Luther O. R. Ward, farmer, section 34, Austin Township, is a son of John and Catherine (Quigley) Ward, natives of New York and both now deceased. They were of mixed English, Irish and German ancestry, and before their marriage had moved to Ontario, Canada, where Mr. Ward was born, in the county of Brant, April 3,1841. He passed the years in his early life on his father's farm and at school, and when he was 20 years old he went to an adjoining county and worked as a farm and mill can until the spring of 1863, when he settled in Austin Township and bought 80 acres of timbered land. He built the usual pioneer's cabin, with puncheon floor, and had no sawed lumber in the house except in the door. After a few months Mr. Ward returned to Canada and married, at St. George, Brandt County, Dec. 9,1863, Clarissa A., daughter of David and Martha (Cornell) Davis, of English descent and natives of Canada. She was born Nov. 29,1841, and died Feb. 8, 1873, a! t her home in Austin Township, leaving four children: Laura, born Nov. 15,1864; Rosa, May 7,1866; John, April 6,1868, and George, May 31, 1871.
Mr. Ward has been actively engaged in farming since 1863, he put his plays in first-class condition, and always 40 acres of land in an adjoining Township. He was again married June 8, 1874, to Mrs. Sarah McGill, widow of Wm. McGill, who was born in Ontario, Canada, Aug. 1,1845, and died Nov. 8, 1873, at Grand Rapids, leaving his wife and one child, Mary, born Feb. 12, 1871. Mrs. Ward was born in Ontario, Canada, May 25, 1845, and is the daughter of John and Sarah (Burley) Austin, natives of New England and of German descent. Of the second marriage of Mr. Ward there is one child, William, born May 12, 1875. Mr. and Mrs. Ward are members of the M. E. Church, of which Mr. Ward is Steward. He is a working Republican, and has been Supervisor of his township one-year, Treasurer one term, etc.
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