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1890 Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Story County, Iowa

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the following year he came to Story County, which has continued to be his home up to the present time. Soon after coming here he entered one-quarter section of land one mile south of Nevada, but sold the same in 1855 and bought his present farm, one mile east of the town, it comprising 165 acres. In addition to doing ordinary farming/he has been an extensive raiser of fruit, and has an exceptionally fine vineyard. In 1861 he enlisted in Company G, Fourteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and after serving for nearly two years, he was honorably discharged on account of physical disability. He came home, and after fully recovering his health, which was near the close of the war, he enlisted in the Iowa State Troops, and was commissioned first lieutenant by Gov. Stone, to protect the inhabitants from the depredations of the Sioux Indians. Although formerly a Republican in his political views, he is now a Greenbacker, and socially is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Nevada Lodge No. 99. October 11, 1863, he was married to Miss Julia Romane, who was born in Parke County, Ind., a daughter of Isaac Romane, a Kentuckian. Mr. Walker planted the first tree that was ever set out in Nevada, which was in the spring of 1855.

Mrs. Orris (Morgan) Ward is a resident of Franklin Township, Story County, Iowa, but was born in Butler County, Ohio, September 21, 1830, being the eldest of five children, whose names are as follows: Senaca (who died at the age of forty years), John (who is married and is a farmer and stock-raiser of Fremont County, Iowa), Ruth (who was the wife of Joseph. Duncan, died at the age of forty years, leaving seven children), and Josiah (who is a farmer of Nebraska). All of Mrs. Ward's brothers were soldiers in the Union Army during the Rebellion. Her father was a native of Wales, but immigrated to the United States when he was twelve years of age, and, although he followed the trade of a tanner, he also owned a farm, his first location being in Butler County, Ohio, later in Indiana, and finally in Iowa. He died at the age of seventy-four years, his wife's death occurring at about the age of forty years. Although she was born in Ohio, her parents, whose names were Whipple, were born in Vermont, and, being themselves, intellectual and intelligent, were earnest advocates of the cause of education. Mrs. Ward obtained her education in the old subscription schools of Ohio, and on September 10, 1848, was married in Parke County, Ind., to Hiram Ward, a native of Grayson County, Va., and by him became the mother of six children: Elizabeth (wife of James Reese, a brick and stone mason, of Boone City, Iowa, by whom she has two little daughters), Ruth (is the wife of Henry Shepherd, a bridge contractor and builder at Omaha, Neb.), Ezra (is farming near Sioux City, Iowa, and is married to Miss Belle Briley, by whom he has two children), Morgan (who resides with his mother on the old homestead), Senaca (who also lives with his mother), and Hiram (who is now in Empire City, Colo., engaged in silver mining). Mrs. Ward is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at West Boone, and is also an attendant at Ontario. She and her husband were deeply interested in the erection of the beautiful church at West Boone, and, besides contributing liberally to aid in its erection, they have always given of their means in the support of worthy enterprises. Mr. Ward was a man who possesed numerous worthy qualities, and, although he always insisted on having his rights, he had a wholesome respect for the rights of others, and in every instance endeavored to follow the teachings of the Golden Rule. He was a devoted husband and father, a benevolent citizen, and

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