The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-05-24
DEATH OF GEN. pURplS WARD.
A Prominent Figure In Ohio Politics Passed
ANay-SkelCh Of Hls Life.

death that had lasted for q period Of eigt
weeks, For twenty.iour hours precedin
his death General Ward was uncopsciou
with the exception Of a few seconds iu
mediStely before he succumbed. At th
hour mentioned, Mr.. Dayton Clark, VIII
had been in attendance upon the Genera
was by his side and noticed a sudden an
marked change in the condition Of tn
distinguished patient. Mr., Clark was th
only one with the General at the time
and as soon as he saw that the final strug
gle had come he called to Mr.. Thomas N
Proctor, who was talking TO Mrs. Ward il
an adjoining room, and nOtWithstRndin
the fact that MrB. Ward had been expect
ing death for several days, she was q
shocked at the call OF help from Mr.. Clarl
that she screamed in terror, and Tushet
across the hall to her own room, there i
await the dread intelligence that shs knsv
must come within atew minutes,
Mr., Proctor hastened TO the General
bedside and took the dying soldier in hi
arms, As he did 80 film that had gath
cred over the Generals eyes and RENAME,
there for couple OF days passed away
leaving the eyes as clear as crystals. Gen
eral Ward looked at Proctor and then q
CLARK and eudeaVored to speak, but 1t wa
impossible for him to artlcuIats word.
TWAS evident that the General had re
gained consciousness, but as he tried Il
talk his tongue sagged down in the side o
his mouth ss though II was parayzsd. The
effort 70 speak was followed by spasn
aud a gaspiDg guFgling sound that LASTED
but a lew seconds, when all was over,
There has been no more familiar ant
prominent figure In Ohio politics durinl
the last quarter ot q century than Genera
Durhin Ward. He was born at Augusta
Braken county, KY, February II, 1919
His father was Of English extraction, The
Ward family came to America in 1884, and
settled on the eastern shore Of Maryland
On the maternal side his ancestOry were
Welsh, served with credit in the war Of
1872, and fought ut Bladensburg and in
defense Of Baltimore. He subsequently
removed to Kentucky, and married Re,
beCCA Patterson. General Ward WAS the
eldest son Of this union. He was named
alter the noted Methodist preacher John
r. Durbln. Young Ward was brought
up on farm in Faystte county, Ind,
where his parents settled. He became
Injured to the hardships Of pioneer life,
and early displayed tasted for read
ing and Information which could
not be satisfied In that unset.
tied country, At eighteen, having
accumulated some money by his own ex.
eItions, Durbin Ward entered Miami
University at Oxford, where by teaching
during vacation, he managed to maintain
himselt for two years. The young man
decided 10 adopt the law as his profession,
and removed 10 Lebanon, Ohio, where be
has resided ever since. He began his
legal studies under Judge Smith, and com.
pleled his education with the famous Tom
CorWin, with whom he formed partner.
ship, which lasted three years, being dis
solved by Mr.. Wards election as Prose.
cutting Attorney for Warren county. He
held this office for six years and was then
chosen as q Representative in the Lower
House ot the Ohio General Assembly, the
first Legislature elected under the new
Constitution adopted in 1859. In this ca.
pacity General Ward distinguished him.
self. He offered a memorable resolution
In opposition to capital punishment, II
was through his exertions that the bill to
loan the state arms to Kossuth, the Hun.
garian exile, was defeated.
Up to 1856 General Ward acted with the
Whig party.
When the war broke out Durbin Ward
responded at once to his country's cali.
He entered the service as private. He
first served under Mcclellan in West Vir-
giniai and subsequently became Major
During the remainder Of tho war he was
under General Pap Thomas, and was in
the great campaigns OF Kentucky, Tennes.
see, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia.
at Rich Mountain, Mills Spring, Pitts.
burgh Landing, Perryville, Stone River,
Chickamauga, Atlanta aud Nashville. No
braycr soldier ever went 10 battle than
General Ward. He won his way TO the
rank Of Bhgadler. General by brevet. He
was shot through the body at ChiCka.
mRuga, and for time his life was des.
paired ol, but he rallied. He was mus.
tered out oil the service on account OF
disability, but the gallant officer went 10
Washington, had the order revoked and
returned to Atlanta. In that campaign
he appeared at the front with his arm In
o sling.
After the war had closed General Ward
resided In Washington two years, and en-.
gagged In the prosecution Of soldiers
claims. He was in 1868 nominated for
Congress by the Democrats against Robt.
Q. SchenCk, and although defeated re-.
duced the Republican majority from 27Oo
TO 1000.
He was defeated for the nomination for
Congress In '6s by Yallandigham. In
1870 he was elected to the State Senate,
bat since that time has held no position OF
emoument. He was a candidate for
Governor before the State Convention Of
1877 when Bishop was nominated, in 1870
against Ewing, in 1883 against Hoadly,
but on each occasion was left out by q
very small margin.
In 1877 General Ward was proposed
for the United States Senate, but George
II. Pendleton was successful, and again
in 1883 the General was second best in
the triangular Senatorial 6ght between
himself, Payne and Pendleton.
General Ward was married November
q, 1855, 10 Miss Elizabeth probasco, who
survives him. They had no children.