The Savannah morning news., 1902-12-01
JOHN E. WARD DEAD
AFTER LIFE OF USEFULNESS DIS
TINGUIsHED GEORGIAN
PASSEDAWAY AT DORCHESTER
MEATH NATIVE HEATH HE WILL
BE BURIED THIS MORNING.

Diplomat Breathed HIS Last satur-
day NigEt-Came south to Die-Was
Minister to China Under buchanan
| Administration and Mayor of Sa-
| Vannah Before the War-Was First
Captain of Irish Jasper Greens and
Commanded Chatham Artillery.
Was n Law Partner of Late Hon
Robert VI. Charlton - Removed
From savannah to New York in
1S6G-FunernI VIII Take Place
This Morning Mt Old Midway Bury
Ing Ground.
John Elliott Ward, minister to China
under Buchanan's administration, for
merly Mayor of Savannah, and, in
his day, one of Georgia's greatest men.
died Saturday night at the home of
mis- nephew, Mr.. w. NJ. Stevens. on
| county. Mr.. Ward was in his
seth year, 9 and after life
of usefulness, had, after an
absence of more than sixty years,
returned to the home of his childhood,
that he might pass his last days
|
He will DE buried this morning in
the family lot in the Old Midway Gem
etery, near Dorchester. Ills funeral
will be marked by no demonstration,
but quietly and unostentatiously the
remains will be consigned to the dust
of his native heath, for which, through
out his long life of public service, he
held the deepest love.
The news of Mr.. Wards death was
brought to the city yesterday morning
| by Mr.. A. F. Winn, his nephew, who
| came for the purpose of selecting a
| casket for the remains. He returned
on the afternoon train to his home in
| Dorchester. Owing to the hour,
| it is not probable that any Sa-
vannahians will be present at the
| funeral Had the news been received
| soon enough, it is probable that many
would have gone to Dorchester to pay
| the last respects to the distinguished
Georgian.
To Ills Birthplace to Die.
Mr.. Ward came South, from New
York, about five weeks ago. He rec
ognized that he was nearing the end
of life's journey, and wished to die in
the land of his childhood, in Liberty
county. Few knew of his presence,
and, to many, the news of his death
at Dorchester will be a surprise. Since
the war he has practiced law in New
York, the period of his public service
to the city of Savannah antedating the
strife between the states.
During the five weeks which he has
spent in Liberty county his health has
gradually failed and little of the time
has been spent outside of his room.
To old age is ascribed his demise. He
was unconscious during the last day,
and passed peacefully away.
At his bedside were a number of his
| grand-nephews, a nephew and two
| nieces. Recognizing that he was an
during his last illness, he asked short
ly before the day of his death that he
be laid to rest in the old family bury
ing ground, at historic Midway Church.
He leaves three children, a son and
two daughters. His son, James Mont
fort Ward, married Miss Marietta
Johnson, a sister of Mrs. Walter G.
Charlton of this city. He is engaged
in the practice of law in New York,
holding the office of corporation ator-
ney. His two daughters, Oliviat and
Louisa, reside at Elizabethtown, N. j.
He had also a half-sister Mrs George
Allen. who lives in Little Rock, Ark
Mr. James Sullivan and Mr.. John Sui
livan Schley of this city were both re-
lated to Mr.. Ward, he having married
their aunt, Miss Olivia Buckminster
| Sullivan.
OF Revolutionary Descent.
John Elliott Ward of Revolutionary
descent was the son of William and
Annie Ward. His mother was the
! daughter of Maj. Lachlan Mcintosh
and sister OF Commodore j. NJ McIn-
toch. He was born I'm Sunbury, Lib
erty county, Oct. 2. 1914. A part of his
school days was spent at New Haven
in 1928, under sons of DR.. Dwight,
lately president of Yale, and he was at
Amherst College, 1S31-1S92. He stud
led law under DR.. Matthew Hall Nc
Allister in Savannah. and was admit
| ted to the practice in 1885, before 81
years of age. by special legislative en-
| actment. He attended Harvard Law
School year, after which he was for
two years solicitor of the Eastern Cir
| cult. He was, in 1888, appointed Unit
ed States district attorney, in place of
William H. Stiles. resigned.
This post he resigned to enter the
| Legislature. Here he served three
terms. being elected speaker in 1854
He was elected Mayor of Savannah in
1854, the year of the yellow fever pes
thence. A denomination to the office
was rendered him, with assurance of
no opposition, which he declined. He
! declined also Gov. Cobb's offer of the
United States senatorship in 1852, when
Mr.. Berrien resigned, being 10th to
leave his large practice.
Left His Mission for the South.
In 1856 he was elected president of
the National Convention which norni-
mated Buchanan. In 1858 he was APP
pointed as envoy and minister pleni-
| potentiary to China. He was the first
minister of any nation to visit Pekin,
and hold counsel with the officials of
that great empire; Gushing and others
who preceded him being merely COM
rissioners, he being minister plenipo-
| Tertiary. The news of the secession
called him to his home in 1861. and he
resigned against Mr.. Stewards wish.
In 1865 he removed from Savannah
TO New York, and had since practieed
law there. He received the degree of
Lid. in 1891 from Amherst College.
He was one of the ablest lawyers and
best equipped public men of the coun-
try, and when he gave up public life
no man had brighter political flu
ture. To thorough honesty. indomnita-
bic courage and wise judgment in pub
lie affairs. he added broad statesman
ship, extraordinary management and
remarkable mastery of men.
1t was in the higher fields of diplo-
macy and statecPaft that Mr. Ward
showed his rare powers and reached
his best fame and highest usefulness.
In the Legislature he did more than
did any other man to modify a preiu-
dice between upper and lower Georgia.