1891 Biography - S. P. Ward

S P. WARD, M. D., BIG CANE. – Dr. Ward, a prominent physician of St. Landry parish, was born in Rising Sun, Indiana, August 28, 1825. He is a son of Aaron and Martha Ward, natives of Newark, New Jersey. They were married in Newark, and resided there for a number of years, when they removed to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. A few years after they removed to Rising Sun, Indiana. After residing there about two years they removed to Canton, Illinois, where they both died. Aaron Ward was in his younger days a merchant. After he removed to Illinois he turned his attention to farming, in which he was very successful, leaving at his death his children a competency on which to begin life.

The subject of our sketch is the youngest of a family of seven children. He received his early training in the schools of Canton, Illinois, subsequently taking a collegiate course. He afterward pursued a course of medicine at Cincinnati, graduating after having taken three courses of lectures. He holds, also, a diploma from the Medical Lyceum of Cincinnati. While in Cincinnati, during the cholera scourge, he made this disease a special study. In 1848 he came to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and commenced the practice of his profession. Here he remained eight years. In 1860 he located in St. Landry, where he has since had a very extensive practice. Though he devotes his time almost exclusively in the practice of his profession, Dr. Ward also superintends the operation of a large plantation which he owns at this place. He is a distinguished member and corresponding secretary of the State Medical Society; also a member of other medical societies in the State. He has been prominently identified with the Masonic order since 1853, having held some office in the lodge during the whole of this time. He is also a member of the chapter.

The Doctor has always taken an active part in political affairs, using his influence at all times to place in office the best men.

In 1856 he married Harriet A. Waters, daughter of Capt. Wm. Waters, of Alexandria, to whom were born six children, three of whom are now living. Both the Doctor and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he is steward and Sunday-school superintendent.

Contributed 2021 Nov 04 by Mike Miller, from Southwest Louisiana Biographical and Historical, edited by William Henry Perrin, published in 1891, Biographical Section, pages 90-91.