The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1949-06-01
fife TheOCrat

was graduated from the cid 31st
street school in the spring of 1924.
Peddled Papers
Like so many youngsters in the
community, Ward devoted his spare
time delivering newspapers to resi-
dents in the northern section of the
community and operated the newspa-
per agency from the Salem Depot. 1t
was at the same time that Bicket
and Ingram handled the downtown
agency.
Local residents will recall the big
subscription campaign staged by the
Waukegan Times in which William j.
Bicket captured first prize and
brand new automobile. Though Ward
failed to land such lucrative prize,
he did win several attractive prizes,
including new bicycle, two coaster
wagon, a baseball uniform and several
other awards.
Following his graduation from the
31st Street school, Minor became in
terested in aviation and attended the
Greer College of Aeronatics in Chi
cago for two years, where he gained
some knowledge in practical aviation,
specializing in mechanics and engin-
eering.
Unable to nut his new found know
ledge into immediate practice, how
ever, Ward turned to the soil for
livelihood, renting a 14-acre tract of
farming land near Lafayette, Indiana,
where he operated an experimental
truck farm in conjunction with the
Purdue University.
A Farm Experiment
1t was reclaimed soil, a marsh
land, which had been drained off and
put under cultivation. The purpose of
this experiment was to determine the
technical results of produce raised on
this land and his entire crop was sold
to the University
Ward reports that the results,
though severely effected by any sud-
den change in the weather, often were
astounding. Among the phenomenal
results were heads of cabbage that
would fill bushel basket and Miss
ouri beans which grew in great guam
titles and were some times foot in
length.
Although this work appealed to
Ward, the remumerative returns were
often discouraging and, after years,
he gave up the project and returned
home to establish the Minor Brothers
Trucking Company, going into busin-
ess with his brother, Henry, who later
lost his life in an auto-train crash.
Minor Brothers Trucking Company
The Minor Brithers operated a fleet
of trucks and help to transport much
of the building materials during the
building boom of that time and they
helped to deliver materials for the
contractors constructing the Elmwood
and Lakeview schools. They also de-
livered road materials for the Zion
Street Department.
At the same time the brothers oper-
ated two service stations, one on Sher-
idan Road and Belvidere in Wauke-
gan and the other at the old Andy
Hill station in Winthrop Harbor. Be-
sides providing for the general motor
ing public, these stations also provid
ed facilities for the upkeep of the
trucks.
In 1888 Ward gave up the truck
ing business and launched his present
career as refrigerator man, working
as a salesman and repairman on the
Philco equipment at the Dunes Appli-
ance store.
Well Equipped
At his present location, 1924 Sheri-
dan Road, Ward is equipped to SER
vice and install refrigerators and air
conditioning of all types for all bus
mess and domestic needs, and as we'll
has the sales franchise for CONNER
cial and industrial air conditioning,
home freezers and locker plants.
Ward is a member of the Zion
Chamber of Commerce and, since
1912, has been a member of the re-
frigeration Service Engineers Society.
He is state board director of the
society, and is also on the board of
directors of the Great Lakes Chapter,
as well as educational chairman. This
office is located in Waukegan.