Ward Road

The Ward family was prominent in Niagara County as far back as 1825.  It is said that James Ward settled on River Road in 1825.  N. M. Ward was elected supervisor of the Town of Wheatfield when it was created in 1836, having previously been part of the Town of Niagara.  N. M. Ward served several terms.  Joseph A. Ward and his wife were residents of Lockport.  Joe Ward was a farmer, teacher, bank cashier, and manager of the Lockport Journal newspaper.  His wife was director of the Lockport home for the Friendless which was founded after the Civil War to care for widows and orphans of the War.  He served as treasurer and later secretary of the home.  His son, W. M. Ward, later joined him in the newspaper publishing business.  A John Ward tended te steam engine of a grist mill on 12 Mile Creek.  William H. Ward was a private in the 8th Heavy Artillery in the Civil War and died on April 1, 1865.  The Ward family's contribution to Niagara County was recognized by the naming of Ward Road, which runs through Sanborn, Wheatfield, and part of North Tonawanda.