My Genealogy Hound

ARTHUR J. N. WARD, an enterprising lumberman and manufacturer of Enfield, Mass., was born in this town, June 11, 1849, son of Benjamin and Elizabeth W. (Hanks) Ward. The Ward family has been a prominent one in England for several centuries. Some of its early progenitors accompanied William the Conqueror from Normandy, and William de la Ward resided in Chester in 1175. The original ancestor in America was William Ward, who emigrated from Derbyshire in 1639, and from whom Arthur J. N. Ward is directly descended. Ebenezer Ward, Mr. Ward’s grandfather, was born July 19, 1773; and he became an early settler in Belchertown, Mass. He followed agricultural pursuits with prosperous results during the active period of his life, and died in Belchertown at an advanced age. He and his wife, Rebecca Randall Ward, raised a family of eleven children, of whom Benjamin, Mr. Ward’s father, was the eighth. All have now passed away.

Benjamin Ward was born in Belchertown in 1809. He learned the trade of a millwright, and in 1830 settled in Enfield, where he followed that occupation for some years. He later built a saw-mill, which he operated successfully for many years, becoming well and favorably known throughout this region. He was a sturdy, industrious citizen and an able business man, liberal in his religious views; and, like the majority of the old Whig element, he joined the Republican party at its formation. He died in Enfield, July 14, 1888. His wife, Elizabeth W. Hanks, who was born in Enfield in 1812, became the mother of two children, namely: Benjamin H., who was born July 25, 1844, and was accidentally killed in the saw-mill, May 10, 1861; and Arthur J. N., the subject of this sketch. The mother died October 8, 1884.

Arthur J. N. Ward was educated in the schools of his native town, and from an early age he has been engaged in the manufacturing of lumber. He entered into partnership with Cyrus F. Woods, and this firm has since been identified with the lumbering interests of Enfield. They cut, haul, and manufacture all kinds of native lumber, and operate two mills, which are equipped with improved machinery. They have handled as high as two million feet per annum, and they own about four hundred and eighty-four acres of timber land, from which they obtain their logs. Mr. Ward owns the old homestead of sixty-seven acres, where he resides; and this he conducts with good results. In politics he is a Republican, and is quite prominent in local public affairs. He has been a member of the Board of Selectmen for several years past, is also an Assessor, and is at the present time chairman of the Republican Town Committee.

Mr. Ward has been twice married. His first wife, Emma L. Witherell, whom he wedded September 20, 1871, died January 6, 1894, leaving no children. On January 16, 1895, he married for his second wife Lucy E. Fairbanks, a native of Ware, Mass. Mr. Ward is an enterprising and progressive business man and a highly esteemed citizen, who has contributed much toward the development of the natural resources of his native town.

A portrait* of this representative citizen appears on a neighboring page.

*Editor's note: Portrait was included in the original printed book.