BIOGRAPHIES
Source:
History of Richland Co., Ohio -
from 1808 to 1908
Vol. I & II
by A. J. Baughman -
Chicago: The J. S. Clarke Publishing Co.
1908
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MARION D. WARD,
secretary of the Mechanics' Building & Loan Association and
prominently connected with many of Mansfield's important
financial, commercial and industrial concerns, was born in
Weller township, Richland county, Ohio, on the 20th of
November, 1841. He spent his boyhood on teh home farm
and received his education in the district school and at the
Hayesville Academy, which he attended for two terms.
When twenty years of age he began teaching and during the
winter of 1861-62 taught a country school. On the 7th
of August, 1862, he enlisted for service in the Civil war as
a sergeant of Company D, One Hundred and Second Ohio
Volunteer Infantry, remaining with that company during its
entire campaign and participating in the battle of Athens,
Alabama, and intercepting Hood at Decatur, Alabama. He
served throughout the war and was mustered out July 7, 1865.
On returning to the home farm he taught school and also
singing school for nine winters.
On the 5th of November, 1873, Mr. Ward was
united in marriage, at the home of his bride's father, to
Mary Stevenson, a daughter of Samuel Stevenson, a
farmer and pioneer resident of Weller township. In
that township Mr. Ward taught school during the
following winter and in the spring of 1874 took up his abode
in Mansfield. From that time until the fall of 1877 he
served continuously as deputy auditor of Richland county,
being then elected auditor and serving as such until the
fall of 1880. Owing to his reelection at that time he
filled the position until the fall of 1883, having for two
terms of three years each been the capable and faithful
incumbent in the office. Upon retiring from public
service he entered the wholesale lumber business and, in
association with Merchant Carter, established
the firm of Carter & Ward. His connection with
lumber interests was thus maintained until 1893, and during
that time he was a member of the board of education for six
years, serving as its president for one year and as its
treasurer for three years. He was also a member of the
Richland Agricultural Society from 1875 until 1893, acting
as its treasurer until 1887, in which year he was elected
secretary. During his incumbency in that position,
which continued until 1893, improvements were made upon the
grounds and buildings of the society and additional grounds
were annexed at a cost of more than twenty-five thousand
dollars. In January, 1893, he was one of the
organizers of the Bank of Mansfield and became the assistant
cashier of the institution, while in the spring of 1897 he
became cashier, remaining in the latter capacity until the
spring of 1907. He then retired but still retains his
interest in the bank, being succeeded in the position of
cashier by his son, Stevenson E. Ward. He was
likewise one of the original stockholders of the Mechanics
Building & Loan Association when it was organized in 1886
and became its secretary in 1891, which office he still
holds. He was also one of the founders and organizers
of the Mansfield Telephone Company in 1898, which has proven
one of the most successful and most beneficial institutions
of the city, and has been secretary and Realty Company, to
the credit of which concern there stand many commodious and
substantial structures in this city. Among the various
other enterprises in Mansfield in which he is largely
interested are the Ohio Suspender Company, the Mansfield
Lumber Company, the Gallego Coal & Land Company and the Ohio
Timber Company, the two last named operating in West
Virginia. He has invested to some extent in Mansfield
real estate and among his holdings in his home at No. 117
North Mulberry street, where he has resided since
1879. History is no longer a record of wars, conquests
and strife between man and man as in former years but is the
account of business and intellectual development, and the
real upbuilders of a community are they who found and
conduct successful commercial and financial interests.
In this connection Marion D. Ward is widely known,
his cooperation having been sought in the establishment and
control of many of hte most important enterprises of
Mansfield.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ward have been born
four children, two sons and two daughters. The latter,
Mabel and Edna, are both at home.
Stevenson E., cashier of the Bank of Mansfield, married
Miss May L., a daughter of Jerry and Katherine
Sullivan, of Mansfield. M. D. Ward, Jr., is
a member of the firm of H. L. Bowers Cigar Company,
manufacturers of this city. He wedded Hazel,
the daughter of Louis and Ella Bowers of Mansfield.
