From A Biographical History of Central Kansas, Vol. II, p. 806
published by The Lewis Publishing Co, Chicago & New York, 1902

CHARLES E. WARD, M.D.

   Charles E. Ward, a prominent and successful physician and surgeon of Little River, Kansas, was born in Meigs county, Ohio, June 2, 1865, a son of Mitchell and Catherine (Piper) Ward, natives also of the Buckeye state, where they were married.  The paternal grandfather of our subject, Joshua Ward, was a native of Ohio, was of English descent and was a blacksmith by trade.  His death occurred in the state of his nativity.  He was the father of eight children, namely:  William, Levi, Michael, Lycurgus, Martin, Mitchell, Rebecca, who became Mrs Vanschoyck, and Jane.  Mitchell Ward, the father of our subject, was reared in Columbiana county, Ohio, where he learned the blacksmith’s trade.  When a young man he removed to Meigs county, that state, and there followed his trade until the outbreak of the Civil war.  His loyalty then asserted itself and he became a member of Company B, Thirty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which was assigned to the Army of Cumberland.  He saw much hard service with his command, having participated in a number of hard-fought battles.  On the expiration of his three years’ term of enlistment he veteranized and remained in active duty until the close of hostilities, his services covering a period of over four years.  During his army career he received only slight wounds and was never taken prisoner, never failing to respond to roll call.  After a creditable military record he was again honorably discharged and returned to his home in Meigs county.

   He then purchased and located upon the farm where he yet resides and has since given his entire attention to agricultural pursuits, having abandoned the blacksmith’s trade except as he works for himself.  He has never aspired to political notoriety, and is a plain, honest farmer, honored and respected by all who has the pleasure of his acquaintance.  In his social relations he is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.  His first wife, the mother of our subject, was a daughter of Benjamin Piper, a native of Ohio and of Irish descent.  He was also a prominent farmer of Meigs county, Ohio, for many years, and his death there occurred when he had reached the ripe old age of ninety-five years.  His children were as follows:  John, James, Benjamin, Sarah, who became the wife of T McCally, and Catherine.  The children born unto Mitchell and Catherine Ward are:  Charles E, our subject; Benjamin and Sarah, who died when young; Eva, who became Mrs Webb; Hays; and Clarence.  The mother of this family was called to her final rest in 1882, in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which she was a worthy and consistent member.  The father was again married, choosing for his second wife Miss Irene Grate, a native of Ohio and a daughter of John and Esther Grate, and they had one child, George Ward.  Mr and Mrs Ward still reside on their old homestead in Ohio, where they are enjoying the fruits of a well spent life.

   Charles E Ward, whose name introduces this review, received his elementary education in the common schools of his native place, after which he was a student in Ewington Academy for four years.  After leaving that institution he was engaged in teaching school for five years.  When only fifteen years of age Mr Ward had begun reading medicine, and while following the teacher’s profession he also read medicine under the preceptorage of Dr G K Ewing, also accompanying him on his professional visits, and in this way he gained a thorough understanding of the diagnosing of disease.  The year 1887 witnessed the arrival of Dr Ward in the Sunflower state, and during his first three years in Kansas he was engaged in teaching school.  In 1890 he attended medical lectures at the Starling Medical College, of Columbus, Ohio, where he also took two full courses of study, graduating at that institution in 1892.  He next became a student in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, of Cleveland, Ohio.  Thus well equipped for the practice of his chosen calling, he came to Little River, Kansas, in the fall of 1892, where he immediately opened an office.  He soon became well known as an able and competent physician and surgeon, and as the years have passed he has built up a large and constantly increasing patronage, his ability being such as to gain for him the confidence and high regard of all with whom he comes in contact.

   On the 22^nd of April, 1895, occurred the marriage of Dr Ward and Mrs Eva L Dary, who was born in Illinois, July 17, 1868, a daughter of William and Rosamella (Hoyt) French, natives of Ohio.  The father was a farmer by occupation, and his death occurred in May, 1891, but his widow is still living and now makes her home in Geneseo, Kansas.  They became the parents of nine children, namely: Curtis; Rosetta; Elizabeth, now Mrs Brubaker; William; Rhoda, now Mrs Gable; Mary, who became Mrs Brooks; Eva L, the wife of our subject; Oliver; and Maggie, who became Mrs Adams, but is now deceased.  The parents were consistent and worthy members of the Christian church.  Eva L Ward came to Kansas with her parents when twelve years of age, and was here married to Mr Dary, a native of Canada, who was then employed as a clerk in a hardware store.  They had one child, Velma, who was born in 1889, and she is now being reared in the home of Dr Ward.  The union of Mr and Mrs Ward has been blessed with one son, Charles E, who was born June 11, 1898.  Dr Ward is a prominent Mason, being a member of Little River Lodge, No. 194, and is also a member of the Woodmen of the World and of the Knights of Pythias fraternity.  The family occupy a leading position in social circles, where true worth and intelligence are received as the passports into good society.  In his business ventures the Doctor has been very successful, his enterprise and energy overcoming all obstacles and enabling him to reach the plane of affluence.