John Russell Ward (abt. 1774 - abt. 1834)

Born about 1774 in Botetourt, Botetourt, Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Clarissa (Buckner) Ward — married 23 Oct 1807 in Bourbon, Kentucky

Descendants

Died about 1834 at about age 60 in Fulton, Callaway County, Missouri, United States

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Biography

John was born about 1774. He is the son of James Ward and Margaret Stevenson. ^[1]

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Sources

• Marie Mills, firsthand knowledge. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Marie and others.

1. ↑ Entered by Marie Mills, Oct 17, 2011

4 John Russell Ward. circa 1774, Botetourt Co, Virginia. D. 1834 Fulton Callaway County, Missouri{Nisbet]. Md. Clarissa Buckner, Oct 23, 1807(Bond), Bourbon County, Kentucky.[Bourbon County Marriage Bonds, pg. 49.] John Russell Ward was considered to be one of the greatest scientists of early Kentucky. There is no record to establish the fact that he had received higher education, but his father was a school master and he also had the influence of the teachings of Father David Rice. He undoubtedly availed himself of a good education for that period of time.There were no medical colleges in Kentucky until 1816, so John taught himself the use of herbs at an early age, and developed medicines which he used in his practice to treat the settlers in his section. He also loved geology, botany and archeology and had a great knowledge of the many Indian mounds in his area. He married Clarissa Buckner of Bourbon County in 1807. They lived in Mercer County until about 1813 when they moved to Nicholas County, Kentucky. He was the head of the bank there as well as the localmedical practitioner.[Nisbet, pg 56] In 1820, while visting his brothers who had moved to Indiana, there was a epidemic among the Delware Indians. Dr. Ward treated the Indians and was instrumental in so many cures that in graditude they presented him with the Walam Olum-painted records which were the key to the Delaware language. John gave the records to Samuel Rafmesque in Lexington, with whom he had made friends and Rafmesque learned the Delaware language so that he could translate the records. In 1829 Ward, his wife and three sons moved to Fulton, Callaway County, Missouri where he died in 1834. The name of only one of his sons is known.

5 Thomas Ward, married but name of wife is unknown. This info was taken from "The Virginia Connection-Thompson and Ward Families" page 572