1904 Biography - GEORGE P. WARD

Exhibiting in his life work and achievements the honest integrity and the sturdy and resourceful traits of character of the English nation. George P. Ward is an ornament to American manhood and a useful and active factor in the development of the young state of Idaho, with which he has united his fortunes and cast in his life. He was born on August 20, 1854, in Walton, Northamptonshire, England, a son of George and Sarah A. (Plant) Ward. The father also was born in England, on January 1, 1828, and was a baker and grocer of West Walton, where he married on March 28, 1849. He became a member of the Mormon church in 1851, soon thereafter taking up missionary work as an emissary of that faith, in which labor the greater part of his life was successively passed.

His first wife died in 1857. He, however, again married in 1860, this wife dying May 7, 1899. The family emigration, and its journey across the plains with ox teams to Salt Lake City, Utah, occurred in 1861, and the home was made at Hyrum, in the Cache Valley, Utah, until 1878, when it was removed to Rich county. In 1871 the old and faithful missionary returned to England on mission work for the church, after his work was accomplished returning to America. As was his wish, his death occurred suddenly, on August 17, 1900, at the age of seventy-two years and seven months, and he now awaits the resurrection in the little cemetery at Salem, Fremont county, Idaho, being the father of twenty-seven children. His father, John Ward, preceded his son from England to the United States, settling first near Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1861 removing to the Cache Valley, where he passed the residue of his days and was buried at Hyrum.

Of four children of his parents, George P. Ward, the subject of this review, was the eldest son and was but seven years of age when he accompanied his parents on their migration to the United States. He zealously availed himself of the excellent educational advantages presented by the schools in the neighborhood of his father's home, and, at the age of twenty years, commenced active life for himself as a farmer in Cache county, Utah, where he was prosperously engaged until he moved to the section of the Snake River Valley, on April 3, 1885, where he made his home, it then being a portion of Bannock county, Idaho. Here he located a 160-acre pre-emption claim, a timber culture claim of forty acres and a desert claim of forty acres, situated about seven miles northeast of Idaho Falls, and here was his home and center of active operations until 1901.

From the date of their arrival on their place Mr. Ward and family began active operations to make a home and farm. The first year of their residence here a comfortable log cabin 14x16 feet was erected and about eighty bushels of grain were raised. The second year an addition of 12x14 feet was made to the log cabin, and a few trees were planted. This log house was the family home until 1893, when a modern brick house of suitable proportions was erected, being completed for occupancy on October 7.

During his residence of sixteen years upon this place he made prominent improvements and most substantial developments by his thrift and industry and the application of brains, making his estate of 240 acres not only one of the finest ranches in the valley, but one of the most productive and profitable in this section of the state. The first garden products raised in this neighborhood were produced by him and his exhibits at the fairs brought him premiums on all garden products. In 1899 1,000 apple and 600 prune trees were set out, and in 1900 a dozen peach trees were planted, which came into bearing in 1903, being the only peaches grown in all of this section of country. He early became interested in the raising of sheep, cattle and horses, and by his influence and perseverance he has done much in raising the standard of the cattle of this section of the state, taking great pains in the selection and breeds of his stock, and being a formative factor and prominent supporter of the early Fair Association for several years, as long as he was an exhibitor receiving the first prize for his farm products.

Politically Mr. Ward is a Republican, always active and zealous in the service of his party. An intelligent and thoughtful member of the Church of Latter Day Saints, at the present time he is holding therein the office of first counsellor to the bishop.

On December 21, 1874, Mr. Ward entered into matrimonial relations with Miss Mary Christine Bindrup. a native of Denmark, and a daughter of Christian and Martena (Horup) Bindrup, she coming with her parents to the United States and to Utah thirty-eight years ago, when she was but nine years of age, and locating with the family in Cache Valley. Utah, where her parents still reside, honored and influential residents of the community. Mr. and Mrs. Ward have been the parents of nine children: George B., William A., Mary A., Charles C, deceased, Martha E., Nephi O., Alice M., John O. and Melvin P.

As an evidence of the position Mr. Ward has justly won in the public esteem and confidence, we would incidentally remark that he is a director in the Fanners' Progressive Canal system of irrigation, a director in the Iona Sheep Co., and also a director in the Hillside Canal Co. He has been very successful in business, social and church relations. His ranch is most eligibly situated and thoroughly equipped for the thriving business there conducted, while he is the owner of valuable real estate in Iona, where he erected a modern brick residence, in the summer of 1901, at a cost of $1,500, which is completely equipped along the lines of the most approved construction. This was completed in December, when Mr. Ward moved into it and still occupies it as his home. In Bingham county and throughout southeastern Idaho Mr. Ward is well known, highly esteemed and considered one of the representative citizens of the county and the family has a high standing in the community. At the time of this writing he, in association with some neighbors, is preparing to drill a well in the center of the block where his residence stands. If completed it will be the only well in an area of three and one-half miles.

Extracted from Progressive Men of Bannock, Bear Lake, Bingham, Fremont and Oneida Counties, Idaho, published in 1904, pages 452-454, contributed 2021 Jun 15 by Norma Hass