"An Illustrated history of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties : with a
brief outline of the early history of the state of Oregon." Chicago?: Western
Historical Pub. Co., 1902.  Page 565.  Malheur County.

HERBERT J. WARD

     This capable and progressive gentleman is one of the leading men of this
vicinity, being a well-to-do and prominent farmer and was one of the promoters
of the valuable Owyhee ditch, being an incorporator and one who led the
enterprise to a successful issue.  Mr. Ward was born in Quebec, Canada, on April
12, 1856, the son of George P. and Elizabeth (Sherman) Ward.  He spent his
youthful days in the invigorating exercise of farm work and in gaining a good
education from the public schools.  At the age of twenty-two he left the
parental roof for the world of labor and trial.  His first work for himself was
fireman on a locomotive and in due time he had mastered the engineer's art and
was installed as engineer of a steam shovel and then handled an engine on the
road.  In 1880 he came to Oregon, engaging in the sheep business.  It was at
this time that he began the agitation of the Owyhee ditch proposition and was
among the very first who conceived the plan.  He has steadily labored and
planned for this valuable consummation and now has a fine quarter section well
watered from this canal.  It was in 1894 that he settled on the land now his
farm, taking it by the homestead act.  It is situated two and one-half miles
southwest from Nyssa and is one of the fine farms of the country.  He has large
fields of alfalfa, fine orchards, a valuable residence with barns and
outbuildings to match and shade and ornamental trees and tasty grounds.  Mr.
Ward had added forty acres by purchase, which gives him a very valuable estate.
He has several thousand sheep and is one of the leaders in that industry.
     The marriage of Mr. Ward to Miss Sylvinia, daughter of James and Sarah
McConnell, was solemnized on November 16, 1896, and one child, George P., was
born to them on February 16, 1898.  Mrs. Ward's parents were formerly of
Ontario, Canada, but went to New York and in 1885 the father died.  The mother,
with eight children, came to Caldwell, Idaho, and is now living at Owyhee.  Mr.
Ward came to this country with practically no means and he has won the meed of
good success and a generous competence for the industry and wise management that
he has bestowed here.
     

*******************

Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in April 2006 by Diana Smith. Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.