Will County ILGenWeb Biographies..... 
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File contributed for use by:
Dori Leekly & Margie Glenn

Author: History of Will County IL, 1878

Sylvester WARD, farmer; P. O. Lemont; was born in Genesee Co., N. Y., May 29, 1831; 
he is the son of Hannibal and Jane (HICKS) WARD; in September, 1833, his father came 
West, and settled on the farm where his son now lives. Hannibal WARD died Dec. 23, 
1874, and was buried on the homestead; Sylvester remained at home until his majority, 
his early life being that common to a farmer's son; in 1854, he went to St. Charles, 
Kane Co., and engaged in the manufacture of wagon-hubs. Mr. WARD improved the machine 
invented by his uncle, Justice WARD, for their manufacture, and brought it to such 
perfection that three hands could take the timber from the stump and make one hundred 
hubs per day, in the spring of 1857, in company with two others, he purchased eighty 
acres of timber in Porter Co., Ind., and placed upon it a machine constructed during 
the winter of 1866, and again commenced the manufacture of hubs. Having sold out his 
interest, in the fall of 1859, in company with A. D. SHEPARD, he purchased a 
grist-mill at Leland, La Salle Co., and operated it two and a half years; in 1862, 
he returned to the old homestead, where he has since resided. He was married Feb. 
22, 1860, to Lorina JOHNSON, a native of Michigan; have had two children - Ida S., 
born Feb. 11, 1861; she died Feb. 25, 1863 - Eddie E., born Oct. 30, 1863. Owns 355 
acres, valued at $21,000. Has held the office of School Treasurer for the past ten 
years, Mr. WARD, owns and operates a large cheese-factory erected at a cost of $3,000, 
located about four miles north of Lockport.


Additional Comments:
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS; Chicago: Wm LeBaron Jr & Co, 186 Dearborn Street, 1878.