All of the above are copied just as they are in the Bible(s). Various spellings such as Sherman/ Shearman, married/maried/marid; borne/born; Catharine/Cathrine and so forth are as they are recorded.
One caveat in regard to these records. The oldest appear to be dim in places and someone unfortunately tried to darken them. I assume this occurred when the JLD Ward Bible was taken to a copy shop. This was probably in the 1960’s. Altho such overwriting is not recommended, the original data did not appear to have been changed.
The Wards moved to Bartow County about 1867/1868. The births therefore of their children occurred in Clarke/now Oconee County, Ga in the Salem District. Place of marriages and deaths of their immediate family can be assumed from this time.
Two exceptions are the deaths of John S. Ward and Thaddeus C. Ward who both died in service in the Civil War. From his record as well as certificates from the Confederate government, John S died in 1862 in Goldsboro, N. C. of complications of measles, not wounds, approximately 6 weeks after he enlisted. It states that his father JLD Ward obtained a settlement of $44.23 for pay and adjustments for clothing. Family tradition says that he was buried in the family cemetery in Clarke County (not yet found), but after the family moved to Bartow they went back and brought his body “to the garden.” The gruesome details regarding the move was that the wagon’s load became lighter and lighter as they traveled--meaning that the body was turning to dust. After that a second move of the body was made--from the garden up to a spot on the hill across from the Ward home on Halls Station Road. That old cemetery has been basically abandoned since in 1993 Mrs. Maurine McDonald had the 2 original granite stones (for John L.D. Ward and N.F. Ward moved to Mt. Carmel Methodist Church and had markers erected for Catherine Ward, Ella Dansler Ward “and Baby 1876*”; and 2 government markers for John S. Ward and Thaddeus C. Ward. These are placed in front of the Ward/Smith rock-walled lot.
Thaddeus C. Ward’s military record as well as Maurine McDonald’s personal memoirs show that he died about April 1862 (not 1864 as is on the marker) after being ill or injured in a Richmond Virginia hospital and there is no mention that family obtained the body.
John L. D. Ward was killed in a buggy accident at the railroad crossing in front of the Ward home on Halls Station Road, living only until the next day.
There are 2 John S. Wards. The older is the soldier who died in 1862. The younger born Feb 20 1870 is the son of Nancy F. Ward and James K. Ward (cousins).
*This “baby” presents a problem. The JLD Ward Bible states that Catherine Dinon Ward was born Sept 6, 1876. Her mother (Ella F Dansler Ward, 1st wife of Calvin J. Ward) died Nov 16,1876. The child Catherine Dinon Ward, called “Kate” is proven to have survived at least until the 1880 census. At that time due to a conflict with Calvin Ward’s new 2nd wife, the little girl went to live with her aunt and uncle John and Netta Ward Edwards at Halls Station. There she is listed as “niece”, age 3. The conclusion must be that the “Baby” listed on the grave marker must refer to Kate who lived to be at least over 3 years old. |
