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Genealogy for
William Josiah Ward 

 Parents 
Click for more Information about James Ward.
James B. (Bear) Ward
1796 - 1861

Elizabeth English
1798 - 12/25/1888
Click for more Information about Elizabeth English.


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About William Josiah Ward
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William Josiah Ward
3/23/1830 - 4/4/1924
(Shown at age 40)
William Josiah Ward was born on March 23, 1830 in Dale County, Alabama and died on April 4, 1924 in Bruce, Florida. He lived to be 94 years old.

He was called Diamond Joe, because he made a diamond shape mark on all his possessions. He could recite most of the Bible by memory. He built a log school house on Seven Run Creek near Bruce, FL.

Served in the Fifty-third Alabama Infantry Regiment during the Civil War.

Children:
  1. William Jasper (1854 - 1938)
  2. Mary Nicey (1860 -1881)
  3. Rebecca (1864).
  4. L. B. -female (1865 - ?)
  5. Laura A. (1867 - 1945)
  6. Jesse Josiah (JJ) (1870 - 1960)
  7. Lydia Apseybeth (1872 - 1965)
  8. Thomas Franklin (1857)
  9. Warren Ashley (1857 -1945)
  10. Charles Pinkney (1859-1938)
Records
Census12/1/1830 AL (Dale County) about 8 months old 
James Warde's family is described as one son under 5, 3 sons between 5-9, and one male between 30-40. The house has two females: one under 5 and the other between 30-40 years old. 
Additional information about Dale County, AL around 1830: Dale County was established on December 22, 1824, from lands now found in Coffee, Geneva, and Houston counties. The first non-Indian settlers arrived in this area around 1820 -- shortly after the Creek Indian Wars ended and the Treaty of Fort Jackson was signed. Daleville became the first county seat. However, the town is simply called "Dale's Court House" around this time. 
Census6/1/1840 AL (Dale County) 10 yrs old 
page 31 -Line 17: The family of James Ward is described as consisting of one male under five-year-old, two between 5-9 yrs old, one between 10-14, two males between 15-19, and one male between 40-50 yrs old. Two females under 5 years old, one between 10-14, and one between 30-40 years old.

(possibly the brother of Tersey)Line 18: The family of J.L.B McCrone is recorded with two males under five-year-old, and one male between 20-30 yrs old, one female under five, one female between 20-30 years old..

