Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1883-11-29
MILLIONAIRE LUMBERMAN.

| MllIIlON alhE LII DID Il MILAN.
There are very few people in Michi-
gan who are not more or less familiar
with some portion of the history of
David Ward. His name has been so
prominently identified with the lum-
Der industry of hi State that it is as
familiar as a household word with lunl-
bermen at least, aud in fact with the
public at large In n recent issue OF
the Chicago Northwestern Lumbernan
we find the following brief facts in
connection with the life or Mr. Ward,
which we are pleased to publish, be-
lieving it will be of peculiar interest to
most of readers
MANY efforts have been made by
journalists and business men to learn
something of the true inwardness "
of the life and business of Mr.. David
Ward, commonly called DR.. Ward, OF
Michigan, but the results have always
been disappointing Ills financial sue
cess is one of the few phenomenal ones
and, while iovial, fun loving and COM
panionable, there has been barrier
between him and the world that has
most elfectually concealed his methods
and the extent of his acquire ments. -
We yften see going the rounds of the
press figures showing the wealth of
Americas rich men. but the name of
Dr. Ward is never among them. His
modesty, in tl.is ago Of the world, is
certainly a curiosity.
DIR. Ward was born in N,w York
State, and il 81 years of age. For eight
years his father, who always remained
poor, was agent for Peter Smith
tGerrit Smiths father and John
came over from Holland. When
nine years of age young Ward
accompanied ms father on his bus.-
ness trips for these gentlemen, associ-
atiag With ihCm, and thus early i'm
bibed his first business ideas. One
great cause of his success must be Ct
tributed TO the fact that lie learned
the worth OF money When .f5ans..--
Whenever lie earned dollar hc i'm
vested il to the best Judgment. No
part of it went for tobacco, whisky, or
trinkets for personal adornment. lie
| A. i, .,,,,,l,1 ,lras l.
He wears no jewelry and does not even
carry watch. lie takes no practical
interest in yachts. fast horses, or costly
paintings. About the only luxuries III
which he INDUCES are his two residen-
ces his summer one. connected with
large farm, on Orchard Lake, near
Pontiac, and his winter Cne OH Cass
avenue, Detroit.
Mr.. Ward followed the bu siness of
surveyor for ten or twelve years. lie
taught school and educated himself
both as a lawyer and physician, but
has never practiced either profession.
As we have heard him express it, he
brushed them out OF his way. lie be
longs to no secret society or church;
owes nothing; never was sued or never
sued man; and never held an Office.
We once asked him to What he owed
his success in life, and he replied -
ITO making the best of the fine op-
portunities prese nted by the many fast
developing material. resources of my
time and country, my abilities being
merely but drop in the bucket. Seem
ingly was born about the right time. :"
If the gentleman has an enemy in the
world we are not aware OF it. He has
not risen on the crushed fortunes of
others, and. like Rip Van Wrinkle. he
he extends TO his friends the wish that
they may live long and prosper.
In early life Mr. Ward saw the pos
sibilities of wealth that were locked mp
in the Michigan forests, and invested
every dollar he could spare in pin:
lands lie now owns 2, 200, 900, coo
feet of standing pine in Michigan and
Wisconsin,, fully three-tfrhs of it being
the cork variety. and the balance most
ly bail sap. Ii is said that all told lac
dos uot own 100. 0J1 feet OF Norway.
Ak any iumberUan WHO is acquainted
with tbe Michigan piueries, who OWNS
the choice pine of HAT state and he
slii answer DR. Ward. On the head
watee of the Manistee lie has rich pos
sessions of cork pine fhe AK. to him
,Id- been a horror and although for
many yrar ie hi. bc+n engaged. di
ieg,y or I.airectiy more or less il the
uanuiotturc OF iaEbar, ve believe E,
Hs- tsyer 'uiphercs a tract OF iind ~
e'pi waen ,he timber upon. it was i'm
, per.led 10y fire from the operations Oi
his nsighbors. For much of his saI