The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-07-03
LEBBEUS B. WARD.
DEAD.
The Noted Water Protector
Succumbs to Heat
and Apoplexy.
ALONE in The NIGHT TIME
Body Found By Clerk in
the Hotel Washington
at Noon Today.
POINTS IN 4 NOTABLE CAREER
POINTS IN 4 NOTABLE CAREER
Connected With All the City's
Water Movements-Traits
of Character.


Lebbeus B. Ward, well known in this
city for many a year, was found dead in
bed in his room at the Hotel Washing
ton shortly after noon today. Death re-
suited from apoplexy
Mr.. Ward was last seen few minutes
before s o'clock last night. Mr.. Frank
Case, proprietor of the hotel missed him
this morning because he didn't appear
al breakfast and was never in his room
u te in the morning. He sent up a clerk
to the room and on looking through the
transom of the door Mr.. Ward was seen
lying on his bed, dead. The door was
opened and a horrible sight met Mr..
Cases eyes. 1t was evident that Mr..
Ward had been dead for some time. The
face was almost unacceptable. 1t was
bfoated and frightfully discolored with
the rapid decomposition caused by the ex-
cessive heat. He was dressed in his
underclothes. The hands were crossed ON
the breast. Near him was fan and at
his feet a novel, "Sam Lovelis Boy
-DrGo rdan K. Dickinson was a once
summoned and he arrived soon after
wards. He gave the cause of death as
an apopletic fit and telephoned at once
for Undertaken Hughes The doctor also
telephoned to ex-senator William Brink
erhoff, Mr.. Wards legal adviser. Another
telephone message was sent to Miss
Frances Ward at the Winoga Flats, New
York City, a sister of the dead man, buc
when the doctor announced to her
ner brothers death she made a queer
ejaculation and the communication was
abruptly cut off. Miss Ward had
tainted.
In the presence of Mr. Brinkerhoff a
hasty Inventory was taken of Mr. Ward s
property in the room. There were two
trunks locked, package of papers, two
punches of keys, purse containing about
$12 in money and a gold watch. These
will be deposited in the Title Guarantee
and Trusts Company's vaults until the
family can be communicated WITH
Lebbeus>. Ward came from an old YER
mont family, in which State he was born
about sixty-six years ago. His father was
John D. Ward and beside Lebbeus there
were three sons and three daughters.
The sons were Lebbeus D., John d. Jr.,
Charles and Samuel. The latter was
drowned in the Delaware River some
years ago while experimenting the laying
of a water pipe. The sisters were Fran
ces, now living in New York, Mary and
Caroline, the latter two being dead.
When the family came to Jersey City
the elder Ward sent to Burlington, VT,
for tutor for his sons and William
Leveritt Dickinson, a young man of that
town came here to fill the position. He
was with the family for some time and
nf Hac
brouck Institute. The first name on his
books was that of Conrad Jordan, now
assistant treasurer of the United States.
Mr. Dickinsons son is the we'll known
physician, DR.. Gordon K. Dickinson.
Mr. Wards father was a distinguished
mechanical engineer connected with many
important enterprises such as the build
ing of the Jersey City water works, the
Erie tunnel and the construction of the
Morris and Essex Canal. His son, Leb-
beus, from boyhood showed remarkable
proficiency in mathematics and scientific
engineering and up to the time of his re-
tirement from active business some years
ago was a well known civil engineer and
particularly a water expert. He never
married and for years lived at Taylor's
Washington There hasn't been a water
scheme on foot in Jersey City during the
past fifteen years in which he has not
taken an active interest. He was thor
oughly familiar with the watersheds of
this State, having served for years on the
State Water Commission. He bitterly OPP
posed all Jersey City's schemes, being
firmly of opinion that water rights should
be in the control of State Board. He
was man of wide experience and knowl-
edge, a hard worker, methcdica1 and
painstaknig. He was doggedly persistent
and when he. had any scheme on hand
in his own line he was successful. He
was never in a hurry, believing in the
Latin maxim, festina leute.
An amusing instance Of this was seen
some years ago while in Trenton advocat-
ing some measure connected with the
East Jersey Water interests. His oppo-
nens was jubilant over the Fact that the
committee of the Legislature had report
ed adversely on Mr.. Wards bill, and told
this to Gov. Albeit, whereupon the latter
said
s.Don't crow You don't k now Ward.
He is a determined man and will beat you
yet at every point
Mr.. Wards father left him some money
and being man of simple habits and pos
sessed of great shrewdness, he made mon
ey n many Enterprises. He neld a great
many Jersey City bonds when they were
paying per cent. Every bond issue
SINCE then ne h as held some He was
stockholder in the Hartford, Conn.,, Gas
Company which leased its plant to the
United Gas Company. AT one time ho
was president Of the Water Company Of
Norfolk, Va, and his coiiducs in its n,an-
agement recalls an interesting hight he
had with the government, which wished
q sunfy Of water to the Norfolk Navy
Yard III their usual high handepd way