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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Union County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Daniel W. Ward, one of the leading and substantial farmers of the county, owes his nativity to Alabama, that State being the birthplace of many of the representative citizens of Union County. He was born on August 23, 1837, and his parents, Solomon and Rachel (Jones) Ward, were natives of South Carolina and Alabama respectively, the father’s birth occurring on August 27, 1802. To their marriage were born ten children—five sons and five daughters: Mary A., William A., Harriet B., Caroline L., John J., Francis M., Solomon L., Martha J. and Amanda C. The father followed farming in Alabama until 1839, when he emigrated to Arkansas and located in Union County. There his wife died and in 1857 he married Miss Margaret G. Ryals, who was born in Alabama and who bore her husband two children: Eugene P. and Willie S. Mr. Ward was one of the prominent men of the county, and always contributed liberally to all worthy movements. He was also quite active in politics. He died in 1867. Daniel W. Ward attended the schools of Union County, Ark., and after growing up was united in marriage to Miss Sarah E. Groves on December 23, 1857. She was a native of Alabama, and by her marriage became the mother of four children: Calvenia I., Harriet A., William L. and Daniel O. Mr. Ward is a farmer by occupation and is the owner of 160 acres of land, fifty acres of which are under cultivation. He served in the Confederate army during the late war, enlisting in Company C, Twenty-eighth Louisiana, in 1862, and was under Gen. Dick Taylor. He was in all of the principal engagements west of the Mississippi River, and was discharged in 1865. Returning home he first began teaching and farming, but later gave up the first and devoted his entire time to the duties of his farm. He held the office of justice of the peace for two years, and he and Mrs. Ward are members of the Baptist Church, of which he is deacon.

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This family biography is one of 84 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Union County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Union County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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