Lemuel J. Ward was born on June 11, 1837 or 1839, in Onondaga County, New York, the son of New York natives Louis or Lewis (b. 1802) and Fidelia (b. 1802).
Lemuel’s family left New York and moved to Michigan before 1850, when they were living on a farm and Lemuel was attending school in Eaton Rapids, Eaton County.
He stood 6’1” with blue eyes, dark hair and a dark complexion and was a 21-year-old farmer possibly living in Ionia County when he enlisted in Company E on May 13, 1861. (He was possibly related to Henry Clay Ward of Company A; both were born in Onondaga County, New York.)
Lemuel was shot in the left wrist, left hip and left leg on May 31, 1862, at Fair Oaks, Virginia, and put aboard the S. R. Spaulding at White House Landing, Virginia, and transferred to a hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he arrived on June 8. By early July he was reported hospitalized in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, probably first at Buttonwood Street hospital but by July 26 he was a patient in the Fifth Street hospital in Philadelphia, where he was listed as “severely wounded in arm, hips and legs at Fair Oaks” but “doing well.” Although he was listed as missing in action as of early September, in fact he was discharged for his wounds on September 24, 1862, at Fifth Street hospital.
After his discharge from the army Lemuel returned to Michigan.
Lemuel married New York native Sarah Minna Fish (1848-1927) on July 3, 1865, in Portland, Ionia County and they had at least nine children: Ernest (b. 1866), Byron (b. 1869), Henry B. (b. 1872), Silas E. (b. 1874), Ira (b. 1878), Charles (b. 1881), Wellington (b. 1882), William (1884) and Mabel (Mrs. Reynolds 1888-1927).
By 1866 Lemuel was living in Lyons, Ionia County and in 1870 he was working as a farmer and living with his wife and two children in Muir, Ionia County. He probably lived in Muir until the mid-1870s when he moved to Adams County, Nebraska. He eventually returned to Michigan and by 1880 was working in a saw mill and living with his wife and children in Ferrysburg, Ottawa County. By 1888 he was living in Nunica, Ottawa County, where he may very well have lived the remainder of his life.
Lemuel was living with his wife and two youngest children in Crockery, Ottawa County in 1900.
He received pension no. 23,456, dated 1866, drawing $8.00, increased to $15.00, to $18.00 in 1872, and $24.00 per month by 1912.
Lemuel died of apoplexy on September 6, 1912, in Nunica and the funeral was held in the Nunica M.E. Church. He was buried in Nunica cemetery: S-45 (there is no stone for Sarah).
In 1912 his widow applied for and received pension no. 765317.
2 comments:
According to "Past & Present of the City of Lansing in Ingham County, Michigan" by Arthur E. Cowles, 1905: "Charles E. Swift was united in marriage April 15, 1852, to Jane A., daughter of Lewis and Fidelia (Williams) Ward. Her father (Lewis) died May 10, 1862, at the age of sixty-two years. He was a pioneer of Michigan, having settled here in 1838. His nativity was New York. The mother (Fidelia) was a native of Vermont, where she was born May 29, 1800, and died March 7, 1883." Fidelia remarried to Dr. Daniel Jeffords. Her death, thought to be in Ingham County, MI, would be found under Fidelia Jeffords.
Also, one of the children was Mary Ann, born May 13, 1872 in Ionia County, MI. I've never heard of Henry B. whom you state was also born in 1872. Henry is not on the 1880 census of Ferrysburg, Ottawa County, MI. Glad to add to your research.
"Past & Present of the City of Lansing in Ingham Co., MI" by Arthur E. Cowles, 1905: "Charles E. Swift was united in marriage April 15, 1852 to Jane A., daughter of Lewis and Fidelia (Williams) Ward. Her father (Lewis) died May 10, 1862, at the age of sixty-two years. He was a pioneer of Michigan, having settled here in 1838. His nativity was New York. The mother (Fidelia) was a native of Vermont, where she was born May 29, 1800, and died March 7, 1883." Fidelia remarried to
Dr. Daniel Jeffords. Dr. Jeffords & Fidelia are on 1870 census of Leslie, Ingham Co., MI. Fidelia's death record would be found under Fidelia Jeffords.
Also, your research lists a child, Henry B. born 1872 to Lemuel and Sarah Ward. He is not listed on 1880 census of Ferrysburg, Ottawa Co. MI. But a child, Mary Ann, also born 1872 is listed on same census. Where did you find Henry? Many thanks for your research.
Post a Comment