06 February 2011

Obituary for Cyrus D. Ward, Jr.

I found this obituary on the Ward-Surname Forum on Ancestry.Com.  No other citation is offered.  Cyrus D. Ward, Sr. was my g-g-g-grandfather.  Cyrus Jr. is the older brother of my g-g-grandmother Phoebe (Ward) Chesley.
Cyrus D. Ward was born July 1st, 1832 at Plattsburg, Clinton County, New York. 
He came west in 1868, settled in Mankato and in the early seventies came to Chippewa County [Minnesota] where he settled on a homestead and lived there until his death, Nov. 20, 1922. 
Mr. Ward was one of the early pioneers of this part of the country. At the time he settled on his homestead was before the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul R. R. came to Montevideo. There was a little village near where Montevideo now stands known as Chippewa City. [2007 update: this village was restored into a museum.] 
Mr. Ward was a man without an enemy in the world, he was respected and loved by all who knew him. 
He answered Lincoln's call for Volunteers when the Civil Was broke out, served two and a half years in the 16th N. Y. Volunteers. Among the battles he was in were Bull Run, Fredricksburg and Vicksburg. 
In 1859 he was married to Marion Danforth of Port Henry, N. Y. Twelve children were born, seven still survive; George of Port Henry, N. Y., Ed of Donnybrook, N. D., Linnie Cromwell of Red Stone, Mont., Alice Matthews of Minneapolis, may McGoech of Devils Lake, N. D., Mabel Post of Black River Falls and D. M. Ward of Havelock, with whom he has lived for the past 25 years, his wife having died about 30 years ago. 
The funeral was held today at 10 o'clock at the house. Interment at the Montevideo cemetery. [2007 update: Now known as Sunset Memorial] 
Rev. Seifert officiated. The deceased has been a member of the Methodist church the past 30 years. 
Such men as Mr. Ward were the real empire builders of the northwest.
Copyright © 2011 by Kevin W. Walker

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