Line 20: The family of Hugh Davis is recorded with one male under five-year-old, two between 5-9 yrs old, one between 10-14, two males between 15-19, and one male between 30-40 yrs old. one female between 10-14, one female between 15-20 and one between 30-40 years old. Hugh is the brother of Thomas Allen Davis.  
Census10/24/1850 AL (Dale County) 20 yrs old 
family#145: James B. Ward (age 54, farmer, born in SC), Elizabeth (age 52, born in GA), William J. (20, farmer, born in AL), Benjamin F. (16, farmer, AL), Elizabeth (14, AL), Mary (12, AL), Monroe (5, AL), Ann Elliott (12, race is recorded as "b" [choices were white, black or Indian], born in AL). 
Census8/30/1860 AL (Dale County) 30 yrs old 
Family #1207 William J. (age 30)born in AL, Absbeth (29) GA, John G. (age 9), William J. (8), Thomas F. (6), Warren A. (4), Charles P. (age 2) and Elizabeth F. Wright (10)born in FL. William Sr. is a farmer, value of estate is $400 and personal property $450. Children born in AL.  
Military1/1/1861 AL  30 yrs old 
W.J. Ward is mustered into Company D of the 53rd Regiment, Alabama Partisan Rangers (Confederate). He is a Private throughout his military career. FILM NUMBER: M374 roll 46. [date is unknown] 
Census1/1/1870 FL (Walton County) 39 yrs old 
on page 62,Family #406: William J. (age 40) born in AL, wife Epsey (40)born in GA , John G. (18), W.J. (16), Thomas F. (14),Warren A. (12), Sarah F. (8), Mary N.(6) , Laura A. (3) James M. (45). William is a Farmer personal property $100. Epsey keeps house. John is a Laborer. John G. was born in AL all other children born in FL.  
Census1/1/1873 GA (Decatur County) 42 yrs old 
FRIENDLY CREEKS of DECATUR GEORGIA: Copy of hand-written census of Friendly Indians living in Decatur County, GA. Elizabeth Ward, James Ward and Joe Ward are listed near the bottom and William Ward is the first person listed. A copy of this was given to us but the date was not provided. We are in the process of obtaining date, etc. info. (NOTE: We have located references saying it was dated 1873, but these are 3rd hand. Actual date of this document still needs to be confirmed.) 
Census6/18/1880 Precint 10 FL (Walton County) 50 yrs old 
Recorded as family #65: W.J. Ward (age 45), A.B. Ward (female, age 43), William J. (age 26), Mary N. (15), L.B. (female, age 15), Laura A. (13), Josiah (10), and Apseybeth (female, age 8). W.J. says he is cutting timber for a living and his oldest son is a laborer. WJ was born in AL and his parents in GA. A.B. was born in GA and her parents in NC and SC. The children were born in AL.
The family of John J. Ward (age 28) is living next door. Emma (wife, age 20) and children Lewis (7), John G. (6), Josiah (5), Warren (4) and Susan E. (1).
Jack Ward (age 59) is living next door with wife Susan (56) and children James J. (34), Sarah M. (19), Roda C. (16), Benjamin (14) and Ann Etta (12).  
Additional information about Walton County, FL around 1880: Click here to see a map from this timeperiod.  
Graveyard/Tombstone11/15/1913 FL (Walton County) 83 yrs old 
Antioch Cemetery: Abseybeth Ward, born 11/18/1830 and died 11/15/1913. Tombstone notes that she was born in GA and died in FL. Other family members buried in the same plot are: William Joseph Ward, Gertrude Ward, and Billie Joe Ward.  Source:  http://www.flgenhistonline.com/counties/walton/antiochcem.rtf
Graveyard/Tombstone4/4/1924 Bruce FL (Walton County) 94 yrs old 
Antioch Cemetery: William Joseph Ward, born 3/23/1830 and died 4/4/1924. It says Pvt. Co. D53, Alabama Inf. CSA on his tombstone. Other family buried in the same plot are Abseybth, Gertrude, and Billie Joe.  Source:  http://www.flgenhistonline.com/counties/walton/antiochcem.rtf

