[p. 903] resides upon a farm of 121 acres in Wayne Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and is a well known and prosperous citizen. He was born in that township January 6, 1849, and is a son of Levi and Jane (Bennett) Ward.
The Ward family is one of the oldest of the county. William Ward, grandfather of Robert B., came to Wayne Township as early as 1796, it being at that time a part of Beaver County. He had 100 acres of land there and erected a log cabin which stands at the present writing, being located in what is known as the Newton and Houk Hollow. He married a Miss Shoemaker and the following were the offspring of their union: John, who married Dorothy Lee, lived and died on the old homestead; William Ward, who first married a Miss McGregor, and afterwards Catharine Hunter, moved to Mercer County, Pennsylvania, where he owned a farm, and for a number of years followed his trade, that of a carpenter; James married a Miss Leslie and lived in Wayne Township some years, later moving to Mercer County, where both passed away; David, the only member of the family now living, has been a resident of Indiana since he was a young man and is now nearly ninety years of age; Milo died in infancy; Levi; Cynthia became the wife of William Cotterson; Lavina was the wife of William Bennett; Angeline married James Cunningham; Delilah married Smith Cunningham, and Elizabeth became the wife of James Moore and moved to Illinois.
Levi Ward was born in Wayne Township, March 18, 1821, and died April 26, 1900, in his eightieth year. He purchased the farm on which his son Robert B., now lives in 1856 , and lived there until his death. In 1862 he erected the barn now standing, and the splendid brick residence which adorns the place, in 1872. He married Jane Bennett, who was born about the year 1824, and died March 4, 1882. They were parents of the following children: Elizabeth, who died in infancy; Minerva, deceased wife of Thomas McConaghey; Mary, who is the wife of Smith Cavan and resides in Beaver Falls; Delilah, who married Frank Kingston and resides in Wayne Township; Robert Bennett; Amos, who married Rosella Friday, is now deceased; Frank, who married Frances Grandy and resides in Nebraska; James, who married Kate Kingston and is a successful farmer of Wayne Township, and John S., who is married and resides in Kentucky.
Robert B. Ward was in his early boyhood when his parents located upon his present farm, in 1856, and he was here reared to manhood, his wife being reared on an adjoining farm. After his marriage he resided for some years in Perry Township, Lawrence County, but upon the death of his father returned to the home place, which he purchased. He has a fine farm of 121 acres, well improved and all under a high state of cultivation and he has been more than ordinarily successful.
In 1887 Mr. Ward was united in marriage with Agnes Mehard, who was born in Wayne Township, and is a daughter of James and Mary (Martin) Mehard. Her father was six years of age when brought by his parents from Ireland to America, in 1816, he being a son of James and Christina (Orr) Ward [sic]. The grandfather first settled in Zelienople, Pa., and then came to Wayne Township. James Mehard, Jr., was one of the following children born to his parents: William; Samuel; Joseph; Thomas; Robert; James; Matilda, wife of William Davidson; Anna, wife of Thomas Davidson, and Elizabeth, wife of John H. Wilson. James Mehard, Jr., was joined in marriage with Mary Martin, a daughter of William and Mary Martin. She was born in Ireland and was a child when her parents came to America, early in the nineteenth century. Mrs. Ward is one of the following children born to her parents: Christina, wife of Thomas Wilson; Mary, who married J. C. Cunningham; Elizabeth, who died young; Margaret Jane; Agnes (Ward); James Robert, who married Lavina Cunningham; Thomas, who died young, and William Martin, who married Miss Essie Harbison and resides at Ellwood City.
Robert B. Ward, his wife and daughter, Miss Mary, are members of the Slippery Rock Presbyterian Church. He is a Democrat in politics, as his father was before him, and has served as tax collector, clerk and road supervisor of Wayne Township. He stands high in the esteem of his fellow citizens, and is a man of enterprise and public spirit, taking an active interest in all that pertains to the welfare of his home community.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
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