{from Sun-News,Sept 24,1975 Hatch New Mexico, article includes a picture of the couple}
 
Mr. and Mrs James M.Ward,both 87, of Hatch, will celebrate thier 70th wedding anniversary on Wednesday.They were married on Sept .24, 1905, in Indian Territory, which is now the state of
Oklahoma. They moved to Las Cruces in 1923, then Hatch  in 1925 .
They had eight children, including triplets, four grandchildren ,and ten great-grandchildren. The two children still living are Mrs J.L. (Beula) Harrison and Jeff Ward, living in Hatch. The grandchildren are Buddy Harrison, Somerset, N.J., Janus Dillon, Irving Texas, Mrs. Bonnie Russell, Hatch and Mrs. Vonna Sheffield in Victoria, Britsh Columbia.

When they were first married ,Mr. Ward enjoyed playing baseball. In oklahoma he was a pitcher on the Ward team, in which all but two of the players had the last name Ward . Mrs.Ward made most of the teams uniforms . Mr Ward drilled Oil wells in Oklahoma and in New Mexico he worked as a
blacksmith and as a "ginner"at cotton gins. He then worked 13 years with the county highway department on grader equipment before retiring and opening his own blacksmith shop in Hatch .
Mr Ward was born in Indian Territory in a town called Pike .Mrs Ward was born in Cooke county Texas .
Though they've had thier share of tragedy, the 87 -year-old couple have never lost thier sense of humor. They kid eachother often and Mrs Harrison says she has never seen her parents "fight". When Mr Ward was asked what it felt like to have been married for 70 years he said" I feel fine . I'm ready to start all over again."  Mrs Ward smiled and said. " Yes , He threatens to turn me
in on a later model."
One of the Wards ' friends says that if she ever reaches thier age she hopes she can have the same humor. Mrs Ward said having a sense of humor "...is what kept us going." In Hatch, Mr and Mrs Ward live in thier own home ,and she  does all of her own housework.  Friends come over in the
evening to drink coffee,play a game of" 42" ,or just enjoy thier company. Mrs Ward says she can think of only four people who were in Hatch when they arrived that are still alive today.
During the Wards 60th anniversary open house, thier home was overflowing with friends and visitors. They are not planning an open house this time , but friends are welcome to call and help celebrate the special day. One of the friends has written a poem for the event. " I have so many friends, but not one to spare." says Mrs.Ward.   Mr and Mrs Ward are known as "Dad" and "Gram",even to thier great-grandchildren.

     Children of the marriage;

     (i) Pearl Ward born 1906, died 1930, married Everett Dillion

     (ii) Jewell Ward born 1908

     (iii) Jefferson Terry Ward born June 4, 1910, one of triplets, married Jessie M Wilson

     (iv) Jessie Davis Ward born June 4, 1910, died 1911, one of triplets

      (v) Joseph Carl Ward born June 4, 1910, died 1910, one of triplets

     (vi) Beulah B Ward born 1911 and died 1992 married J Louis Harrison

     (vii) Wesley Ward born unknown