The Late Major Ward

The End of a Remarkable and Honorable Career.

Author: T. O. Jacob

I have just heard of the death of one of Georgia's oldest and best citizens, and as his intimate friend for a nearly forty years, I wish to pay a tribute to his memory through the columns of your paper.  That Gentleman was Major Benj. F. Ward, who died at his home a few days ago in Butts county, where he had resided for more than a half century, at the advanced age of eighty-five years.

He told me that when a boy he was a student of Wm. H. Seward, afterwards Secretary of State, under President Lincoln, who taught a country school in Putnam county, Ga. Near his father's plantation on the Oconee river.  He afterwards attended the State University, and graduated there a few years after the University was founded.  The law was his chosen profession, and he began the practice at Monticello, Ga., but it being unsuited to his taste he soon renounced it and became a planter.

Major Ward purchased the McIntosh reserve in Butts County, which was the home of General McIntosh, chief of the Creek Indians, and which was sold shortly after the treaty between them and the State of Georgia in 1823, at the Indian Springs, when all the lands west of the Ocmulgee river were ceded to the State.  Major Ward was a gallant officer in the Indian war, and afterwards for several sessions was a member of both houses of the Georgia legislature.  He was a life long democrat, and the people of his county were ever ready to honor him with office whenever he would accept it.  A pure Christian gentleman, his character was as noble and grand as any man who lived in his day and generation.

In his quiet country home he lived in ease and elegance, with all the luxuries of life around him, and he died as he had lived, retaining the love and esteem of all who knew him.

Middle Ga. Argus - Week of October 16, 1886

Submitted by Don Bankston

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