N. R. Ward owns and operates and excellent farm of one hundred and thirty acres on sections 5 and 8, Richland township, and in the conduct of his agricultural interests is meeting with well merited success. His birth occurred in De Kalb county, Illinois, on the 6th of March, 1855, his parents being Marcine and Rachel (Babcock) Ward, both of whom were natives of Canada. In 1854 they removed to De Kalb county, Illinois, taking up their abode in the city of De Kalb, where the father worked as a shoemaker. Subsequently he removed to Missouri, later came to Adair county, Iowa, and some years afterward established his home in Nebraska, where both he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. They became the parents of eleven children, eight of whom survive.
N. R. Ward received a common-school education in his youth and after attaining his majority left the parental roof and followed farming as a renter for some years. In 1882 he removed to Nebraska and in that state lived for thirteen years. He homesteaded a farm and his first dwelling was a sod shanty, which remained his home for six years. On the expiration of that period he sold the place and for two years engaged in merchandising but then again turned his attention to agricultural pursuits and continued farming in Nebraska for five years more. In the fall of 1894 he returned to Adair county and here cultivated a rented farm for three years before purchasing his presenst place of one hundred and thirty acres in Richland township. He has made many substantial improvements on the property, erecting good buildings for the shelter of grain and stock and otherwise enhancing its value. His undertakings as an agriculturist have been attended with a gratifying measure of success and he has long been numbered among the prosperous and enterprising citizens of the community.
In 1876 Mr. Ward was united in marriage to Miss Emma Ewing, a native of Adair county, Iowa, and a daughter of T. M. and Elizabeth (Evans) Ewing, the former born in Ohio and the latter in Wales. In 1855 they took up their abode on a farm in Adair county, Iowa, and here Mr. Ewing continued to reside until within a few years of his demise, which occurred in Fontanelle, December 31, 1908. His wife is still living and has now attained the age of seventy-six years. To them were born ten children, seven of whom survive. To Mr. and Mrs. Ward have been born eight children, as follows: Elsie M., who is deceased; Grace C., the wife of W. S. Bennett; Pearl, who gave her hand in marriage to George Thompson, of Mount Etna, Adams county, Iowa; Ralph M. and Fred E., both of whom have passed away; Avery E., a resident of Greenfield; and Floyd and Ernestine, both at home.
Mr. Ward gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has served in the capacity of school director, the cause of education ever finding in him a stanch champion. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, belonging to Lodge No. 138, A. F. & A. M. As a citizen of Adiar county he has assisted to the extent of his ability in advancing its interests and may be depended upon to give his support to every measure that will promote the public good. | 
