Jesse Ward

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Jesse Ward

Source: History Morris County New Jersey, Volume II, Lewis Publishing Co., 1914

The WARDs had been famous as founders, builders and business men from the time they came to England in 1066 with William the Conqueror, to the landing of the Connecticut Pilgrims in Newark in 1666, and the history of the family is interwoven with the growth and prosperity of New Jersey up to the present time. From the coat-of-arms and motto of one branch of the family it is probable that they were active in the crusades. They bore arms: Azure a cross patonce or a mullet for difference. Crest: a Saracen’s head affrontee, couped below the shoulders prr. Motto: Sub Cruce Salus. Among the number who accompanied William the Conqueror to England we find "WARD, one of the noble captains." The WARDs of Connecticut and New Jersey are descended from Robert WARD, of Houton, Parva, Nothamptonshire, England, and it is probably to him that the ancestry can be traced of Jesse WARD, a prominent business man of Butler, Morris county, New Jersey. His father, David WARD, was born in the State of New Jersey, was a farmer, and died there at an advanced age. He married Sarah Jane CASE, they were the parents of five children.

Jesse WARD was born in Sussex county, New Jersey, in 1864, and was educated in the public schools of that county. Studious and ambitious from early youth, he spent every spare moment in the acquisition of knowledge, fitted himself for the profession of teaching, and was engaged in this profession for a period of eleven years. In 1889 he removed to Butler. Morris county, New Jersey, and established himself in business there, in which he has made a decided success. He has a grocery and general store, the largest in the town, and the stock of goods is most complete and of the best quality. In every appointment Mr. WARD keeps his business strictly up-to-date and enjoys a large patronage. He is a public-spirited man and has worked earnestly in the interests of the Democratic party, and has filled a number of public offices, among them being those of tax collector, a member of the county committee, and collector for the township before it was made a borough. His fraternal association is with the Order of Free and Accepted Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Improved Order of Red Men, and he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. WARD married Lizzie SIGLER, of Lafayette, New Jersey, and they have had children: Gerte, Mabel, Jessie, Paul.

Transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003)