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

Early life

Ward was born in Sing Sing (now Ossining),

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

. He pursued classical studies at the Common Schools in Sing Sing.

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. 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. In 1839, he was elected president of the Mercantile Library Association of New York City. 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. He was also a delegate to the

Democratic National Convention The Democratic National Convention (DNC) is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 ...

in 1856.

U.S. Congress

He was elected as a Democrat, over George Briggs on the "Native American" ticket and Gen.

James W. Nye James Warren Nye (June 10, 1815 – December 25, 1876) was an American attorney and politician. He was most notable for his service as Governor of Nevada Territory and a United States senator from Nevada. Biography He was born in DeRuyter, N ...

, the Republican candidate (who later became the Governor of Nevada Territory and a

U.S. Senator The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and powe ...

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 The 44th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1875, ...

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 Anson George McCook (October 10, 1835 – December 30, 1917) was an American military and political figure who served as Union Army colonel during the Civil War. In recognition of his service, in 1866, he was nominated and confirmed for a ...

. 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.

Personal life

On August 28, 1866, Ward was married to Ellen Eliza (

née A birth name is the name of a person given upon birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name, or the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a birth certificate or birth re ...

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. He died in Roslyn in Nassau County, New York on

Long Island Long Island is a densely populated island in the southeastern region of the U.S. state of New York (state), New York, part of the New York metropolitan area. With over 8 million people, Long Island is the most populous island in the United Sta ...

on February 7, 1882. He was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx.

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, her children erected the Clocktower and gave it to the Town as a memorial.

References

External links

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Speech of Hon. Elijah Ward, of New York, in the House of Representatives, February 21, 1877
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ward, Elijah 1816 births 1882 deaths People of New York (state) in the American Civil War People from Ossining, New York Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from New York (state) New York University School of Law alumni 19th-century American politicians