A firm believer in the democracy, Mr. Ward took
an active part in the local work of that organization for
many years. That he has labored unselfishly for the
good of the community is shown in the fact that while
serving as trustee of the Orphans' Home for three years he
appointed a man of opposite political belief as
superintendent. On account of this he was asked to
resign but refused to do so, saying that politics should not
enter into consideration in caring for the children of the
county who were orphans. He was also instrumental in
having the Western Union Telegram Company's stock and other
stock taxed. He is a member of the Benevolent &
Protective Order of Elks, the Westbrook Country Club, and
his religious faith is indicated by his identification with
the First Methodist Episcopal church. He is very fond
of music and all out-of-door sports but of recent years has
indulged in the latter only as a spectator. He owns an
automobile, which furnishes him his principal source of
recreation, and he likewise has a fine library, being a
lover of good literature. Though modest and retiring
in disposition, his friends find him a genial, social
companion, and he stands today as one of the foremost
citizens of Mansfield by reason of his long residence here,
by reason of his active, honorable and successful connection
with its business interests, and by reason of the helpful
part which he has taken in promoting those plans and
measures that have been of direct benefit to the city.
Source: History of Richland Co., Ohio - from 1808 to 1908
-
Vol. I & II
by A. J. Baughman -
Chicago: The J. S. Clarke Publishing Co. -
1908 - Page 1047 |
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STEVENSON E.
WARD, the efficient and popular cashier of the Bank
of Mansfield, was born in this city July 22, 1879. His
father, M. D. Ward, also a native of Richland county,
was formerly cashier of the Bank of Mansfield, but is now
secretary of the Mechanics' Building & Loan Association,
which position he has held for twenty years. He wedded
Mary Stevenson, and further mention of him is made on
another page of this work.
Stevenson E. Ward was graduated from the
Mansfield high school in the year 1898 and subsequently
attended the University of Michigan until 1902, pursuing
both literary and law courses. On returning to this
city he became bookkeeper for the Mansfield Telephone
Company, his term as such extending throughout the entire
period of its construction. The plant was built by the
Everett-Moore syndicate, of Cleveland, with only a small
local interest, but, becoming financially embarrassed early
in 1903, it was purchased from them by Mr. Ward and
others, who assumed control on the 1st of November, 1903.
At that time our subject became general manager. This
company developed the entire county, having a plant in
Mansfield and exchanges in this city, Adario, Belleville,
butler, Lexington and Shiloh, a total system of more than
four thousand subscribers and an investment of over three
hundred thousand dollars. This wonderful growth has
been attained in five years and is attributable in no small
degree to the excellent executive ability and keen
discrimination of Mr. Ward in his position as
manager. The Mansfield exchange is noted as being one
of the best constructed in the country and the county system
is one of the best developed. Throughout the business
district their lines are all underground. Though still
retaining his interest and membership on the executive
committee, Mr. Ward resigned the management of the
concern on the 1st of January, 1907, on that date succeeding
his father, who had retired, as cashier of the Bank of
Mansfield. He is still filling that position and is
notably prompt and capable in the discharge of his important
duties.
On the 5th of October, 1904, at Mansfield, Mr. Ward
was united in marriage to Miss May L., daughter of
J. J. Sullivan, now deceased, who was a boiler
manufacturer and one of the most popular residents of
Mansfield. Mrs. Ward graduated from
Mansfield high school in the same class with her future
husband, and later completed a course in the Georgetown
convent. She is a niece of J. H. Barrett,
deceased, formerly general superintendent of the Southern
Railway, who transported all troops to the scene of conflict
in the Spanish-American war and was very highly complimented
by Secretary Root for his efficient service in that
direction. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ward has been born
one child, Mary Katherine, two years of age. In
his political views Mr. Ward is a democrat but has no
desire for official preferment, for he finds that his time
is fully occupied by other interests. He is secretary
of the Westbrook Country Club and is serving as exalted
ruler of the Elks lodge, while his membership relations also
connect him with the Masonic fraternity and Our Club.
His religious faith is indicated by his identification with
the First Methodist Episcopal church. He is a lover of
literature and spends most of his leisure time in reading,
while golf and tennis, of which he is very fond, also
furnish him recreation. Both he and his wife are
active and prominent in social and club circles and have
gained the high regard and esteem of all with whom they have
come in contact. Although still a young man he has
already won for himself a prominent position among the
representative business men of his native city and well
deserves mention as one of its substantial and enterprising
residents.
