Edward W. Ward, an old settler, and for many years one of the leading citizens and farmers of Cole County, Mo., is a native of Amelia County, Va., born December 23, 1810. His parents, Rev. William and Sallie (Elmo) Ward, were also natives of Amelia County, Va. The paternal grandfather, William Ward, was a native of Virginia, and a farmer by occupation, while the maternal grandfather, Col. Thomas Elmo, was a Revolutionary soldier. When Edward W. Ward was ten years of age his parents moved to Green County, Ky., where the father followed farming for many years. He reared a family of six children, who are named as follows: John B. (deceased), William T., who was a colonel in the Mexican War, and also a general in the War of the Rebellion, being under Thomas as a division commander, and it was in his division that Gen. Benjamin Harrison served as a colonel; he made his home at Louisville, Ky., until his death, and was at that time a member of Congress from that district; Edward W., Martha J. (deceased), wife of John A. Holden, M. D., of Louisville, Ky.; Franklin A. (deceased) and Susan (deceased). Edward W. Ward was reared to manhood on the farm, and at the age of nineteen was united in marriage to Miss Mary S. Winston, a native of Green County, Ky., and a daughter of Nicholas J. Winston. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Ward lived for three years in Green County, and then in 1835 moved to Missouri and settled in Cole County, seven miles south of Jefferson City, where he entered 500 acres of land. This he improved, and here he remained until 1864, when he moved to the old Dickson place, south of Jefferson City. He has here 400 acres of land, and has improved it to a great extent. To his marriage were born these children, viz.: William, a farmer of Cole County; Thomas W. (deceased), was a prominent attorney of Cole County, and held the office of assessor and deputy sheriff, was also school commissioner; he served in the Federal army during the war, and died in 1885 at the age of forty years; John B., a farmer of Cole County; Junius, now a farmer of Cole County, and Susan Elmo, wife of R. A. Foster, of Cole County. The mother of these children died in July, 1875, at the age of sixty-three years. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Previous to the war Mr. Ward was a Whig, but since then he has voted with the Democratic party. He has done much for the good of the county, and has contributed liberally to church and educational institutions. He is well known and universally respected by the people of Cole County.

Transcribed from:
History of Cole, Moniteau, Morgan, Benton, Miller, Maries, and Osage Counties, Missouri, Goodspeed Publishing Company (1889).