OBITUARY, DE SOTO EAGLE EYE, FEB 8, 1917 PAGE 1
Joseph Tuttle Ward was born in Licking county, Ohio, Nov. 20, 1834, and shortly afterwards his parents moved to Delaware county in the same state, where he spent his boyhood days. At the age of sixteen he entered upon an apprenticeship in a carpenter shop where he learned to be an excellent cabinet maker. Later he spent three years in Texas working at his trade. He returned to his native state in 1858 and June 9, 1859, was united in marriage to Clara Moore, who survives him. To this union there were born eleven children one of whom died at the age of 21, and the other ten are living with their families in various parts of the United States. They are Mrs. C.W. Fay, Stanley, Kans.; Mrs. Ella Luce, Olathe, Kans.; Mrs. Emma Franklin, Burlingame; Mrs. W. E. Scott, Ponca City, Okla; Mr. C.W. Ward, Argentine, Kans.; Mr. Harry Ward, Texas; Mrs. T.B. Sharp, Morse, Kans.; Mrs. Ed Ward, Kansas City, Mo.; Mr. Russell Ward, Colorado. There were thirty-one grandchildren born, 29 of whom are living, two great grandchildren and both living. So out of eleven children, 31 grandchildren and two great grandchildren, 41 survive and are all healthy, strong, able bodied, and highly respected and were a source of much pride to Mr. and Mrs. Ward.
J.T. Ward was the son of Steven Russel and Adelia Ward. His father was a Methodist minister, and at an early age he himself became affiliated with the Methodist church and remained a true and faithful member until he succumbed to his final illness. The Ward genealogy is known as far back as the Massachusetts Wards of the Revolutionary period, but further than that no record.
In September, 1859, he and his bride of three months went overland to Kansas City, Mo. During the dark days that followed during the rebellion he lived through all the horrors of the Kansas and Missouri border warfare, often having to conceal himself and his stock in the forests during the daytime, and come home at night for fresh supplies. Near the close of the war he returned to Ohio for one year and then returned to Kansas City where he served two years in the Home Guard. In 1866 he moved to Johnson county and settled in the eastern part. In February of 1899 Mr. Ward and family moved into the Lexington neighborhood near DeSoto where he lived until about ten years ago, when he moved to Olathe and purchased property on North Walnut Street. He died at his home at 2:30 a.m. Jan. 24, 1917, at the age of 82 years, 2 months and four days. He was vigorous and strong until the last, and had it not been for an injury to his head a few years ago, would undoubtedly have lived for many more years. He will be missed as the true and useful always are missed and he will be mourned as the good and generous of mankind are always mourned. He was of a very generous disposition and always had a pleasant greeting to all. The many friends that he had was evidenced by the large attendance at the funeral from all parts of the county.---Olathe Mirror.