Francis "Frank" Taylor Ward was born 15 August, 1859 in Illinois, or Kansas, depending on which record you choose to look at. The son of William Taylor Ward and Sintha C Gilliland, he was one of four children, F.T Ward 1859 (IL), William J Ward 1861(IL), Emma J Ward 1868 (IL)and Lillie Mae Ward 1880 (TX).
In his lifetime he was employed as a farmer, Missippi Riverboat hand, a coal miner, a surveyor, and as an engineer. If there was one theme to his occupations it was one of expansion and emigration. From the records we have located he seemed to relocate fairly often, and was often missed on Census records. In 1870 he was found living with his parents in Greene County Illinois at the age of 11.
Frank married Miss Julia Ann Steed on July 3, 1878 at Fieldon, in Jersey County Illinois, very close to Greene County Illinois, which on this record was his place of birth. He was not enumerated on the 1880 U S Census, but his first child, Mary Caroline Ward was born on her father's birthday, 15 August, 1879 at Palestine, in Anderson County Texas. An interesting note is that his mother, S. C. Ward was enumerated in Palestine, Anderson County Texas, on the 1880 U S Census listed as divorced. Living with his mother, Sintha, was Frank's two sisters, Emma and Lillie and brother William J Ward. It is interesting to note that the GC&SF Railroads expansion into Anderson County Texas was completed about 1880.
The expansion of the Rail Roads played a large part in his migrations and it wasn't untill later on in our research that we realized his whereabouts was directly linked in time with the rail roads expansion into a State or Territory. I believe he was associated with the surveying of new grade. or track to, or through, the areas where he relocated. This is proven out as he was in Dexter Texas (Cooke Couny) before 1882, and in Burneyville, I. T. by 1886. The Gulf Central & Santa Fe Railroad decided to build a line north from Ft Worth to Purcell in the Indian Territory where it joined the Sante Fe's new line from Kansas. After completion of this project in 1887 the GC&SF went back to building more lines in Texas. Appearently Frank and Julia decided not to move on with the Railroad as He and his family were enumerated in Burneyville, Pickens County, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory on the 1890 Census.Thus he became an Railroad Engineer.
Frank and family were enumerated on the 1900 U S Census for the Indian Territory in Healdton Township, Pickens County, Chickasaw Nation. His occupation was listed as "Engineer". This record states his place of birth as Kansas. Frank was known to jokingly state his birth place as the last place he lived, this has shown up numerous times on several records. Thanks Gr-Grandfather Frank...it has made you difficult to identify in our research.
Children of his marriage to Julia A Steed were:
Mary C Ward, 1879 (Tx), John W Ward 1882 (Tx), Elizabeth F Ward 1886 (IT), James M Ward 1888 (IT), Robert H Ward 1891 (IT), Fred M Ward 1893 (IT), Albert L Ward 1898 (IT), and U.C. Ward 1895 (IT).
Francis T Ward and Julia A Ward were found on a Ardmore City Directory for 1905 showing Frank's occupation as "Surveyor" .
Frank and Julia divorced prior to 1906.
Frank married Nora D. (Morris) Rose on 11 November 1906 at Healdton, Pickens County, in the Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory. This family was enumerated on the 1920 U S Census, Holford Township, Marshall County Oklahoma. On this record Franks occupation was listed as "Farmer" and his place of birth was shown as "Arkansas". Prior to this record the family was known to be in Gainsville, Cooke County Texas. Where Thomas A Ward, Edward T Ward and Benjamin K. Ward were born. Frank and Nora's fourth child, Pearl Ward was born in Merryville, Cooke County Texas, Janie Ward in Carter County Oklahoma, Clarence M Ward in Durwood, Marshall County, Oklahoma, and Henry (died as a child) Carter county Oklahoma.
In all Francis Taylor Ward raised 14 children in two marriages, lived in ; Illinois, Texas, Chickasaw Nation, and Oklahoma.Was a River Boat hand on the Missippi River, a surveyor, an engineer, a coal miner and a farmer.
Francis Taylor Ward died March 25, 1926 in Carter County Oklahoma and is buried in the Hewitt Cemetery, near Wilson, Carter County Oklahoma.
Julia Ann (Steed) Ward died July 18, 1925 and is buried in the Lone Grove Cemetery, Carter County, Oklahoma.
Nora Delida (Morris/Rose) Ward died Aug 1 1969 and is buried at Tulsa Oklahoma.
Francis "Frank" Taylor Ward
A Biography of
"Originally a part of the lands assigned to the Chickasaw Indians, Ardmore, in pre-statehood days, was a point of much interest to those of the tribe and to the early white settler. Prior to 1886 there were scattered ranches in the area, and one of these, the 700 Ranch, had its headquarters on the present site of Ardmore. The advent of the Santa Fe Railroad in 1887 marked the beginning of Ardmore. It was named by Santa Fe Railroad agents after Ardmore, Pennsylvania, which had been named after Ardmore By-the-Sea, Ireland and means "high-point" for it's lighthouse. "
Source; Oklahoma Historical Society website" History of Oklahoma"
"The GC&SF had been formed in 1873 by leading citizens of Galveston to build a line around Houston toward the northern and northwestern portions of the state. Aided by a grant of state lands, the company slowly constructed lines from Galveston to Lampasas, Fort Worth, and Dallas, with branches to Houston and Conroe. The leaders of the GC&SF and the Santa Fe agreed to construct a line across Indian Territory to link the two companies. The GC&SF built north from Fort Worth to Purcell, Indian Territory, where it joined the Santa Fe's new line from Kansas. After completion of this project in 1887, the Santa Fe began to
build additional lines in Texas. "
Source; Texas Historical Society webpage" History of Railroads in Texas"
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Indian territory