Elijah Ward

Elijah Ward (September 16, 1816 – February 7, 1882) was a U.S. Congressman during the American Civil War and the Reconstruction era.

Elijah Ward
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 8th district
In office
March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1877
Preceded byJohn D. Lawson
Succeeded byAnson G. McCook
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 6th district
In office
March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1865
Preceded byFrederick A. Conkling
Succeeded byHenry Jarvis Raymond
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 7th district
In office
March 4, 1861 – March 3, 1863
Preceded byGeorge Briggs
Succeeded byJohn Winthrop Chanler
In office
March 4, 1857 – March 3, 1859
Preceded byThomas Child Jr.
Succeeded byGeorge Briggs
Personal details
Born(1816-09-16)September 16, 1816
Sing Sing, New York, U.S.
DiedFebruary 7, 1882(1882-02-07) (aged 65)
Roslyn, New York, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)
Ellen Cairns Stuart
(m. 1866; his death 1882)
RelationsAaron Ward (uncle)
Alma materNew York University

Early life

Ward was born in Sing Sing (now Ossining), New York.[1] He pursued classical studies at the Common Schools in Sing Sing.[1]

Career

In 1833, he came to New York City to engage in commercial pursuits and, at the same time, study law in the office of his uncle, Maj. Gen. Aaron Ward, who was then a U.S. Representative from Westchester County.[1] In 1838, he began attending the law department of New York University, and was admitted to the bar in 1843 and thereafter commenced practice in New York City.[2] In 1839, he was elected president of the Mercantile Library Association of New York City.[1]

Ward was judge advocate general of the State 1853 to 1855, and was appointed on Governor Horatio Seymour's staff with the rank of Brigadier general.[1] He was also a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1856.[2]

U.S. Congress

He was elected as a Democrat, over George Briggs on the "Native American" ticket and Gen. James W. Nye, the Republican candidate (who later became the Governor of Nevada Territory and a U.S. Senator from Nevada), to the Thirty-fifth Congress serving from March 4, 1857 to March 3, 1859, but was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1858.

He was subsequently elected to the Thirty-seventh and Thirty-eighth Congresses serving from March 4, 1861 to March 3, 1865, but again was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1864, losing to Henry Jarvis Raymond. He resumed the practice of law in New York City, and then was elected to the Forty-fourth Congress and served one term, from March 4, 1875 to March 3, 1877, as he was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1876, losing to General Anson G. McCook. While in Congress, he served on the Committees on Roads and Canals and in his last term, he was chairman of the Committee on Commerce.[2]

Personal life

On August 28, 1866, Ward was married to Ellen Eliza (née Cairns) Stuart (d. 1893), who was previously married to Lt. Robert Stuart, who died in Warrenton, Virginia while fighting for the Union Army during the U.S. Civil War.[3]

He died in Roslyn in Nassau County, New York on Long Island on February 7, 1882.[1] He was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx.[2]

Legacy

After his death, his widow donated a memorial horse trough in Roslyn Harbor, New York in his memory. Shortly after her death in 1893,[4] her children erected the Clocktower and gave it to the Town as a memorial.[5]

References
  1. "The Death List of a Day.; Elijah Ward" (PDF). The New York Times. 8 February 1882. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  2. "WARD, Elijah - Biographical Information". bioguide.congress.gov. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  3. Bryant, William C. (1992). Letters: 1865-1871. Fordham Univ Press. p. 113. ISBN 9780823209958. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  4. "DIED" (PDF). The New York Times. 22 January 1893. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  5. Sloam, Myrna. "Gone But Not Forgotten: Replacing Roslyn's Stolen Civil War Soldier". Bryant Library Newsletter (Nov / Dec 2005). Retrieved 2 July 2019.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Thomas Child, Jr.		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 7th congressional district
1857–1859		 Succeeded by
George Briggs
Preceded by
George Briggs		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 7th congressional district
1861–1863		 Succeeded by
John Winthrop Chanler
Preceded by
Frederick A. Conkling		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 6th congressional district
1863–1865		 Succeeded by
Henry Jarvis Raymond
Preceded by
John D. Lawson		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 8th congressional district
1875-1877		 Succeeded by
Anson G. McCook
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