Jesse James Ward was son of Thomas H. and Penelope Taylor Ward. They lived in the Tallibenela area of Pontotoc County, Mississippi. After his father's death around 1862, his mother and the children who were still at home moved to Oxford, Lafayette County, Mississippi, where they lived next door to his married sister Mary Elizabeth Ward Carson and her family. In the early 1870's, when Jesse was 13, the Ward Family headed for Texas. His brother, P. F. Ward wrote that their journey took them eight weeks in an ox-wagon. Jesse wrote in his later years that they first moved to Cooke County, Texas and later moved to Marysville. He said they crossed the Red River and farmed up and down the river, also raising cattle. All the land was owned by Indians and they paid .25 cents a year lease

whether they had one head or a thousand. His family settled in the Negro Prong Settlement of Indian Territory, which later became Loco, Stephens County, Oklahoma.

In October 1923 the following letter from Rev. J. J. Ward appeared in the Oklahoma Baptist Messenger:

"At the request of Brother Bounds, I send you the brief history of the early days in the Indian Territory which is now Oklahoma.

"I landed in the territory October 1874, and for a number of years I never heard a sermon of any kind. No religious services whatever. A preacher from Texas crossed the Red River, and we built for him a little brush arbor. Under this arbor I was saved. After this I moved north forty miles and lived out of the church five or six years. My nearest church at that time was forty miles away. I felt it my duty to be baptized, so I traveled this forty miles and was baptized into the Old Mud Creek Church....I had to go forty miles to attend conference and church, and I had hardly ever failed to attend. Made the trip in a two horse wagon...I was soon ordained to preach. I preached in dugouts, blacksmith shops, private homes, anywhere we could meet. The first five years of my service many were saved. I organized Sunday Schools and churches. For this work, I received in money $11.60. I wonder now if they did not give me more than the preaching was worth. I had some of the noblest preachers to associate within work. Such men as Brad Hayes, W. R. Chandler, C. Stubblefield, and J. L. Keller. We had old brother D. D. Mullins and M. H. Bathman to lead us. We would go fifty miles and more to our Fifth Sunday meetings. For awhile, I had to go fifty miles for my mail. No railroad, no Oklahoma City, Chickasha, Duncan or Ardmore. Lots of room and no room to get jealous of our brethren. We usually parted weeping for we would not get to see each other until Fifth Sunday Meeting...."

On February 16, 1879, Jesse Ward married Elvira F. Pitts. The couple had the following eleven children: 1) Minnie Lee Catherine; 2) Claudia "Toma"; 3)John William; 4) Ollie Maude; 5) Judson Paul; 6) Hays Benjamin; 7) Chandler Floyd; 8) Snow Carroll; 9) Infant Son (born & died Feb. 1, 1900); 10) Bob; and 11) Clyde. In addition to rearing the children, Elvira was his devoted helpmate in his life's work of preaching the gospel.

Over the years, Rev. Ward held pastorates at Loco, Velma, Alma, and Little Beaver Churches. In 1899 he succeeded the Rev. Stubblefield as pastor of the First Baptist Church of Duncan. He was only the third Baptist pastor in Duncan.

When the Mullens Association consisting of Baptist Churches of the area was organized, Rev. Ward was chosen first moderator and became an honorary member at the time of his death. He was also a member of the Masonic Order and of the Woodmen of the World. When the Duncan Ministerial Alliance was organized he became a member of that group and was active in its work.

During the later years of his life, he assisted in organizing the Immanuel Baptist Church near his home. His last sermon was preached there two weeks before his death. After being ill about a week with flu and pneumonia, he died at his home on 401 North Third at 2:05 p.m. on March 12, 1938. His death was mourned by so many in the community that a public address system had to be used in order for the hundreds standing outside to hear the service.

He was survived by his wife, Elvira F. Ward, and nine of his eleven children--Mrs. Minnie Kirk, Loco; Mrs. Toma Wise, Velma; John W. Ward, Miranda, Tex; Jud P. Ward, Chandler F. Ward and Bob Ward, all of Duncan; Hays B. Ward, Healdton; Snow C. Ward of Marlow; and Clyde J. Ward of Velma.

Pastor Jesse J. Northcutt wrote the following in a letter to one of Rev. Ward's children and I think it is a lasting tribute to a man who infuenced so many. He wrote, "Brother Ward was a genuine man of God and a faithful minister of Jesus Christ. He was one of several persons to influence my ministry. His gentle and gracious spirit impressed me. He preached simple biblical sermons. I did not know then to call them homilies. I have come to appreciate that kind of preaching. He was one of those great, good men of God who helped to make that part of Oklahoma what it ought to be under God."

Bio by Frankie Randall

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Jessie James Ward was the pastor of the Plainview Baptist Church, later renamed Fair Baptist Church in rural Stephens Co., Ok, 1919 - 1923. --Find A Grave contributor Barbara Kirkland (#46892028)

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