32, Lima township, Mr. Ward homesteaded a large tract of land just
across the county line in Canton township, Buffalo county, most of which is
now owned by his son, John P. Ward. He built the first frame house in this
vicinity, and his wife taught the first school, making use of her residence
as a schoolhouse until a building was erected for the purpose. She received
a certain amount for each pupil, but was obliged to take a part of her pay
in corn and other merchandise. In the meanwhile Mr. Ward spent his time in
clearing and developing his land, a task of considerable magnitude, buth in
which in time he made good progress. Thus he spent the rest of his life and
finally passed away. Though he never had any ambition for public office, he
occasionally yielded to desire of his friends and neighbors, and served on
the county board and in other official positions when his services were
needed. Mr. Ward married Esther Plumer, who is also now deceased. They were
the parents of four children, of whom the oldest was Nathaniel P.

-Transcribed from the "History of Buffalo and Pepin Counties Wisconsin, 
1919," page 631

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