Source: History of Richland Co., Ohio - from 1808 to 1908
-
Vol. I & II
by A. J. Baughman -
Chicago: The J. S. Clarke Publishing Co. -
1908 - Page 847 |
| |
JOHN HARVEY WOODS,
a rural mail carrier living at No. 50 Glesner avenue
in Mansfield, was born Aug. 16, 1844, upon a farm in this county. His father,
James Woods, was a native of
Pennsylvania, and with his parents removed to Ashland county, Ohio,
in his childhood days. When he had
attained his majority he began farming on his own account across the line in
Richland county and was thus identified with agricultural pursuits in
Ohio until 1863, when he removed to
Indiana, where
his death occurred in 1865. His
entire life has been devoted to farming.
He wedded Mary Fifcoat, who
was born in Marion county,
Ohio, and they became the parents of four children;
John F., who, though a resident of Mansfield, is now sojourning in Los Angeles, California,
for the benefit of his health; William, a resident of Oklahoma; John H., of this review; and Ebenezer, deceased.
John Harvey Woods pursued his early
education in Quail Trap school in Springfield township until the age of sixteen
years, after which he devoted his undivided attention to the work of the home
farm, continuing thus to assist his father until he reached the age of nineteen
years. He had not yet attained his
majority when he offered his services to the government in defense of the Union,
enlisting at Mansfield on the 19th of August, 1862,
as a member of Company I, One Hundred and Twentieth O.
V. I. He served for three years, two months
and four days, and was discharged at Detroit,
Michigan, although the regiment was mustered out at
Columbus.
Mr. Woods, however, was at that time a messenger on
staff duty. He participated in the
battles of Chickasaw Bayou and Arkansas Post and went down the
Mississippi river to Young’s Point, where he was in camp for a time. With his command he afterward crossed
the river below Vicksburg
and participated in the battle of Thompson Hill, while later he took part in the
battles of Jackson and Black River and was also
present at the siege of Vicksburg
until its surrender. From the battle
of Arkansas Post he served as a messenger on special duty until the close of the
war, being connected with the staffs of
General Henseman, General Joseph Hooker, and others. Although he was not wounded in battle
he had met with an accident which, though seemingly slight, has since been felt. HE started with a message on a dark
night and, tripping on a rope, fell and hit a stake. The fall impaired his health and he
feels the effects to this day.
When the war was
over Mr. Woods returned to
Richland county and began to clerk for his brother. He afterward went upon the road as a
traveling salesman and subsequently was engaged in business on his own account
until about six years ago, when he began carrying the mails on rural delivery
route No. 7.
In 1873
Mr. Woods was united in marriage to Miss Emily A. Brown, who was born in
Medina county, Ohio,
and came with her parents to Richland
county at the age of sixteen years.
They now have one child, Cassius H.,
who was born in 1876 and after attending the public schools of
Mansfield
became a student in the dental department of the
Ohio Medical
University.
He was graduated in 1897 with the D. D.
S. degree and began the practice of dentistry in Bellville, where he remained
for six years. He afterward
practiced in
Mansfield for two and a half years, but
during the past four years awake, progressive business man. In 1899 he married
Miss Jeannette . Oberlin, a resident
of
Bellville, Ohio.
In his political
views Mr. Woods is a stalwart
republican and, keeping well informed on the questions and issues of the day, is
enabled to support his position by intelligent argument. Hew as born and reared in the faith
of the Seceders church, but both he and his wife are now members of the
Congregational church. They own an
attractive and well furnished home in the city, keep a team of horses and are
pleasantly situated in life.
Comparatively few men of Mr. .Woods’
years can boast of three years’ service as a soldier in the Union army and in
the years which have since come and gone he has proven himself equally loyal to
the interests of his country.
Source: History of Richland Co., Ohio - from 1808 to
1908 - Vol. I & II by A. J. Baughman - Chicago: The J.
S. Clarke Publishing Co. - 1908 - Page
1151
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