Elijah Ward


Elijah Ward was a U.S. Congressman during the American Civil War and the Reconstruction era.

Early life

Ward was born in Sing Sing, New York. 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 in 1856.

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, 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.

Personal life

On August 28, 1866, Ward was married to Ellen Eliza Stuart, 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 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.