Live and Times
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Click on any of the News, Events, or Discoveries buttons above to see historical things that happened during William Ward's life. These are only some of the major events that affected the life and times of William, his family, and friends. For example, William is 5 years old when Second Seminole Indian War begins.
AgeDateEvent
5 1835 Alabama gold rush begins in the east-centrl hill country.
7 1837 The Second Creek war begins in 1836. In 1837 The Battle of Hobdy's Bridge becomes the last indian battle in AL.
10 1840 Alabama reports a total population of 590,756 on the 1940 Federal Census. This includes 335,185 whites, 255,571 blacks, 253,532 slaves, zero Native Americans, and others.
20 1850 State population=771,623. The 1850 Federal Census reveals the White population=426,514; African-American population=345,109; Slave population=342,844; Free black population=2,265; Urban population=35,179; Rural population=736,444; Cotton production in bales=564,429; Corn production in bushels=28,754,048; Number of manufacturing establishments=1,026.
AgeDateEvent
5 1835 The Second Seminole Indian War keeps the United States and Seminoles Indians fighting in North & Central Florida.
7 1837 NEWS HEADLINES: In October, Chief Osceola of the Seminole Indians is captured when he arrives for supposed truce negotiations at Fort Payton. He is imprisoned at St. Augustine, FL where he refuses to eat and attempts to escape several times. In December he is moved to a prison in SC where he dies on January 20, 1838. At the time of his death, Osceola was the most famous American Indian.
12 1842 Congress passes the Armed Occupation Act of 1842. It entitles persons willing and able to bear arms against the Indians and establish themselves in villages along the borders of Indian territory ownership of their land after 5 years.
12 1842 Second Seminole Indian War ends and some of the Seminole Indians living in FL are moved to the Indian Territory
15 1845 Florida becomes the 27th state to join the United States. William Moseley becomes the first governor and David Yulee the first senator.
20 1850 Florida's total population has grown to 87,445. This includes about 39,000 slaves and 1,000 free blacks. Indians were not counted.
25 1855 Third Seminole Indian War begins and war breaks out with most of the battles occurring in Central Florida. It ends three years later when Chief Billy Bowlegs and his band are forced to move from Florida.
31 1861 No Floridian's voted for Lincoln during the 1860 election. On Jan. 10, 1861, Florida seceded from the U.S. and joined the Confederate States of America a few weeks later.
34 1864 Battle of Olustee is a Confederate victory. Union troops pull back
35 1865 Battle at Natural Bridge (Wakulla County) is a Confederate victory.
35 1865 May 10th -- Union troops occupy Tallahassee. While Tallahassee was the only Confederate state capital east of the Mississippi River that had not been captured, Union troops occupy the capitol following the surrender of the major Confederate armies in the east.
40 1870 During the 1870s, the remaining Seminole Indians begin establishing trading posts and other economy with local settlers.
52 1882 The Florida Central and Western Railroad Company was created. It combines the Florida Central, Jacksonville, Pensacola, and Mobile railroads.
53 1883 Three railroad companies are merged to form the Florida Transit and Penisular Railroad Company. Thee are: Florida Transit Railroad Co., Peninsular Railroad Co, and the Tropical Florida Railroad Co.
54 1884 Most railroads in Florida are passed into the hands of a single company owned and operated by a single management, under the name of The Florida Railway and Navigation Company. It has more that 500 miles of main track in operation and about 300 miles of track under construction. The longest route was the "Western Division" which ran from Tallahassee to Jacksonville - 209 miles.
76 1906 An attempt to drain the Everglades and convert it to farmland begins.
87 1917 Seminole Indians become a Florida tourist attraction.
AgeDateEvent
9 1839 Goodyear invents vulcanized rubber, opening the door for tires and other rubber products.
14 1844 The first telegraph message is sent by Morse, who later invents the Mores Code
23 1853 The process of creating steel is invented by Besermer in Britain and Kelly in the U.S.
26 1856 The first Neanderthal fossils are found near Germany
29 1859 Charles Darwin publishes "Origin of Species" and begins the evolution theory.
35 1865 Mendel publishes his papers on genetics and introduces the concept to the public.
39 1869 Cro-magnon Man fossils are found in France
47 1877 Edison invents the phonograph permitting music and voices to be recorded and replayed.
49 1879 Edison invents the electric light bulb.
59 1889 The first calculating machine is invented and uses punch cards
65 1895 Wireless telegraph and the "antenna" are invented but it covers a very short distance.
67 1897 First ship to shore message is sent using an improved form of wireless telegraph
70 1900 Freud publishes his book "The Interpretation of Dreams"
70 1900 The cause of yellow fever is discovered. It is proven that the fever is spread by mosquitoes. This rallies an effort to provide better mosquito control.
71 1901 First transatlantic wireless telegraph is sent.
72 1902 The first Tyrannosaurus Rex fossil is discovered.
73 1903 Wright Brothers complete the first successful flight with an airplane at Kitty Hawk
74 1904 The first vacuum tube diode is invented by Fleming
