The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-03-18
LIVE NEWS OF
WEST SCRANTON
Ex.Judge Ward Celebrates His Fifty
fifth Year 10 Scranton.
HIS ACTIVE, HONORABLE CAREER
Came Hero When This Part of che
state Was Almost n Wilderness aud
Grew and Expanded With It--Man-
ncr In Which st. Patrick's Day Was
Observed--sociai Conducted by the
X. OF K's.-New Permanent Man of
Columbia Company.

Yesterday marked the anniversary of
fifty-five continuous years of residence
IN this city by ex-Judge Walsingham @.
Ward, of 122 North Sumner avenue.
The subject of this sketch is now in his
scventy-ninth year. He was born Oc-
tuber 7. 1919. at Dover Plains, n. y.
Few OF the companions of his earlier
years of residence here, now remain in
the city and fewer still in West Scran-
ton
Mr.. Ward comes of a New England
family of some note. His parents, John
jackson Ward and Cynthia Sickler
Ward were prominent residents of Do
Yer Plains. He, himself, was the old
est of nine children, five daughters and
four sons. Two of his brothers have
| attained even greater prominence in
| the law profession than the judge.
Zebulon Marcy Ward. of Paterson. N
j., is noted throughout that state.
| Charles Edward Ward. of Michigan.
| holds a high place among the legal
| lights of that state.
March a., 1S43, Mr. Ward, then "a
years of age left his home to con-
tend with the world. He came to Slo-
cum Hollow, then hustling village,
and settled here. Among other ways
~
team to haul lumber from Wilkes
Barre to Carbondale and do other car
| rying business Even then the fires of
ambition were burning within him and
n couple OF law books were his con-
slant companions. Many an hour was
spent pursuing the dry pages while he
rested his team in shady spot on a
warm day, or fed them.
In the course of time he married a
| Miss Maria White, of Poughkeepsie n.
Y. Three years later or 1850, after a
course of reading under j. L. AleXan-
der and the late Judge Dana, of Wilkes
Barre, upon motion of Judge Dana Mr..
Ward was admitted to practice in the
| Luzerne county courts. At that time
there was no LackawDnna county, but
when the division was made, having
his residence here he transferred to
the Lackawanna county bar. He en-
joys the distinction of being the old
est member now living of either bar.
The passage of years brought many
honors to him. In 1869 he was elected
Judge of the mayors court. This court
had a jurisdiction in the city of Scran-
ton and all townships north and east
of Scranton. Thus had he seen old
Slocum Hollow from a village grow to
a city and became one of it's first court
judges. He served continuously in the
office until December, 1875, when such
courts were abolished by the state con-
stitution. In that same year he formed
a law partnership with the present
Judge H. NJ. Edwards. In 1877 thi!
partnership was dissolved and George
S. Horn became his partner and ha:
continued to be ever since. Many OF
I.,-t .la Inx tnt Iana
PR zee in this city read under Mr.
W mong whom might be men
tioL. .udge Gunster, Judge Edwards
ex-Judge stanton, George S. Horn ant
others.
He has been very successful in hi
career. He recently figured up th'
number of murder trials he has ap
peared in and found the number to b'
\ ninety-two. Only one went agains
\ him and that was his first. The MAJ
, was hanged.
In 1872 his first wife died, and in 1877
he was married to Miss Louisa u
Hurlburt, of North Adams, Mass. On
son was born to them, Douglass, VIII
is associated with him in the law busi
ness. This wife died in 1887. The orig
, inal house which stood upon the loca
ton of the present commodious struc
ture occupied by Judge Edwards, OF
South Main avenue, was built by MI
= Ward. The property passed from hi
possession to Mr.. Edwards and Mr
Ward took up his residence on Mort
Sumner avenue and still resides there
OF recent years Mr.. Ward has no
enjoyed the best of health, but he con
tnues in the active practice of the law
| He is a congenial, whole-soued ma
= and is possessed of a fund of infor
nation of the earlier days of what nov
;, Is a city of 10000 inhabitants. His oil
[ regard for West Scranton still remain!
p though many changes have occurred I
;. alter what was once the most beauti
full spot within the city limits. Th
venerable eX-judge always easily re
calls the day of his arrival here fror
the fact that it is st. Patrick's ami
versary,