Giles Ward, one of the pioneers of Clayton Co., was born on March 4, 1826, in Huron County, O., and was a son of Noah P. and Elizabeth Ward, nee Clarey. His father was a native of Massachusetts, his mother of New York. The family removed to Erie Co., N. Y., where Giles was reared and educated, and where they resided until 1844, when they located in McHenry County, Ill. The subject of this memoir came to Clayton County in 1848, and pre-empted 240 acres of land, this being the first entered in the township. He has made many valuable improvements on his farm, which is one of the finest in the county. Mr. Ward has been thrice married, first on Sept. 6, 1856, in Walworth County, Wis., to Mary Milner, who died Jan. 25, 1858, having been the mother of two children, one living-- Anna, now Mrs. Pierce Gray, of St. Louis, Mo. His second marriage occurred on Jan. 30, 1859, to Caroline Godfrey. Their union was blessed with four children, two living-- George and Nellie. Mrs. Caroline Ward died Nov. 2, 1876, and he was again married Sept. 1, 1878, to Mrs. Rosanna E. Noble, nee Holt. Mrs. Ward had five children by her first husband-- Eddie L., Elsie F., Merrill A., Nora A. and Jesse W.; these are all living. Mr. Ward is the present Township Treasurer, and is one
of the men to whom much credit is due for his enterprise
in braving the hardships of pioneer life in the West. source: History of Clayton County, Iowa, 1882, p. 704 |