76 1906 Electrons are discovered by Thomson
76 1906 Kellogg sells the first box of Corn Flakes
76 1906 The triode vacuum tube is invented
82 1912 The unsinkable Titanic sinks on its first trip to New York drowning 1,513 people.
83 1913 Ford builds the first assembly line into his automobile production plant
84 1914 The first traffic lights (which is only red or green) are put up in America; Construction of the Panama Canal is completed
93 1923 Freud publishes "The Ego and the Id"
93 1923 Diphtheria vaccine is developed; Insulin is produced to treat diabetes
94 1924 Insecticides are used for the first time on crops
AgeDateEvent
4 1834 July 9 - The S.S. John Randolph, the first successful iron steamship, is launched in Savannah
31 1861 NEWS HEADLINES: American Civil war begins at Ft. Sumter, located in Charleston Harbor, VA.
32 1862 NEWS HEADLINES: May 20, 1862 the US government passes the Homestead Act to provide cheap land for settlement of lower Southeast and West.
52 1882 NEWS HEADLINES: Edison creates the first large power station in New York City, making it the first place in America to have electricity.
55 1885 NEWS HEADLINES: Eastman invents the box camera. For the first time photography becomes affordable for the average citizen.
78 1908 NEWS HEADLINES: Henry Ford produces the first Model T automobile
82 1912 White residents of Forsyth County, GA, drive the black population out.
83 1913 NEWS HEADLINES: Edison invents motion pictures
87 1917 NEWS HEADLINES: In June, the United States enters World War I on the side of the allies. The Russian Revolution ends the reign of the czars and thrusts Russia into communism.
89 1919 NEWS HEADLINES: World War I ends with the signing of The Versailles Treaty.
AgeDateEvent
5 1835 Second Seminole Indian War begins.
7 1837 The trickery used to capture Seminole Indian Chief Osceola (Assi Yohola) creates a public uproar and U.S. General Jesup is publicly condemned.
10 1840 Oregon Trail is established
12 1842 Second Seminole Indian War ends and thousands of Seminole Indians are forced to move west of the Mississippi.
25 1855 Third Seminole Indian War begins. It ends three years later when Chief Billy Bowlegs and his band are forced to move from Florida.
30 1860 Presidential election puts Abraham Lincoln in office. The campaign has heated the issues regarding slavery in the south.
32 1862 May 20, 1862 the US government passes the Homestead Act to provide cheap land for settlement of lower Southeast and West.
33 1863 Abraham Lincoln issues the "Emancipation Proclamation" freeing slaves.
35 1865 American Civil war ends with General Lee's surrender at Appomattox, VA. Reconstruction begins in the "old South"
38 1868 An eight-hour work day is established for federal employees.
45 1875 Tennessee enacts Jim Crow law.
46 1876 The National League of Baseball is founded
79 1909 The National Association for Advancement of Colored People is formed (NAACP)
80 1910 Boy Scout and Girl Scout Organizations are introduced in America and the concept of a "week end" meaning time off from regular work begins to take root. The British Empire covers 1/5th of the world land area.
AgeDateEvent
3 1833 Santa Anna is elected President of Mexico
79 1909 The "Piltdown Man" hoax -- a fake archeological discovery announced by dishonest scientists who wanted to "prove" that human beings had evolved in Europe
84 1914 World War I - Following the crisis touched off by the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria in Sarajevo, Germany declared war on Russia and additional countries joined the war within several days.
87 1917 Germany uses airplanes to drop bombs in the early stages of World War I -- the first major military use of airplanes.
89 1919 The Versailles Treaty marks the official end of World War I.
90 1920 Adolph Hitler begins to organize the Nazi party in Germany; The Ku Klux Klan launches a recruitment campaign using mass marketing techniques to gain 85,000 new recruits; the first commercial broadcast is made.
Family Snapshots
Diamond Joe
Diamond Joe
William Josiah Ward and Abesybeth Purvis Ward
William Josiah Ward and Abesybeth Purvis Ward
The Wards
The Wards
Abseybeth  & Joe Ward
Abseybeth & Joe Ward
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Marriages
Mary Purvis
Born on November 18, 1830 and died on November 15, 1913.
They were married 1/1/1850.

Click for more information about Mary Purvis.


The Children of William Josiah Ward

27 years old
William Jasper Ward
Born somewhere in Alabama on February 23, 1853 and died in Bruce, Florida on July 18, 1938. He was 85 years old.

His father served in the Fifty-third Alabama Infantry Regiment during the Civil War and fought battles in FL when he was 12 years old.

William married Mary Day (1855 - 1908). ...
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Mary Nicey Ward
Born in Walton County, Florida on June 5, 1860 and died in Walton County, Florida on May 21, 1881. She was 20 years old.

To see a photo of Mary please view this website(photo at the bottom of page)Finding James Ward's parents. ...
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Jesse 'J.J.' Joseph Ward
Born in Bruce, Walton Co., Florida on October 12, 1870 and died in Bruce, Walton Co., Florida on December 18, 1960. He was 90 years old.

In 1896 he married Susan Florence Burke (1878 -1948).

Children:
Malzie Ward(1898) married Angus E.Pate
Mazie Beulah Ward (1903)married Benjamin Franklin Thomas, 2nd marred John Rossel...
Click for more information about Jesse 'J.J.' Ward.
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