This capable and progressive gentleman is one of the leading men of this vicinity, being a well-to-do and prominent farmer and was one of the promoters of the valuable Owyhee ditch, being an incorporator and one who led the enterprise to a successful issue. Mr. Ward was born in Quebec, Canada, on April 12, 186, the son of George P. and Elizabeth (Sherman) Ward. He spent his youthful days in the invigorating exercise of farm work and in gaining a good education from the public schools. At the age of twenty-two he left the parental roof for the world of labor and trial. His first work for himself was fireman on a locomotive and in due time he had mastered the engineer’s art and was installed as an engineer of a steam shovel and then handled an engine on the road. In 1880 he came to Oregon, engaging in the sheep business. It was at this time that he began the agitation of the Owyhee ditch proposition and was among the very first who conceived the plan. He has steadily labored and planned for this valuable consummation and now he has a tine quarter section well watered from this canal. It was in 1894 that he settled on the land now his farm, taking it by the homestead act. It is situated two and one-half miles southwest from Nyssa and is one of the tine farms of the country. He has large fields of alfalfa, tine orchards, a valuable residence with barns and outbuildings to match and shade and ornamental trees and tasty grounds. Mr. Ward has added forty acres by purchase, which gives him a very valuable estate. He has several thousand sheep and is one of the leaders in that industry.
The marriage of Mr. Ward to Miss Sylvinia, daughter of James and Sarah McConnell, was solemnized on November 16, 1896, and one child, George P., was born to them on February 16, 1898. Airs. Ward’s parents were formerly of Ontario, Canada, but went to New York and in 1885 the father died. The mother, with eight children, came to Caldwell, Idaho, and is now living at Owyhee. Mr. Ward came to this country with practically no means and he has won the mead of good success and a generous competence for the industry and wise management that he has bestowed here.
