John Nelson Ward was born December 31, 1841 in Pickering, Canada to John Ward and Eunice Demaray.
John served in the Civil War from August 12, 1862 to August 25, 1865. He was a Sergeant in Company C, the 32nd Regiment of Iowa, the Infantry Division.
John married Emma Jane Harris on December 3, 1870 in Black Hawk County, Iowa. Emma was born June 25, 1854 in DeKalb, Illinois.
John died on January 11, 1894 in Waterloo, Iowa. His obituary follows.
John and Emma had 12 children:
From the Vermillion Plain Talk, January 17, 1894:
The Funeral Held at the House in Riverside Township Sunday -
The Remains Interred in the Vermillion Cemetery Monday Afternoon
Word was received in this city Saturday about noon, that John N. Ward, former resident of this city and at one time a member of the board of County Commissioners, had been killed in a wreck near Waterloo, and that Mrs. Ward had been slightly injured.
It was not until Sunday morning that the correct facts were received, when several citizens and Miner Post G.A.R. of this city immediately started for Mr. Ward's home in Riverside Township to attend his funeral.
It appears that Mr. and Mrs. Ward had been visiting at their old home at Waterloo, Iowa for about two weeks and were about ready to start home again. Mr. Ward had bought some blooded hogs of a breeder living south of Waterloo and was waiting delivery at Waterloo, but the party failed to appear and Mr. Ward concluded to drive to see the party and investigate the non-fulfillment of the agreement. He accordingly bundled up with two overcoats over which he wore a heavy fur overcoat, and his cap pulled down over his ears and the side curtains of his buggy closed, he started make the trip. His route laid south of town along the track of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern railroad. After he had gone some distance a train of cars passed him on the road. Going some distance further it became necessary for him to cross the track. Just as the horse had gotten across the railroad crossing a second train of cars came thundering along and struck the buggy in which Mr. Ward was riding, smashing the vehicle into a thousand pieces and throwing Mr. Ward into the air. The horse was also devested of its harness, nothing being left on the animal but the bridle. Mr. Ward must have been struck by the boiler head for his back was broken and two great gashes were made in his head. The wind was blowing hard from the south at the time, and being heavily wrapped and somewhat hard of hearing the unfortunate man did not hear the terrible engine of death as it approached and probably never knew what hit him.
The body was held over one day at Waterloo and was brought to Wakonda Sunday where it was transferred to the homestead in Riverside township. The funeral service was held at the family residence on Sunday at 2 o'clock p.m., Rev. C. R. Pattee, D.D., pastor of the First M.E. Church at Centerville officiating. A large crowd of friends and neighbors were in attendance to pay their last respects to a neighbor and friend who was held in universal esteem.
Monday morning a party of neighbors, accompanied by representatives of the Wakonda G.A.R. post and also the representatives from Hanson McCook Post at Centerville started for Vermillion with the remains. They were met a mile out by representatives on Miner Post No. 8 G.A.R. of this city and the remains were escorted to the cemetery where they were laid to rest after a buried G.A.R. ceremony.
John Nelson Ward was born at Pickering Canada West on the 31st day of December, 184, and was consequently a few days past 52 years old at the time of his death. On the 3rd day of December 1873, he married Miss Emma J. Harris at Waterloo, Iowa. He came to Vermillion in the spring of 1873, since which time he has been a resident of the city, most of the time and of the county continually. Of his war record we can get little information except that he was a private in Company C, 32nd Iowa Infantry and during his service was a faithful soldier which record characterizes his subsequent life. During his stay here he was in the dray business a good share of the time and also engaged for some little time in mercantile pursuits. He served one term as a member of the board of county commissioners, having been elected from the middle range to take the place of John E. Norelius in the fall of 1889. During his three years service he was always watchful of the public interests, just to all and liberal in his treatment of public affairs. He leaves a wife and nine children and some personal property aside from his Riverside farm. He had no life insurance. John Ward had many friends, and few, if any enemies where ever he went and the community where he has been a valuable citizen for so many years mourns with his family for his untimely death.
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