A Central New York farm boy who left home in his late teens, Ward Smith made his way to New York City, crossed over the sound to New Bedford, and signed onto a whaling boat, The Tuscaloosa. Shipwrecked in St. Matthew's Bay off the South American coast, he was held as a slave by Patagonian Indians for more than a year, and rescued from captivity by his ship's captain.
He relocated to the Mobile, Alabama area, where he was employed by plantation, slave and ship owner Timothy Meaher. He rose to the position of captain, and sailed a merchant vessel in the Black Sea during the Crimean War (1850's), delivering supplies for France. He and his ship were detained by the French for as long as two years for an unknown reason.
Following the secession of Louisiana from the Union in 1861, Captain Smith sailed his ship, the Sarah E. Meaher (named for Timothy Meaher's sister) into the Port of New Orleans, flying the Union flag. He was challenged but refused to lower the flag. The ship was seized and he was ordered to leave Confederate territory.
As he was fleeing up the Mississippi by boat, Ward was taken prisoner by Confederate forces, but released after a relatively short period.
Smith relocated further upriver in Cairo, IL and helped build the so-called Pook's Turtles (ironclad gunboats constructed at Mound City). By 1870 he was in Missouri, where he bought a large tract of timberland, established a sawmill, and achieved success in the lumber business.
He was a forward-thinking, liberal-minded Universalist who was pro-woman, anti-slavery and never touched a drop of liquor, thereby keeping a promise he made as a teen to an old woman who helped him in a time of need.
He relocated to the Mobile, Alabama area, where he was employed by plantation, slave and ship owner Timothy Meaher. He rose to the position of captain, and sailed a merchant vessel in the Black Sea during the Crimean War (1850's), delivering supplies for France. He and his ship were detained by the French for as long as two years for an unknown reason.
Following the secession of Louisiana from the Union in 1861, Captain Smith sailed his ship, the Sarah E. Meaher (named for Timothy Meaher's sister) into the Port of New Orleans, flying the Union flag. He was challenged but refused to lower the flag. The ship was seized and he was ordered to leave Confederate territory.
As he was fleeing up the Mississippi by boat, Ward was taken prisoner by Confederate forces, but released after a relatively short period.
Smith relocated further upriver in Cairo, IL and helped build the so-called Pook's Turtles (ironclad gunboats constructed at Mound City). By 1870 he was in Missouri, where he bought a large tract of timberland, established a sawmill, and achieved success in the lumber business.
He was a forward-thinking, liberal-minded Universalist who was pro-woman, anti-slavery and never touched a drop of liquor, thereby keeping a promise he made as a teen to an old woman who helped him in a time of need.
A Central New York farm boy who left home in his late teens, Ward Smith made his way to New York City, crossed over the sound to New Bedford, and signed onto a whaling boat, The Tuscaloosa. Shipwrecked in St. Matthew's Bay off the South American coast, he was held as a slave by Patagonian Indians for more than a year, and rescued from captivity by his ship's captain.
He relocated to the Mobile, Alabama area, where he was employed by plantation, slave and ship owner Timothy Meaher. He rose to the position of captain, and sailed a merchant vessel in the Black Sea during the Crimean War (1850's), delivering supplies for France. He and his ship were detained by the French for as long as two years for an unknown reason.
Following the secession of Louisiana from the Union in 1861, Captain Smith sailed his ship, the Sarah E. Meaher (named for Timothy Meaher's sister) into the Port of New Orleans, flying the Union flag. He was challenged but refused to lower the flag. The ship was seized and he was ordered to leave Confederate territory.
As he was fleeing up the Mississippi by boat, Ward was taken prisoner by Confederate forces, but released after a relatively short period.
Smith relocated further upriver in Cairo, IL and helped build the so-called Pook's Turtles (ironclad gunboats constructed at Mound City). By 1870 he was in Missouri, where he bought a large tract of timberland, established a sawmill, and achieved success in the lumber business.
He was a forward-thinking, liberal-minded Universalist who was pro-woman, anti-slavery and never touched a drop of liquor, thereby keeping a promise he made as a teen to an old woman who helped him in a time of need.
He relocated to the Mobile, Alabama area, where he was employed by plantation, slave and ship owner Timothy Meaher. He rose to the position of captain, and sailed a merchant vessel in the Black Sea during the Crimean War (1850's), delivering supplies for France. He and his ship were detained by the French for as long as two years for an unknown reason.
Following the secession of Louisiana from the Union in 1861, Captain Smith sailed his ship, the Sarah E. Meaher (named for Timothy Meaher's sister) into the Port of New Orleans, flying the Union flag. He was challenged but refused to lower the flag. The ship was seized and he was ordered to leave Confederate territory.
As he was fleeing up the Mississippi by boat, Ward was taken prisoner by Confederate forces, but released after a relatively short period.
Smith relocated further upriver in Cairo, IL and helped build the so-called Pook's Turtles (ironclad gunboats constructed at Mound City). By 1870 he was in Missouri, where he bought a large tract of timberland, established a sawmill, and achieved success in the lumber business.
He was a forward-thinking, liberal-minded Universalist who was pro-woman, anti-slavery and never touched a drop of liquor, thereby keeping a promise he made as a teen to an old woman who helped him in a time of need.
Gravesite Details
Wife Anna and son Wm believed to be buried in same spot; also mother Cath Smith
Family Members
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