My great-grandfather was James Willard Ard, born 1833 in KY and died 1904, buried in Benton, AR.

Question

James Willard Ard always told the census taker he was born in KY. He served a term in the AR penitentary for murder. Married but wife divorced while in prison. Married Sarah Jane Clemmons (Clements?) after prison and had five children, including my grandfather, William Harvey Ard. Any help with parents of James Willard Ard is welcomed. Been trying to solve this issue for about 50 years!

Answer 1

Hello,

 I don't know if any of this will help you or not, and I am not sure how they got their information, but it might be some information that might possibly help. I hope so anyways.

I got this off of another site that someone was also working on this tree from another one of the decendants sides:

James W. Ard

Born: November 1833 in Kentucky

Died: March 18, 1904 in Arkansas

Married: Sarah

Born: 8 Apr 1843 in Tennessee

Died: 14 Apr 1919 (does not list where)

This person has 1 child listed for them, maybe they don't know the others I am not sure but it is as follows:

Child: Dora Ard

Born: 17 Dec 1879

Died: 7 Sept 1922 in Arkansas

Buried in Rosemount Cemetery, Saline County, Arkansas

Married: David Madison Cloud on 21 Aug 1904 in Saline County, Arkansas

David Madison Cloud

Born: 14 Jun 1848 in Saline County, Arkansas

Died: 30 Mar 1944 in Saline Country, Arkansas

Children:

Lillie Cloud

Born: Abt. 1093

Helen Cloud

No other information on Helen is listed

 

I know it isn't on James Parents but I am hoping that it might give you something that you didn't know anyways.

I also did find another site that is about the early settlers in Kentucky and there is a Rueben Ard listed as having land and a James Ard listed as having land. I don't know if that is anything or not, but I thought I would pass that on. I hope some of this helps, if not, I am sorry, I will do my best to keep checking. Thank you and have a nice day. :)

Kathy :)

Answer 2

Your JAMES WILLARD ARD is found on the Findagrave.com website - it states that he died on March 18,1904 at the age of 72.  (Listed as J W ARD).   His "memorial number" is 38452637.  If you will go to the website and type in his memorial number you will go right to it.  He is buried in the Old Rosemone Cemetery in Benton, Saline Co., Arkansas.

Since you know the exact death date and where he died, perhaps records from a local Benton Funeral Home, local newspaper, or Church records would be of some help to you.

I am not certain exactly what date that Arkansas was required to record death certificates, but that might be a possibility.  Usually the parents (if known) of the decesased will have the parents' names.

I'm sorry I couldn't answer your question - perhaps these suggestions will help you.  Sincerely, Melinda

Answer 3

This is Melinda again - Please go to www.argenweb.net/benton - which is a Genealogy website for Benton Co., Arkansas.  It has information that I think will be very helpful to you.

It lists the funeral homes in Benton with contact information.  One is Ashby Funeral Home - phone is 501-778-2544; another is Ballard Funeral Home - phone is 501-778-4047.

I have found funeral homes to be very helpful - even if they weren't in business in the early 1900's, they will probably know who was!

It gives the contact information for the Benton County Historical Society - email is bentoncountyarhs@gmail.com; phone is 479-273-3561.

Also, the Northwest Arkansas Genealogical Society - in care of the Bentonville Library - phone is 479-271-6820.

Historical and Genealogical Societies are great resources and they love helping people!  Please contact them!

I hope this helps - Sincerely, Melinda

Answer 4

The Ards came to Wayne County Kentucky via South Carolina. My GGG Grandfather Ruben Ard had 3 brothers, Jacob, John, and James McHenry (half brother). The 1800 census for Wayne County Kentucky lists Ruben, John and Jacob. Ruben had no children named James Willard, but both John and Jacob are listed as having sons, 5 and 3 respectively. Names are not provided on the census. It is possible that you could trace back to one of these names.

James is listed as born in 1765 and Jacob in 1774